Patton Oswalt is clearing the air with a dollop of humor after rumors circulated online that he died.
“Yeah, this has been very sudden and I’m trying to adjust. Asking for privacy as I ascend,” the actor, 57, wrote via X on Friday, June 26, alongside a post circulating the death hoax.
The initial post included a black-and-white photo of Oswalt alongside the caption, “Seriously f*** 2026. Rest in peace.”
A note was added to the post that clarified that Oswalt is not dead.
“Patton Oswalt, pictured, is alive and was active on X as recently as June 22, 2026,” the post read.
Several fans of Oswalt reacted to his quip playing along with the bit.
“Please feel free to share any ascendancy tips when you’ve finished! ❤️,” one user responded while another replied, “I’m sorry that you died and had to find out this way.”
Several other fans also shared their appreciation for Oswalt’s work over the years and what new projects they hoped he’d take on.
“RIP Patton you were pretty good on King of Queens,” one person wrote while another shared, “Well, there goes my dream of Ratatouille 2.”
In addition to his countless TV and movie roles, Oswalt is known for his standup comedy. The comedian is currently on tour with stops scheduled in New Hampshire, Kentucky, Maine, New Mexico and Arizona. He also has his Tea & Scotch comedy special that dropped on YouTube earlier this month.
“Each special I do is just a snapshot of me reacting to the world at that time,” the comedian said of his special in an interview with Spin. “I’m not trying to do anything beyond that. I’m trying to capture that moment and this is how it feels.”
Oswalt is not the only star who has had to clarify he’s not dead. Earlier this year, Michael J. Fox had a comedic reaction after reports circulated that he died.
“How do you react when you turn on the TV and CNN is reporting your death?” Fox, 64, wrote via Threads in April. “Do you … A) switch to MNSBC, or whatever they are calling themselves these days, (B) Pour [scalding] hot water on your lap, if it hurts [you’re] fine, (C) Call your wife, hopefully she’s concerned but reassuring, (D) Relax, they do this once every year, (E) Ask yourself wtf? I thought the world was ending, but apparently it’s just me and I’m OK. Love, Mike.”
Read the full article here
