America's Got Talent star Perry Kurtz dead at 72 after hit-and-run crash in LA as daughter mourns loss

Comedian Perry Kurtz, famed for his appearances on America's Got Talent and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, tragically lost his life in a hit-and-run incident in Los Angeles on Thursday night.

His daughter Zelda Valesquez confirmed the heartbreaking news via a social media post .

The fatal incident took place around 11:30 p. m. in Tarzana, a neighborhood in Los Angeles.

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As per the Los Angeles Police Department, Perry was crossing Ventura Boulevard at Melvin Avenue when he was hit by a gray Honda Civic.

The Los Angeles Fire Department declared Perry dead at the scene.

Police have since apprehended 18 year old Naithon James on suspicion of felony hit-and-run causing death.

This arrest followed a tip-off from a witness about an hour after the crash, who reported a vehicle "oddly parked with a broken windshield" that matched the description of the car seen on security cameras hitting Perry.

Perry had a long-standing career that began in the 1970s, performing at comedy clubs in Los Angeles and New York City.

He made an appearance on season 8 of America's Got Talent in 2006, where he rapped about the judges but received three No votes.

The comedian was known to be close friends with Robin Williams, often opening for him before Robin's death in 2014.

At the time of the incident, Perry was traveling between gigs, underscoring the ongoing nature of his comedy career even in his later years.