Kevin Gerard Meaney a native of Valhalla, NY passed away on October 21, 2016 at the age of 60. Kevin was born on April 23, 1956 in White Plains to Patricia Dorothy (Hickey) and John Paul Meaney. Kevin was an actor, comedian and singer for 40 years. Kevin was a member of the Friars Club and received a local Emmy Award.
Kevin is survived by his daughter Kathleen Ann Meaney of Manhattan, NY; his mother Patrica Dorothy (Hickey) Meaney of White Plains; his siblings John T Meaney of Pawling, NY and his wife Lynn and their two daughters Morgan and Devin, Catherine A Paulsen of Pleasantville, NY and her daughter Dwyer Paulsen Frame and Alex. He is also the recent great uncle of Dwyer’s newly born son John Frame, Timothy B Meaney of Valhalla, NY and his wife Katherine Meaney and their daughter Samantha Kate and John Timothy and Thomas W Meaney of Pleasantville, New York and his wife Stacey and their son Daniel and daughter Carolyn. In addition, Kevin leaves behind his former wife, Mary Ann Halford, with whom he has maintained a strong co-parenting relationship with their daughter Kate. Mary Ann currently resides in London, UK working for a US consulting firm.
Kevin was born to entertain. Raised in Westchester County, the middle child of an Irish Catholic family, Kevin’s act was based on his childhood. Always making his family laugh, Kevin channeled his gift when he met Westchester resident Bob Fitzsimmons who was a local radio celebrity when he was a waiter at the Knollwood Country Club. For over thirty-five years, he would entertain people across the US and the world on stage, on TV and on film. In describing Kevin, Washington Post commentator Tom Shales wrote: “Picture the precocious love child of Jonathan Winters and Ethel Merman and you have some idea of Kevin Meaney’s act”. From his early years doing standup comedy in San Francisco and Boston, he has amassed an impressive list of credits along the way. His first HBO special in 1986 catapulted him to the forefront of the comedy scene. His comedy became more popular due to over a dozen appearances on “The Tonight Show” with Johnny Carson where he was regularly invited on the couch. In 1990, he moved to Los Angeles, where he was the star of the CBS Situation Comedy “Uncle Buck” which enjoyed one season. Through the 90’s he was a regular on Comedy Central as well as guest starring in a number of situation comedies. He also wrote a show called “Vegas Vows” which received critical claim about his short-lived and quickly annulled marriage. He later married entertainment media executive Mary Ann and they have one child, Kathleen Ann who is now 17. Kevin’s greatest acting experience would happen in New York when he was in the cast of “Hairspray” for almost five years on Broadway.
During this time, he came to the realization he was gay and publicly came out on a Sirius radio program in 2008. In recent years, Kevin has continued touring the country bringing laughter and love to many audiences. His family is very appreciative of the tremendous outpouring of love and condolences at this time. In lieu of flowers donations can be made in Kevin’s memory to The Trevor Project at https://give.thetrevorproject.org/checkout/donation?eid=63307
Visitation will be Tuesday 2-4 & 7-9pm. Mass of Christian Burial Wednesday at 10:30am at Transfiguration Church in Tarrytown. Interment will follow at Mt. Calvary Cemetery.
491 Mamaroneck Ave
White Plains, NY 10605
