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Famous funnyman 'Jojon' Masdjan, dies at 66
Jojon: (Kapanlagi
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Jojon: (Kapanlagi.com) (Kapanlagi.com)
Jojon: (Kapanlagi.com)
Indonesia has lost one of its greatest comedians.
Veteran funnyman Djuhri Masdjan, better known as Jojon, died on Thursday morning at Premier Jatinegara Hospital in East Jakarta. He was 66. The comedian's youngest son, Kiki Hermawan, said that Jojon died at 6:10 a.m. on Thursday from complications due to cardiovascular disease.
Kiki said that Jojon, who long suffered from asthma, had been hospitalized since Monday.
'Before he died, he told me to become a successful person, and asked me to get married and have kids,' Kiki said as quoted by Antara.
Jojon was interred at Kebon Pedes Public Cemetery in Bogor on Thursday afternoon.
Comedians and celebrities such as Irfan Hakim, Ramzi, Komeng, Tarzan, Deswita Maharani, Dorce Gamalama and Tukul Arwana joined hundreds of others for the funeral. Jojon, born in Jakarta on June 5, 1947, was known for his Charlie Chaplin mustache and high-waisted three-quarter-length trousers.
He joined the comedy troupe Jayakarta in 1972. The famed group, which also included comedians
Cahyono, Uuk, Johnny and Johnny's replacement Prapto aka Esther, reached its heyday on television several years later.
Jojon made his big screen bow in Jayakarta-driven comedies such as Tiga Dara Mencari Cinta (Three Ladies Looking For Love, 1980), Okey Boss (1981), Apa Ini Apa Itu (What's This What's That, 1981) and Barang Antik (Antiques, 1983).
After Jayakarta split in the 1990s, Jojon continued to thrive in the local comedy scene and released a Sundanese pop album titled Pamali.
Cahyono, who left Jayakarta to become a preacher, is the only surviving member of the troupe.
Jojon returned to the screen to star in several films in the last decade, including Vina Bilang Cinta (Vina Says Love), scripted by Monty Tiwa, in 2005; Hanung Bramyanto's Doa Yang Mengancam (Threatening Prayer) in 2008; and dangdut singer Julia Perez's Mau Dong Ah in 2009.
He defied rumors of his death in 2010 to star in the action-drama Badai di Ujung Negeri (Storm at the Nation's Edge) in 2011.
A fellow comedian, Doyok, who knew Jojon for over 30 years, said that his senior was a legendary figure who was always ready to help younger comedians.
'We came from different eras, but he could be friends with anyone from different generations,' Doyok said as quoted by tempo.co.
Separately, actor and comedian Tora Sudiro took to Twitter to express his condolences, saying: 'Farewell Om [Uncle] Jojon, Thank you for making us laugh.'
Another stand-up, Ernest Prakasa, one of the stars of the recent ensemble comedy Comic 8, voiced a similar sentiment. 'From Om Jojon, I learned one of comedy's most intricate arts: timing.'
Jojon is survived by his wife, Henny Mariana, and eight children.
