Joe Bodolai, a former write for Saturday Night Live, died in what is being called an apparent suicide, according to TMZ. Bodolai’s body was found in a hotel room near Los Angeles by the hotel’s cleaning crew. Found near the body was a mix of Gatorade and anti-freeze. According to the Associated Press, the Los Angeles coroner’s office has officially ruled the death of Bodolai a suicide.
Bodolai was a writer for Saturday Night Line for one season, 1981-1982, and he was a producer on the sketch show from Canada known as Kids in the Hall. Bodolai also ran a blog called ‘Say It Ain’t So, Joe,’ which is where he posted one long, final note on December 23rd. In a section called ‘Things I Regret,’ Bodolai concluded with the following:
“My inability to conquer my alcoholism and that I am no longer able to withstand any more of life’s pain.”
In a section on his blog of things he is proud of, Bodolai describes an impressive and happy life that includes his professional and personal sectors. He mentioned how proud he is of his two grown sons (“graceful, intelligent, strong, handsome, creative and loving young men”), and of his wife Bianca (“If there is a loving god, she was my blessing”). Bodolai also listed how proud he is of how he resisted the Vietnam War and how he campaigned for Robert Kennedy.
In the professional sector of his life, Bodolai was most proud of his time writing for Saturday Night Live and producing videos with Andy Warhol. Other professional positives listed in his life included the following:
When Lorne Michaels asked him to produce Kids in the Hall, aiding Major League Baseball bringing a team to Toronto and writing the first draft of Wayne’s World with Mike Myers.
Bodolai wrote the following regarding his time with Kids in the Hall, according to the Huffington Post:
“Lorne asking me to produce Kids in the Hall. Long story here. He didn’t tell me that HBO was going to cancel the show after the first season. I kept it alive. Honest to god. The cast and crew had no idea what I did and I didn’t either. It would not have gone to season two had I not become the me I loved. Thinking on my feet in the breakfast meeting in the HBO boardroom with Bridget Potter. The Kids have no idea. Ask John Blanchard, who was there but probably will not get what I did. I saved his job too. I f*ckin’ kicked ass.”
On his Facebook page, Bodolai wrote the following on December 22: “I’m alone this year and am volunteering serving Christmas dinner to the homeless. Perhaps I will be one, but I love all of you and if I make it to next year let’s make it a morally, spiritually, better and funnier year.”
The end of the blog entry by Bodolai included the following:
“I don’t need replies or comments or anything. I need to feel the good that I did and whatever good I have ever done for you is enough for me. May you all have the happy lives you deserve. Thank you all for being in my life. Love, Joe.”