Comedian, actor, writer, and SNL star Norm Macdonald has passed away after a private battle with cancer. He was 61.
Macdonald’s was first diagnosed with cancer 9 years ago but the diagnosis was kept secret from the public.
Macdonald’s death was announced to Deadline by his management firm Brillstein Entertainment. Macdonald’s longtime producing partner and friend Lori Jo Hoekstra, who was with him when he died, said:
“He was most proud of his comedy. He never wanted the diagnosis to affect the way the audience or any of his loved ones saw him. Norm was a pure comic. He once wrote that ‘a joke should catch someone by surprise, it should never pander.’ He certainly never pandered. Norm will be missed terribly.”
Macdonald got his start as a writer on Roseanne” in 1992. he then joined the cast of “Saturday Night Live” in 1993 and began his stint as the Weekend Update anchor in 1994. A spot he held until 1998 when he was replaced by Colin Quinn. Macdonald was best known for his impressions of Burt Reynolds, David Letterman, Larry King, Quentin Tarantino, and a slew of others during his time on SNL.
After leaving SNL, he created “The Norm Show” which ran from 1999 until 2001. In the 1990s, he appeared in films like “Billy Madison,” “The People vs. Larry Flynt” and Eddie Murphy’s “Dr. Dolittle” as the voice of Lucky the dog.
This story is developing. We will update you as more information becomes available.
I will miss you forever!@normmacdonald pic.twitter.com/guVNMZpyzM
— Artie Lange (@artiequitter) September 14, 2021
My dear friend Norm MacDonald passed after a brave 10 year battle. He was one of our most precious gems. An honest and courageous comedy genius. I love him.
— Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) September 14, 2021
I think about these two and a half pages from Norm Macdonald’s book constantly. When I reviewed it, I wrote that they would “make for a fine eulogy”—and I swear I didn’t mean anything by it. But they do. pic.twitter.com/vxLRAd2OeP
— Sean O'Neal (@seanoneal) September 14, 2021
