O'Neal began performing stand-up in 1992 and developed an act based on conversations with the audience, deconstructive analysis, and occasionally confrontational points of view.

His only stand-up comedy special, Elephant in the Room (2011), was released nine months before his death at the age of 41 from a stroke caused by type 2 diabetes.

[3][4] He was named by his mother after Patrice Lumumba, leader of the Congolese independence movement and the Republic of the Congo's first prime minister, and the African-American human rights activist Malcolm X.

[3][4][5] O'Neal attended West Roxbury High School, during which he took up football and ended his playing career with three varsity letter awards and winning a state championship in his senior year.

[6][8] He had attended an open-mic night at the venue the week prior to his debut where he heckled a performer, who in turn challenged him to try stand-up himself.

[1] Comedian Dane Cook witnessed one of O'Neal's earliest sets and noted his "gentle-giant appeal ... he already had an edge, but he was a little more vulnerable".

He was "essentially thrown out of America" and accepted offers to perform in the UK, first by English stand-up John Simmit for a part on his Upfront Comedy circuit.

[14] Between 2000 and 2002,[15] he performed stand-up across Europe, including spots at the Black International Comedy Awards in London[16] and in Edinburgh with comedians Lewis Schaffer and Rich Vos.

It originated after comedian Dave Attell had praised O'Neal's material to his manager, who entered discussions with the network about producing one.

O'Neal promoted the special with an interview on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon, his first network television appearance in four years.

A big fan of professional wrestling, he pitched his idea for building a feud over three weeks that culminated in a pay-per-view event, which won him the job.

He visited Vince McMahon's house, traveled with the organization for one week of live shows on their private jet, and directed some vignettes.

[20][21] Later in his career, he also walked away from potential opportunities such as acting roles on Web Junk 20, The Office, and Arrested Development, though he would eventually guest star on the latter two.

He appeared in guest-starring roles on MTV's Apartment 2F, Assy McGee, Yes Dear, Arrested Development, Chappelle's Show, and The Office.

He supplied the voice of Harold Jenkins on Noggin's animated program O'Grady and was featured as Jesus in Denis Leary's Searchlight.

[26] O'Neal made five appearances at the annual Just for Laughs festival in Montreal, including a one-man, one-week show at Théâtre Sainte-Catherine in 2008.

[28] In 2011, O'Neal performed as one of the comedians for The Comedy Central Roast of Charlie Sheen as he expressed his respect for the actor and wished to tell him in person.

[4] The show aired on Saturday evenings with Dante Nero as co-host, and a rotating cast of female comedians on third mic.

He voiced Jeffron James in the 2008 video game Grand Theft Auto IV on its in-game radio station Fizz!

He stated that his appearance at Sheen's roast did little to transform his career apart from helping sell out a weekend of stand-up shows at Caroline's.

[45] At the time, he had been trying to address his health issues by experimenting with veganism, replacing sugary food with sugar-free substitutes, and abandoning other sweets and soda.

[1] His funeral was held on December 5 at New York's Park Avenue Christian Church and was attended by, among others, Chris Rock, Colin Quinn, Nick DiPaolo, Artie Lange, Louis C.K., Jim Norton, Dave Attell, Dane Cook, Bill Burr, Wanda Sykes, Gregg Hughes, Anthony Cumia, Rich Vos, Jay Oakerson and Kevin Hart.

[1] The day after O'Neal's death, comedians gathered to eulogize him on Opie and Anthony, including Bill Burr, Robert Kelly, Colin Quinn, Joe Rogan, Dave Attell, Rich Vos, Jim Florentine, Russ Meneve, Joe DeRosa, Amy Schumer, Kurt Metzger, and Louis C.K.