ICONIC Borscht Belt comedian Freddie Roman has died at the age of 85.
Roman was best known for his Friars Club roasts and was a notable figure at large nightclubs, per Deadline.
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According to his daughter, Judi Levin, the 85-year-old passed away from a heart attack in Boynton Beach, Florida that occured earlier this morning.
Roman appeared in multiple television and film projects and was an actor, writer, and producer, per TMZ.
He also became known for his ‘old-time’ jokes in Las Vegas spots like Caesars Palace and Harrah’s in Atlantic City, ultimately taking his show across many cities in the United States.
Many fans might recognize Roman from his appearances on the Comedy Central roasts for other comedic superstars such as Jerry Stiller, Hugh Hefner, Drew Carey, Rob Reiner, and Chevy Chase.
Roman also had guest spots on popular television series like Law & Order: Criminal Intent, The Tonight Show, and Red Oaks, Deadline reported.
His film appearances include Welcome to Kutsher’s: The Last Catskills Resort, The Last Laugh, Bittersweet Place, Christ in the City, Finding North, and Sweet Lorraine, according to IMDb.
He grew up in New York City, and at 15 was offered the chance to emcee at a club called the Crystal Spring Hotel in the Catskills, which was owned by his father and uncle.
This would ultimately foreshadow events to come later in life, as he ran the famous Friars Club in New York City for years, which saw many celebrities of the past few decades enter its doors.
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Roman performed well into his later life, and many on Twitter have begun posting tributes to the longtime performer.
The National Comedy Center honored the comedian in a recent post, noting his creation of Catskills on Broadway.
“We are saddened to learn of the passing of comedian Freddie Roman, beloved for his performances in Las Vegas, Atlantic City and in Friars Club & Comedy Central roasts. He was a former Friars Club Dean and created ‘Catskills on Broadway,'” the organization stated.
Another fan said, “Sweet Freddie, another legend gone” in their tweet about his passing.
Comedian and legendary roaster Jeff Ross even quickly took to Twitter to explain that his first roast joke was about Roman.
“My very first Friars roast joke… “They call him Freddie Roman because you can hear him in Italy,” he said.
Roman is survived by Levin and his wife, Ethel.