Beloved Christian comedian Mutzie Daniel Forestier has died.
The award-winning New Orleans entertainer was preparing for a tour when he suffered a medical emergency involving his heart, according to his family.
"It is with great sadness that we inform you of the passing of Mutzie over the weekend. He passed away unexpectedly due to a sudden heart related medical emergency. We're heartbroken, but we know he's at peace now," his son wrote on Facebook.
Forestier worked for six years on the Carnival Cruise Line, his son said. A faithful Christian, he would donate his CD and DVD sales to help the needy.
"When he wasn't working on Carnival, he regularly donated all of his CD and DVD sales to those in need-whether it was providing Christmas presents for children, helping the homeless, or supporting shelters that fed the hungry," his son wrote.
"He loved making people happy and showing them how Jesus calls us to live - to love one another."
Forestier led a humble life and never expected to leave much money behind, his son said. His family has set up a GoFundMe to help cover funeral costs.
"Our dad went through his life with very little, not because he had to, but because he chose to give all that he had to others. He would always say 'I have money for my bills and food, that's all I need,'" his son said.
"Unfortunately, he did not have a life insurance policy and knew he wouldn't be able to leave us much behind financially."
Forestier had no fear of death because of his Christian faith, his son said.
"As many of you know, Mutzie was a deeply spiritual man, always rooted in his faith. He often spoke about death with peace, fully prepared and ready to meet Jesus. Living with my dad, I saw firsthand how he nurtured his relationship with God. Nearly every night, he would fall asleep listening to sermons, spending his final moments in conversation with God. His faith was unwavering, and he found comfort in his closeness with Jesus."
He was recognized as a New Orleans Entertainer of the Year and was recently named Christian Comedian of the Year by Red Letter Awards.
