Comedians stand up for suicide prevention awareness

Vincent "Vince" Carr had been riding a steady wave on the local comedy scene last year, even amid the pandemic.

Carr, who had visited the Flathead Valley since he was 9 and whose father lives in the area, made it his full-time home in his early 20s. He was largely responsible for cultivating the growing success of comedy in the valley, drawing in big names from Los Angeles and Las Vegas and producing at least a dozen shows at venues such as the Elks Lodge and Tailing Loop Winery.

Sadly, Carr ended his life last November at age 25.

His fiancee, Cara Marquez, shared that the two of them had long discussions last year about depression. Covid-19 had shut down both of their careers to an extent — Carr's in the entertainment industry and hers in restaurant management. Marquez now works at Big Mountain Ciderworks near Kalispell and is grateful for the support she's received from the owners during her own healing process.

It had been Carr's dream to one day perform at the Laugh Factory in LA, the famous comedy club where, since 1979, celebrities including Milton Berle, Phyllis Diller, Jerry Seinfeld, Chris Rock and Ellen DeGeneres have performed, and where some of the hottest comedians in the country take the stage every night.

The Laugh Factory has been standup comedian Aidan Park's home club for the last 12 years. He's also been featured on Comedy Central and just finished filming an HBO/Hulu special. Park first met Carr last June in Kalispell after coming up from Los Angeles during the height of the Black Lives Matter rallies.

"I supported the movement but buildings were burning everywhere in LA, so I drove to Montana on a whim," Park said in a recent phone interview from Los Angeles.

Park was staying across the street from Depot Park and saw the BLM rally happening here, so he decided to support the movement and struck up a three-hour conversation with three people at the rally.

By coincidence, the same three people were in line in front of Carr at a grocery store after the rally. When they saw that Carr had only one item, they offered to buy it for him. Carr was so grateful, Park said, he invited the three of them to come to his comedy show free of charge. When they found out he was a comedian, they told him they'd just been talking to Aidan Park at the rally. Carr was so excited Park was in town that he got in touch via Instagram.

The two instantly hit it off.

"Vince was just outstanding to me and that's why we bonded," Park said. "He's such a connector. He created so many opportunities for so many people."

CARR LATER offered to put together a comedy show in Kalispell and bring in Park as the headliner. That show took place last August at the Elks Lodge.

It was Carr's talent and knack for bringing comedians to the valley that drove the success of the comedy scene in 2020. Now his friends want to honor him by putting together the first of what is planned to be an annual comedy show in his honor Sept. 10 at the Elks Lodge. September is Suicide Prevention Month and the week of Sept. 5 is designated National Suicide Prevention Week.

"That man could make any situation better,'' Marquez said. "He would be the center of attention without even trying, and find a way to make everyone laugh."

Park added that Carr "made people feel comfortable because his comedy was real and dark, and he was willing to bring us along on that experience. He was great with people and always stuck up for the little guys."

After being widowed three years ago, Park wrote a book last year titled "The Art of Being Yay!" He said his comedy is empowerment comedy and largely about emotional wellness.

"Comedians speak openly about painful experiences, Park said. "It lets people know they're not alone."

Marquez pointed out that many people have been affected by suicide.

"We have a much higher rate of suicide in Montana and it needs to be discussed," Marquez said. "Mental illness isn't talked about enough. The more we do, the higher the odds will be in our favor to change that."

Park noted all of the comedians coming to Kalispell to do the show "is a direct result of what Vince built here.

"We love him. I have a family here now. That's Vince's legacy. He changed lives."

Community editor Carol Marino may be reached at 406-758-4440 or thisweek@dailyinterlake.com.

Comedy show

Aidan Park will headline the Elks Club Standup Comedy Show on Sept. 10 at the Elks Lodge in Kalispell, 1820 U.S. 93 S. It also will feature Angie Krum, who holds the title of Queen of Comedy in Las Vegas and runs the comedy scene there. Other comedians who'll take the stage are Jim Fleming, Nick Kynett, Shay Kindopp and Alex Perry.

The show will begin at 7:30 p.m. Tickets cost $20 at the door or can be purchased through Facebook or online through eventbrite.com. For more information, call 406-871-4811.

A portion of the proceeds will benefit local and state suicide prevention organizations.