Philip Horvitz, 44; Performance Artist and Choreographer

Philip Horvitz, 44, a performance artist and choreographer, died of cardiac arrhythmia March 30 while flying from New York to Oakland, the Alameda County coroner’s office said Monday.

Horvitz was noted for his satiric musicals and one-man performances, including a 1993 solo show, “Yes, I Can,” based on the life of Sammy Davis Jr.

Horvitz debuted in San Francisco in 1981 at the Magic Theater, playing the lead in Pat Pfeiffer’s play “The Feeding,” and later became involved with the city’s experimental theater.

He lived in the Bay Area until 1996, when he moved to New York. He co-founded a performance trio and was artistic director of the Karidian Players, which developed and performed his work.