Taylor Negron dead; comedian and playwright was 57

Taylor Negron, a comedian and actor who was a fixture in Los Angeles comedy clubs as well as a playwright who penned “Gangster Planet” after the 1992 Rodney King verdict riots, died Saturday. He was 57.

Negron’s death from cancer was announced by his cousin, musician Chuck Negron.

Born in Glendale on Aug. 1, 1957, Taylor Negron started doing local stand-up gigs when he was still in high school. As his reputation grew, so did the variety of his roles: Negron played comic and serious characters on TV shows including “Hill Street Blues”, “Seinfeld” and “Curb Your Enthusiasm.” He was a familiar face in film comedies such as “Fast Times at Ridgemont High” and “Easy Money.”

He also was an accomplished painter. Negron left art school at 19 and sketched portraits of other extras on movie sets.

“I’d say, ‘Your mom would love a painting of you!’ ” he told The Times in 1995. “A salesman! I’d hawk paintings.”

A full Times obituary will be posted shortly.