How did Candy Palmater die? Canadian comedian dies suddenly at 53
Indigenous comedian, actor, and writer Candy Palmater has died on December 27, her wife and manager Denise Tompkins revealed. The beloved star behind 'The Candy Show' was 53 when she died suddenly, after spending 14 days in the hospital in early December. She was discharged on December 15, and was believed to be healing well before her sudden death.
Speaking of comedians, Palmater isn't the only one we lost this year. On October 27, popular TikTok comedian Huey Haha passed away, leaving social media heartbroken. Just a day before, legendary comedian Mort Sahl died at 94 at his California home. In September, we also lost beloved SNL star Norm Macdonald, who succumbed to a nine-year-long cancer battle.
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Palmater's death was confirmed by Tompkins via Instagram, who put up a short post saying "I have few words. Candy passed away today at home suddenly. I will post information soon," accompanied with an image saying "a great glowing spirit left our world today."
How did Candy Palmater die?
At the time of reporting, we don't have any idea what happened to Palmater. Tompkins did not go into greater detail other than confirming she died at her home in Toronto, Canada. We expect more details soon, as Tompkins said she would post in her Instagram update. All she revealed was that the comedian "died comfortably in her bed, reading her book, doing what she loved."
Palmater's death comes just over 10 days after she was discharged from a Toronto hospital. On December 2, Palmater revealed she had been hospitalized via Instagram. At the time, she revealed it was "to err on the side of caution and get to the bottom of everything," but didn't reveal what exactly happened. Despite putting up several subsequent posts on social media, including one on her birthday, Palmater didn't reveal the cause of her hospitalization until December 14.
That day, in another Instagram post, the comedian revealed she had a rare condition called EGPA (Eosinophilic Granulomatosis with polyangiitis). However, she was discharged the next day and went back home, indicating the treatment went well. Since then, Palmater even uploaded a few Instagram posts indicating she was recovering well, before her sudden and tragic demise on December 27. Some medical experts reportedly believe the EGPA could have affected her immune system, leading to her death, but that remains speculation for now.
The news of her death has quickly gone viral on social media, with tributes now pouring in for the prolific actress and comedian. Even Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau weighed in, tweeting, "Canada lost an incredible talent and advocate yesterday. Candy Palmater, a member of the Mi’kmaw Nation in NB, entertained and educated so many through her work - her passing is a huge loss. My thoughts are with her family and partner, Denise, during this difficult time."
Canada lost an incredible talent and advocate yesterday. Candy Palmater, a member of the Mi’kmaw Nation in NB, entertained and educated so many through her work - her passing is a huge loss. My thoughts are with her family and partner, Denise, during this difficult time.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) December 27, 2021
Unfortunately, Palmater was due to release a memoir titled 'Running Down a Dream: A Memoir' in March 2022. It's unclear if Tompkins will still press ahead with the release in memory of her wife. She was also due to have a recurring role on the upcoming sitcom 'Run The Burbs'. It's unclear how much of the show she recorded prior to her death, but with the series scheduled to premiere on January 5, 2022, it's likely she completed all her scenes. The sitcom, airing on CBC Television will be her first posthumous release.