I’ve been thinking about David Spade a lot since his sister-in-law Kate Spade’s passing. I know very little about either of them, but I have followed David’s career a little closer than I had Kate’s. Part of the reason I was thinking about David is when I wrote about him recently, CB and I had a conversation that centered on his relationship with Kate, which I’d heard was very good. We’d never discussed either of them before and a week later, one of them is no longer with us. David has not released an official statement, nor do I think he needs to, but he did post two very poignant photos to his social media in tribute to Kate. On the day she died, David posted this to his Twitter:
Katy at my book signing. I love this pic of her. So pretty. I dont think everyone knew how fucking funny she was… Its a rough world out there people. Try to hang on pic.twitter.com/2kRPvGvj8w
— David Spade (@DavidSpade) June 6, 2018
The following day, he posted this to his Instagram:
Needless to say, it sounds like David is reeling from both his loss and what his brother and niece must be going through . But over the weekend, David had been scheduled to perform stand up both Friday and Saturday nights. Although anyone holding tickets would have forgiven him had he backed out, he didn’t. He showed up and performed his entire set.
David Spade headed back to the stage just three days after sister-in-law and fashion icon Kate Spade’s death.
The stand-up comedian performed a set at the Brea Improv Comedy Club in southern California on Friday evening.
“Thank you for coming, it was a rough week, but I didn’t want to cancel and I appreciate you all coming out here,” he told the crowd, drawing applause. “And, if my jokes don’t work then I get sort of a free pass.”
David’s mood seemed to steadily improve throughout his set, which was well-received. The audience could be heard clapping and laughing from start to finish.
“Thank you for coming out, I appreciate it,” he told the crowd.
I’m not surprised David met his obligations. It could be that he is so incredibly professional that he lives by “The Show Must Go On” mantra. But I do know, unfortunately, how desperate one can be to get back into routine after such a tragedy happens. Any bit of normalcy can help pull you through. I can imagine that it gave him a few moments of normal. Don’t get me wrong, walking out on that stage took a lot of strength and courage and not everyone could have done that. But my guess is that it proved a bit of therapy for him as well, at least I hope it did.
I don’t know David, but I’ve bumped into him three times in a ‘living in LA’ kind of way. He was my very first celeb sighting in LA when I saw him having a conversation with Jon Favreau at The Newsroom café. I brushed past him once at The Comedy Store after his set and the last time was at The Tower Bar in the Sunset Tower Hotel when David, who was in jeans and a t-shirt, told The Mister he looked sharp in his suit. I realize none of those encounters gives us any kind of relationship but it’s closer than I’ve gotten to 98% of celebrities so yeah, David has been on my mind a lot. I’m glad he found a way to ease his pain, even if only momentarily. I wish I’d known he was performing, I would have gone to support him.
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I don’t know him at all, but he’s always made me laugh.
I applaud him for fulfilling his obligation. It must have been very difficult for him to perform. He must miss her terribly.
He seems like a nice enough guy, does anyone know why he’s never been married?
I heard him on the Jason Ellis show talking a lot about relationships. I don’t remember if he said he was in therapy (it was a while ago now – couple years) or if he was going to put himself in therapy. But he’s a super self-deprecating guy for the most part with some trust issues I think. I think it’s partially the lifestyle, partially the women he chooses to pursue and partially just him having some major hangups. But he spoke about it pretty openly. Joked about girls settling for him, that kind of thing. He has a daughter who would probably be about 10 now.
@Harla not everyone is interested in marriage are we still at the point where we ask people of a certain age why they have never? Ick.
I know right? I’m Indian and it’s literally something that gets spoken about as soon as a daughter is born ! It’s so gross. Not everyone wants to/needs to get married. Most married people don’t seem any happier than single people !
@ Erinn, thanks for shining some light for me. I really don’t know much about him, didn’t even know he was related through marriage to Kate Spade and I’ve only ever seen a couple of his movies. He seems like a nice person, too bad he doesn’t see himself that way.
@Shelly, bit confused about your comment as I didn’t say anything about his age.
100% agree, Shelly!
In Italy there are some people who are s*it-talking about Asia Argento who has shown on work (she is a judge of the national “X factor”) two days after Bourdain’s suicide. I find it disgusting (the shaming on her, which unfortunately it’s a thing she has been used since her youth and was particularly hard during the me too campaign). I think everyone has the right to cope how s/he feels and can. And there are also job obligations. Is it so hard not to judge? What reassurances do people search about their own lives by condemning others’ behaviour in cases like these?
I read that people are trashing her on-line and blaming her for his suicide, which is absurd. Rose McGowan gave a statement on her behalf, saying they had an open relationship and no one is to blame for his choice. Truth.
I don’t Personally know what it is like to struggle with depression, but as someone with severe migraines I do understand what it is like to be in massive pain and worry you will be belittled or denegrated as a complainer or “weak” etc… if you speak up about your personal issues. I hope this horrible rash of high profile losses will lead more people to become educated about what depression really is and how much of a threat it is to our loved ones. We need to take better care of people who face these struggles. Try to hang on is such a gut wrenching thing to read.
Hope David is there for his brother. Andy Spade must be in a terrible place. Losing your wife then stalked by the media
He has the BEST Instagram account. Seriously guys. Go follow him. His stories get me through the workday.
I always had enjoyed his comedy skits and roles. But his appearence in the documentary about Chris Farley was just so
sad and touching. You could tell he was still raw over that loss, and now to deal with this.
I remember way back around 2000 when he was attacked by a former employee. It always stuck with me how compassionately he spoke of the incident and of his friend’s mental condition. I felt like it said a lot about his character.
What a shame her loss is, both for her own sake and those who clearly loved her.
I’m sure I’m reading WAAAYYY into this, but it seems like maybe he had a thing for her? I’m just trying to imaging one of my brother in laws being this upset over my death… like I’m sure they would be sad for their brother and nephew, but quite not this sad.
This all seems normal to me. They’ve been married for a very long time. I’m sure these two were close. I think of my husband’s brother like my brother, and if anything every happened to him it would break my heart, on my husband’s behalf but on my own, too.
She was probably like a sister to him for 30 years. His reaction seems totally normal.
All I get is a strong familial bond. It sounds like she was like a sister to him, a beloved sister at that.
Kate and Andy first met in college and had been together for nearly 35 years. I don’t think it’s at all strange for David to be upset over Kate’s death considering how long they have known each other.
Normal. They’ve been friends and family for a long, long time.
Seems normal to me. My sister and brother-in-law have been together for ~25 years and I would be devastated if this happened. And rest assured, I do NOT have a thing for my BIL – he’s basically my brother.
David has experienced a lot of loss in his life, I hope he and Andy are able to make it through this impossible time.
I’ve never really heard anything bad about David Spade. I remember he was helping Heather Locklear when she was in one of her bad patches. Obviously that relationship didn’t work out.
I do feel sorry for him.
You guys
he is so funny in person
and surprisingly funny doing stand up
he has had more success than most people can dream of
but perhaps due to his humility, and losses
he comes across as pretty great
no hate for Mr David Spade here!
Also@Hecate OMG seeing him with Jon favreau
gah! i LOVE favreau!!!! how cool