Mitch Hedberg Essentials

Known for his observational one-liners and laidback delivery, Mitch Hedberg got his big break in 1996 with an appearance on The Late Show with David Letterman where the audience ate up jokes that ranged from the absurd to the astute. Thanks to a Comedy Central special and a pair of stand-up CDs (1999's Strategic Grill Locations and 2003's Mitch All Together), the Minnesota native's following continued to grow—which only made his untimely death at the age of 37 from an apparent drug overdose that much more heartbreaking.