# People can actually die laughing? **URL:** \ **Category:** Factual Questions\ **Created:** [November 22, 2000, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-can-actually-die-laughing/42347 "2000-11-22T19:34:05Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 10\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![Uniball](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Uniball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uniball)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 7:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-can-actually-die-laughing/42347/1 "2000-11-22T19:34:05Z")
Some time ago, I’ve read that italian poet Pietro Aretino die of laughter. But you can really die while watching a Jerry Lewis movie? If so, how? ---
**Author:** ![Nukeman](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/n/ce7236/32.png) [@Nukeman](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Nukeman)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 8:19pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-can-actually-die-laughing/42347/2 "2000-11-22T20:19:22Z")
I doubt thats true, but have you never laughed so hard that it hurts and you can barely breathe? if you laughed for long enough like that, maybe you would suffocate ---
**Author:** ![Lynn\_Bodoni](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/e47c2d/32.png) [@Lynn\_Bodoni](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Lynn_Bodoni)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 8:27pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-can-actually-die-laughing/42347/3 "2000-11-22T20:27:16Z")
I have breathing problems, and a couple of months ago I thought that I WOULD die laughing at the latest Janet Evanovitch book. I simply could not stop laughing long enough to breathe in. However, I am sure that I won’t die laughing from watching a Jerry Lewis flick. I don’t laugh at things that aren’t funny. ---
**Author:** ![Uniball](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Uniball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uniball)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 8:58pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-can-actually-die-laughing/42347/4 "2000-11-22T20:58:00Z")
Uh, I think you’re being too harsh about Jerry Lewis. He’s not funny TODAY, but some of his movies (those directed by Frank Tashlin above all) are classics, almost live-action Warner Bros cartoons. ---
**Author:** ![manhattan](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/manhattan/32/7_2.png) [@manhattan](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/manhattan)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 9:00pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-can-actually-die-laughing/42347/5 "2000-11-22T21:00:05Z")
[http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1\_207.html](http://www.straightdope.com/classics/a1_207.html) ---
**Author:** ![Uniball](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Uniball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uniball)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 9:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-can-actually-die-laughing/42347/6 "2000-11-22T21:04:21Z")
THANKS, Manhattan!:D. But I think Mr. Cecil could do some research about Pietro Aretino, to complement the data. ---
**Author:** ![bibliophage](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bibliophage/32/7615_2.png) [@bibliophage](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bibliophage)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 9:45pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-can-actually-die-laughing/42347/7 "2000-11-22T21:45:54Z")
I think we have finally answered the question [Do the French really love Jerry Lewis?](http://www.straightdope.com/columns/991001.html) ---
**Author:** ![Uniball](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/e5b9ba/32.png) [@Uniball](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Uniball)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 10:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-can-actually-die-laughing/42347/8 "2000-11-22T22:23:25Z")
He’s still popular here, but even we know that he’s not funny anymore. But some of his movies are truly good and funny. As I said, re-watch some of his Frank Tashlin movies and you’ll find out how Mr. Lewis masters the art of the sight gag. ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 11:04pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-can-actually-die-laughing/42347/9 "2000-11-22T23:04:41Z")
There was one case where a person did die laughing watching the BBC show, The Goodies. I don’t have the details handy, but evidently he was laughing so hard he had a heart attack and died. ---
**Author:** ![Celyn](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/9dc877/32.png) [@Celyn](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Celyn)\ **Post date:** [November 22, 2000, 11:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/people-can-actually-die-laughing/42347/10 "2000-11-22T23:38:22Z")
> [@](#): > > \*Originally posted by RealityChuck \* > \*\*There was one case where a person did die laughing watching the BBC show, The Goodies. \*\* Glad you posted that. I was going to post that earlier but didn’t know how widely recognised the “Goodies” would be. Like you, I have no proof handy now, but definitely believe that to be true. I think the widow said she didn’t mind too much, 'cos he died happy.