Veteran Japanese comic Ken Shimura dies of novel coronavirus at 70

Veteran Japanese comedian Ken Shimura who had tested positive for the novel coronavirus sometime last week has died at the age of 70. According to the news portal, Hollywood Reporter, the actor was hospitalised in Tokyo on March 20 after developing a fever and being diagnosed with severe pneumonia. Ken had later tested positive for COVID-19 on March 23.

However, Ken, popular for Japanese variety show Shimura Ken no Bakatono-sama, was said not to be critical. For the uninformed, Ken was a household name in Japan since the 1970s and was reportedly the first prominent entertainment world personality in Japan to test positive for the virus.

Before his sad demise, Ken was also all set to star in his first feature film God of Cinema directed by Yoji Yamada. The film, however, has now been put on hold indefinitely. Ken started his career in the industry when he joined the Japanese rock band and comedy group The Drifters, who used to open for The Beatles during their early tours of Japan. 

He later on shot to fame with the group's prime time comedy show Hachijidayo Zeninshugo! that translates as "It's 8 o'clock, assemble everyone!", where he developed his signature brand of slapstick caricature. On hit variety shows of the 1980s, he went on to become a bigger name recognised for satirical characters like Baka Tonosama (foolish lord) and Henna Ojisan (weirdo uncle). In a late-career memoir, Ken had said that American comedian Jerry Lewis was an initial influence on him.