NORM MACDONALD, COMEDIAN AND ‘SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE’ ALUM, DIES AT 61.
According to numerous sources citing his management, Norm Macdonald, the beloved host of “Saturday Night Live’s” famous “Weekend Update” segments, died Tuesday.
According to numerous sources citing his management, Norm Macdonald, the beloved host of “Saturday Night Live’s” famous “Weekend Update” segments, died Tuesday.
He was 61 years old at the time.
The news was originally reported by Deadline.
Lori Jo Hoekstra, Macdonald’s friend and producing partner, said CNN in a statement that Macdonald had been fighting cancer for many years but kept his illness a secret.
“He was particularly proud of his comedic abilities. He didn’t want his illness to influence how the audience or his loved ones saw him “According to Hoekstra.
“Norm was a comedian in every sense of the word. ‘A joke should always catch someone off guard; it should never pander,’ he once wrote. He never bowed down to anybody. Norm will be sorely missed.”
He began his career in entertainment as a standup comedian on the Ottawa club scene before expanding to venues throughout Canada.
He soon gained a reputation for his deadpan and sarcastic delivery, and in 1987 he was invited to perform at the Los Angeles “Just For Laughs” Comedy Festival.
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After getting a taste of LA, Macdonald decided to relocate to the city with the goal of breaking into the entertainment industry. In 1992, he got a job writing for the comedy “Roseanne.”
The next year, he joined the cast of “Saturday Night Live,” where he gained fame for his impersonations of David Letterman, Larry King, Burt Reynolds, Quentin Tarantino, and others.
But it was as the host of the news parody show “Weekend Update” that Macdonald really found his stride.
He was in charge from 1994 until 1998.
Macdonald was dismissed off “Weekend Update” very suddenly and unceremoniously by then-NBC West Coast president Don Ohlmeyer.
Although it claim that the CEO just didn’t like Macdonald in that position, there were other rumors that it had to do with jokes about O.J. Simpson, who was a longtime friend of Ohlmeyer’s.
“You’re not funny,” Ohlmeyer told Macdonald in a 1998 appearance on David Letterman’s program, adding, “He also believes O.J. is innocent.”
Years later, Macdonald told the New York Times that he believed Ohlmeyer disliked him because of the “experimental” character of his work, not because of the Simpson link.
Macdonald went on to appear in “The Norm Show,” a comedy sitcom that aired from 1999 to 2001.
“The People vs. Larry Flynt,” “Dr. Dolittle 2,” and “Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo” were among his other credits.
During an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, he defended his friends Louis C.K. and Roseanne Barr, both of whom had been embroiled in controversy.
His stint hosting a Netflix talk show titled “Norm Macdonald a Show” in 2018 was overshadowed by comments he made defending friends Louis C.K. and Roseanne Barr, both of whom embroil in controversy.
Later, Macdonald expressed regret.
On Tuesday, comedians such as Jon Stewart, Patton Oswalt, Seth Rogen, and others paid homage to Macdonald.
“Oh, my goodness. We have to say goodbye to a legend “Jim Gaffigan sent out a tweet. “Norm was excruciatingly amusing. A totally organic and one-of-a-kind point of view. NormMacDonald, rest in peace.”
Conan O’Brien wrote, “I am extremely heartbroken about Norm Macdonald.” “Norm the most distinctive comic voice I’d ever heard, and always and unabashedly hilarious. I’ll never laugh as hard as that again. Today, I’m very sorry for all of us.”
Senator Bob Dole paid homage as well, posting a photo of himself and Macdonald dressed up as Dole.
“Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) was a fantastic comedian, and I enjoyed laughing with him on Saturday
Night Live. Norm Macdonald will be miss by *Bob Dole* “Dole sent out a tweet.
Macdonald is one of the comedians that will be performing at the New York Comedy Festival in November.
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NORM MACDONALD, COMEDIAN AND ‘SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE’ ALUM, DIES AT 61
