Freddy Soto

Alfred "Freddy" Soto, Jr. (June 22, 1970 – July 10, 2005) was an American comedian, writer and actor. His comedy act focused primarily on his upbringing in a Mexican American household. Soto's death at age 35 was attributed to a mixture of alcohol, fentanyl, a very potent opioid (morphine-like substance), and alprazolam, also known as Xanax, a sedative benzodiazepine anti-anxiety medication.

He was born in El Paso, Texas to Mexican American parents. Soto moved to Los Angeles around 1990 and worked as a limousine driver for comedian Richard Pryor. He later worked as a doorman at The Comedy Store in West Hollywood, California. Before long, Soto was headlining comedy clubs across the country.

In 2000, a situation comedy was developed starring Soto. In 2001 and 2002, Soto toured as part of "The Three Amigos" with Carlos Mencia and Pablo Francisco. He had his own comedy specials on Home Box Office and Comedy Central Presents and had guest shots on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Late Late Show with Craig Kilborn. In 2004, Soto had a role in the movie Spanglish starring Adam Sandler.

On July 10, 2005, Soto performed at The Laugh Factory in Los Angeles. Just hours after the performance, he died in his sleep at a friend's house. More than four months later, El Paso's KFOX-TV announced the coroner's determination that Soto died from a mixture of alcohol, Xanax and fentanyl. He is survived by his wife, Cory, and an 11-year-old daughter, Cruz.