The Minnesota Renaissance Festival is mourning the death of half of its longtime popular comedy team of Puke & Snot with the death of Joe Kudla, who played “Snot.”

Kudla, 57, died Monday morning in his northeast Minneapolis home, apparently from a heart attack. 

“We are saddened by this tragic news. He will be missed by the Minnesota Renaissance Festival staff, the 300,000 people that attend the show and the entire entertainment community in general. Our thoughts go out to his family and friends,” said Jim Peterson, president of Mid-America Festivals.          

Puke & Snot have been performing at the Minnesota Renaissance Festival for the past 34 years on the famous pirate ship known as the Legend Stage. Together, the duo entertained hundreds of thousands of Renaissance patrons with their witty jokes and medieval humor.

And as it is in the entertainment industry, the show will go on. John Gamoke, who has played the role of “Snot” at other venues, will perform with Mark Sieve this season.             

Sieve, will continue to post updates regarding funeral dates and times on the act’s Web site, www.pukensnot.com [2] under Puke’s blog.

Kudla is survived by a daughter, Angela; his mother, Mary, and a brother, Michael. A memorial will be held for Kudla at this year’s Minnesota Renaissance Festival, which opens this weekend.