Laban Johnson's Illness and Death
Laban Johnson suffered from complications of congestive heart failure and diabetes in his later years. In 1994, he temporarily took a leave from the show to undergo and recover from heart surgery. He returned in 1996. On March 2, 1999, Johnson was found dead at his apartment in Roanoke, Virginia by several members of the production staff, when he failed to show up for a taping. He was 57. Before his death, Johnson left instructions for Larry Bly to write and deliver his eulogy at his funeral, which he did. Johnson was replaced by Doug Patterson, his hand picked successor, for the remainder of the show's run.
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