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Comedian Kevin Nealon Says Burglar Stole Necklace Containing Beloved Friend Garry Shandling's Ashes
Kevin Nealon was given a portion of the ashes of his friend Garry Shandling's ashes after the comic legend died in 2016.
Comedian Kevin Nealon has revealed that a burglar broke into his home and stole a necklace that contained the ashes of the legendary standup comic Garry Shandling.
Nealon stated on an episode of “The Ellen DeGeneres Show,” which aired Wednesday that a burglar recently invaded his home while he was away, People reports. TMZ reported in January that his Los Angeles home was broken into, and that more than $100,000 worth of items were taken. The “Saturday Night Live” alum seems most concerned with the loss of the sentimental necklace.
"It was more of a smash-and-grab — they were in and out pretty quick, they didn't take too much stuff," Nealon said on “Ellen.” "He took a necklace that meant a lot to me because it was an urn with Garry Shandling's ashes in it.”
Shandling died in 2016 from a blood clot, Variety reported at the time. Some of his ashes were given to Nealon, who was devastated by the loss.
"He was brilliant in so many ways and unbelievably inspiring. Having his approval meant the world to me, and, of course, his friendship meant even more," Nealon wrote in Variety in 2017. "I loved Garry for everything he was, and don't know how I will ever stop missing him."
Nealon has not been able to recover the stolen necklace. It does not appear that the burglar has been caught. The comedian made light of the tragic situation on Wednesday's show, joking that "the weird thing is he gave me the ashes before he died. That's kind of strange. 'Cause, you know, he's very prepared."
He also makes jokes while talking about his quest to find the necklace again.
"What I've learned is when your house is broken into, you should check the pawn shops, like if you've lost a watch — or if you've lost Garry," he said. "So I've been calling pawn shops, I'm saying, 'You have not seen Garry, have you?'"
Nealon expressed that he hopes he finds it.
"I don't want to stop missing him," he wrote in Variety in 2017. "I read somewhere that grief is not a sign of weakness. Grief is simply the price you pay to love someone and I can tell you that Garry had turned out to be very, very, expensive. That was Garry."
