Local comedian Nariko Ott has died at age 46. Ott had been working on Portland comedy stages for years and was named one of Willamette Week’s Funniest Five in 2014. As the news broke this weekend, tributes poured out on social media and Kickstand Comedy postponed an event in order to give the comedy community time and space to grieve. Kickstand’s Comedy in the Park wrap party will now be held Sept. 26. Ott had just performed at Comedy in the Park on Aug. 21.
“Portland is deeply mourning the loss of Nariko Ott,” Paul Stein, executive director of Kickstand Comedy tells WW on behalf of the comedy club. “A singular talent who was a constant source of kindness, joy and encouragement to the comedy community and simply put one of the smartest and funniest voices in Portland for over 15 years. Nariko will always be a part of PDX comedy. We are completely heartbroken.”
In the 2014 Funniest Five profile of Ott, Matthew Singer wrote:…