Daniel "Mutzie" Joseph Forestier III

Daniel “Mutzie” Joseph Forestier III, 64, of Waveland, Mississippi, passed away on Tuesday, August 20, 2024.

Mutzie was born on May 19, 1960, in New Orleans, Louisiana, to Daniel and Barbara Forestier. He grew up in Chalmette, Louisiana, where he spent the first 22 years of his life. A proud alumnus of Chalmette High School, Mutzie was the quarterback for the football team, a role he cherished. His exceptional talent earned him scholarships from numerous Division I schools, including a letter from legendary coach Bear Bryant of the University of Alabama, a milestone he held dear. Unfortunately, during his senior year, a head-on collision during a game resulted in a concussion that left him in a coma for nearly two weeks. Despite this, he went on to attend Southeastern Louisiana University on a football scholarship and later enrolled in Hair Tech Beauty School, where he met his future wife, Trena.

A man of many talents, Mutzie also played drums for the band “The Rude,” in the 1980s, which took him to Los Angeles for two years. Once returning home to Louisiana, Mutzie transitioned into law enforcement, serving as both a police officer and a DEA agent for the St. Bernard Parish Sheriff’s Office. When he and his family relocated to Mississippi, he worked with the Long Beach Police Department and became a top car salesman for Pat Peck Honda, frequently ranking in the top three each month.

Though successful in many fields, Mutzie’s heart always belonged to comedy. Known for being the class clown, he performed his first open mic in the early 90s, and after hearing that first laugh, he was hooked. For five years, he juggled other jobs while raising two children and perfecting his comedic craft. Despite often losing money from driving to gigs, he never wavered in his pursuit, convinced comedy was his calling. His perseverance paid off as he won Funniest Person in Louisiana three times, a launchpad that led to many further accolades. He was named New Orleans Entertainer of the Year twice and was featured on BET’s Comic View for six seasons. Mutzie performed in 51 countries and became a beloved entertainer on Carnival Cruise Lines, where he performed 65 cruises a year for six years. During his time on the cruises, he started Pizza for Progreso, a charitable initiative where passengers could join him in providing pizzas to underprivileged communities in Mexico. This became his favorite part of the cruises and essentially another excursion the passengers could enjoy. 

As a clean comedian, Mutzie eventually transitioned into Christian comedy, performing at churches across the country. He used comedy as a means to preach the gospel, a path that culminated in his proudest achievement—being named Christian Comedian of the Year at the 2023 Red Letter Awards.

In the early 90s, Mutzie gave his life to Jesus and got saved. After decades of improving his craft, traveling the world, and preforming on television, he finally knew he was fulfilling his purpose and using his God-given talent for what it was intended for: preaching through comedy and leading other people to salvation through his words and laughter. 

He is preceded in death by his parents, Daniel Joseph Forestier, Jr. and Barbara Newman Forestier.

Mutzie is survived by his son, Newman Daniel Forestier; daughter, Rachel Forestier Vaughn (Austin); two grandchildren, Eli and Nico; sister, D’Neil Fradella (Mike); as well as numerous nieces and nephews, and his former spouse, Trena Forestier.

A Celebration of Life will be held on Friday, September 27th, at 1:00 PM at the Diamondhead Community Center in Diamondhead, MS.

Edmond Fahey Funeral Home is honored to serve the family of Mutzie.