The Truman Show and ER actor Joe Minjares has died aged 79 after reportedly battling lung issues for decades

The Truman Show actor Joe Minjares has died aged 79 after reportedly battling with pneumonia. According to the Minnesota Star Tribune, the stand-up comic and restauranteur died after being hospitalised for pneumonia and lung-related issues.

The actor was best known for playing a bartender opposite Jim Carrey in 1998’s The Truman Show as well as roles in sitcom Roseanne and medical drama ER. The Daily Show co-creator Lizz Winstead, who did multiple stand-up comedy tours with Joe, paid tribute to the actor on Facebook.

“We lost the wonderful Joe Minjares, another great from the Twin Cities Comedy community,” she said.

Joe Minjares was an actor and restauranteur ( 
Image:
Star Tribune via Getty Images)
“[He was] a hilarious human, a kind and generous man who took the Parkway Theater and created a comedy home for me in Minneapolis that is still where I hang my hat when I perform in town.

“I owe a lot to Joe for his commitment to taking a chance on bringing edgy and innovative shows to that stage that spoke truth to power. Thanks Joe for your friendship and for creating such a warm space to perform.”

Joe is survived by five of his children, 11 grandchildren and six great-grandchildren.

Joe began acting on screen in 1988, taking on a role in film Patti Rocks. He later landed small roles in Roseanne, NYPD Blue and the Woody Harrelson film Wilson.

Outside of acting, Joe opened up Tex-Mex restaurant Pepitos in Minnesota with his wife Sue. He also owned a number of restaurants in the Twin Cities, including the Parkway Theatre.

Jack Reuler, a community theatre owner, told the Minnesota Star Tribune: “For all his success in show business and in restaurants, Joe was all about his love for family.”

His publicist and family friend Martin Keller added: “Joe had a natural writing gift and he really leveraged it in his plays. He had a look that Hollywood liked.”

Born in Minnesota, Joe graduated from Central High School in Minneapolis before serving in the US Army’s intelligence division. He served during the Vietnam War from 1964 until 1968.

After leaving the army, he began a career in a stand-up on the local scene. Over the years, he opened for legendary comics like Jerry Seinfeld, Jeff Foxworthy and Andrew Dice Clay among other stars.