Handler honors beloved sidekick
Former late-night host Chelsea Handler paid tribute to her beloved “Chelsea Lately” sidekick, Chuy Bravo, following news of his death.
“I loved this nugget in a big way, and I took great pleasure in how many people loved him as much as I did and do,” the comedian wrote Sunday on Instagram, sharing memories and a photo montage. “@chuybravo gave us so much laughter and I’ll never forget the sound of his laughter coming from his office into mine.”
Bravo, who had dwarfism and stood 4 feet 3 inches tall, reportedly died suddenly over the weekend after being hospitalized with stomach pains while visiting family in Mexico, Variety and Deadline reported. He was 63.
Handler said Bravo “didn’t suffer and he wasn’t in any prolonged pain.” She said she spoke to him about a week ago and they made plans for lunch when he returned from Mexico.
“The most important thing is that he didn’t know he was sick, and he didn’t suffer,” she added in her post’s comments. “Chuy touched so many and brought joy and happiness to everyone who met him, so that is all of ours and I don’t believe in death being the end anymore. He is still around all of us. Just not that perfect little/big body anymore.”
The actor appeared on the E! talk show as Handler’s assistant and sidekick from 2007 until it went off the air in 2014. While he was often the punchline of her jokes, he also starred in wacky video segments, including “Chuy’s Makeover” and “Chuy Gone Wild.”
“Chelsea Lately” director Guy Branum also honored Bravo in a Twitter thread. “It’s not my story to tell, and I wasn’t close enough to learn all of it, but that man faced levels of tragedy and triumph I can barely understand. He lost his parents at a young age, and fought hard to build a life for himself in a world he wasn’t the right size for,” he said.
He said Bravo helped people get to the United States to build better lives, survived prison and made movies.
“He got to be a performer beloved by millions. I’m so sad he’s gone, but so proud he did so much with his life,” he added.