Henry Cruz was walking with his friends from Deep Ellum towards downtown when he was struck by a car. The driver left the scene. Cruz died at the hospital.
DALLAS, Texas — Friends are remembering the life of Dallas comedian Henry Cruz, whose laughter and stage presence filled the room.
Cruz performed his last set on Friday night at Shark’s Comedy Club in downtown Dallas.
“If friends could be your soulmate… he was definitely one of mine,” said one of his best friends, Sagan Butler.
“He made you feel comfortable laughing at his shortcomings and his faults, and that’s the mark of a good comedian,” said Noah Robertson, owner of the club.
Robertson said he gave Cruz his first on-stage gig nearly two years ago.
Both friends described Cruz as someone who made everyone feel welcome, often turning his own struggles into punchlines that brought comfort to others.
The two were both with Cruz early Saturday morning, around 2 a.m., walking from Deep Ellum towards downtown after the show.
Dallas police said that’s when a driver came off an exit ramp and hit him. The driver left the scene. Cruz was rushed to the hospital, where he later died.
“I’m grieving him, and my first instinct was to pick up the phone and call him,” Butler added.
Cruz’s friends have leaned on each other, rewatching old performance videos and replaying the moments that made them laugh until they cried.
They’re also making plans to honor him. On Aug. 30, Shark’s Comedy Club will host a memorial show to celebrate Cruz’s life and legacy.
They’ve also created a GoFundMe to help Cruz’s family.
Now, his friends say, he’ll get more than that; he’ll be remembered with love, laughter, and a smile.
“We’re going to be talking about Henry for years to come,” Butler said. “We’re never going to forget about that guy.”