Ralphie May's Wife: Inside Lahna Turner's Life and Relationship with the Late Comedian
The late Ralphie May and his wife Lahna Turner made people laugh through stand-up comedy, their mission and their profession. But according to the divorce papers, they weren't always laughing in their relationship.
May rose to prominence after participating in an NBC comedy competition called "Last Comic Standing." He finished second in the competition, which opened more opportunities for him. He would go on to have several televised comedy specials such as "Imperfectly Yours" on Netflix and "Girth of a Nation" on Comedy Central.
Sadly, he passed away suddenly in 2017 after going into cardiac arrest. At the time of his death, May and Turner were in the process of finalizing their divorce. Nevertheless, May left all his personal belongings, including property, to his estranged wife. Turner would also act as the executor of his estate.
Ralphie May and Lahna Turner at The ICC Scottish Rite Theater in Los Angeles, California, United States | Source: Getty Images
Who Is Lahna Turner, Ralphie May's Wife?
Lahna Turner was born in Canada but moved to Houston, Texas, with her family when she was young. It was in Houston that her journey into the comedy industry started after occasional performances on open mic nights. May and Turner first met during an open mic night in Houston.
The Canadian Native has since established a notable comedic and acting career with appearances on household broadcasting networks, such as Comedy Central and NBC. Her comedic delivery varies from stand-up to short videos. However, arguably her most popular and one that makes her stand out is her comedic songs.
Being determined to make a name for herself inevitably led to her project "Limeade," a parody of Beyonce's "Lemonade" album.
Lahna Turner performing at Flappers Comedy Club And Restaurant Burbank on October 15, 2021 | Source: Getty Images
Lahna Turner's Works
Primarily a stand-up comedian, Turner frequently makes appearances at comedy clubs around the United States. In addition and as a service to her country and fellow citizens, she sometimes does tours for the United Service Organizations voluntarily.
One of Turner's most notable projects is a compilation of storytelling songs called "Lahna Turner: So I Wrote a Song About It." This particular production was based on her life story and was delivered in a ruthless yet hilarious manner. Two of her comedy albums have gotten extensive airplay on some of the country's top radio stations.
Lahna Turner has also found herself in numerous film roles. Her most notable engagement was being a part of the movie "Teacher of the Year" which starred seasoned comedian Keegan-Michael Key. Her other acting credits include her portrayal of Angel in "This Is Meg" and as a thrift store owner in "Brand New Old Love."
Lahna Turner's Collaborations With Ralphie May
During their marriage, Turner and May collaborated on the podcast "Perfect 10." Although the podcast was purely for comic purposes, it featured a variety of segments focused on different topics. The comedic couple also used to go on tour together, which sometimes made people wonder if he was the one who wrote her material.
The doubt in her artistic ability only served to motivate her. Being determined to make a name for herself inevitably led to her project "Limeade," a parody of Beyonce's "Lemonade" album. In that project, she sought to highlight her independence from her husband. Speaking about the project, she said:
“It’s allowed me to discover myself professionally. Being with another comedian, especially a successful one, people always wonder, ‘Does he write your material?’ There’s no question that it was all me, and now this gives me more professional independence.”
How Many Kids Did Lahna Turner and Ralphie May Have?
Lahna Turner and Ralphie May married in July 2005 and had two children. They welcomed their first child, April June May, on September 5, 2007, after announcing the pregnancy a few months earlier. Her sibling, August James May, followed almost two years later. He was born on June 24, 2009, in Nashville, Tennessee.
The parents of two used to take their children with them on tour when they were still young. However, with a busier schedule, the couple, especially May, started to spend less time with the kids since they could not continue being on the road with their parents as they got older. Lamenting this situation, May pointed out:
"If I could find something else that would pay as much, or a quarter as much, as what I'm doing now, I'd do it in a heartbeat just so I could sleep in my bed next to my wife and hug and kiss my babies and see them everyday."
Why Did Lahna Turner Want to Divorce Ralphie May?
After ten years of marriage, Lahna Turner decided to end it. She filed for divorce from Ralphie May, citing irreconcilable differences. According to court documents, Turner claimed that her husband was sexually abusive, suicidal, and had drug use problems that made him unsafe around the kids.
Like the irreconcilable differences that had made their marriage difficult, the divorce process was not easy either. Despite the divorce papers being filed in 2015, the divorce process had not been concluded by the time May died in 2017. There was even a partially granted restraining order application by Turner in between.
In the end, the divorce proceedings became immaterial as May suffered cardiac arrest and suddenly passed away. His death ended the custody battle, which had gone as far as May being required to do random drug tests twice a month to assess Turner's claims and determine his fitness for custody.
Turner automatically got custody of the children, and as wished by May through his will, she also received his personal belongings and property. In a series of tweets dedicated to her husband after his death, Turner reiterated her love for him and wished that he rest in peace.