Posted on 09/14/2021 12:20:22 PM PDT by Red Badger
MacDonald is dead at 61 after nine-year private battle with cancer…
Norm Macdonald, whose laconic delivery of sharp and incisive observations made him one of Saturday Night Live‘s most influential and beloved cast member, has died.
Macdonald’s death was announced to Deadline by his management firm Brillstein Entertainment. The comedian’s longtime producing partner and friend Lori Jo Hoekstra, who was with him at the time of his death this morning, said Macdonald had been battling cancer for nearly a decade but was determined to keep his health struggles private, away from family, friends and fans.
“He was most proud of his comedy,” Hoekstra said. “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 was an SNL cast member from 1993-98, making his greatest impact as the anchor of the show’s “Weekend Update” segments for three seasons. Remembered both for his droll style — and for his refusal to go easy on O.J. Simpson despite reported pressure from SNL execs — Macdonald would prove one of the most impactful “Update” anchors, pivoting away from the slapstick approach of Chevy Chase and toward the more barbed political approach of his successor Colin Quinn.
Born on October 17, 1959, in Quebec City, Macdonald started his show business career in the comedy clubs of Canada, developing the deadpan style that would become both his trademark and a highly influential touchstone for a generation of comics. A contestant on Star Search in 1990, he was hired to write for Roseanne Barr’s sitcom Roseanne for the 1992-93 season before landing a coveted gig at NBC’s Saturday Night Live.
Macdonald’s departure from the show was controversial in itself, and he often attributed his firing to his continued lambasting of O.J. Simpson as a murderer despite what he said was the displeasure of Don Ohlmeyer, president of NBC’s West Coast division, who Macdonald said was a friend of Simpson.
If you want to see something VERY funny from Norm, Google “Norm MacDonald Gay Pride Parents”.
Very adult language but hilarious (with Dennis Miller too).
Nonsense…it was on Sat. night….many hard workers have Sunday off.
.
RIP. He and David Spade always made me laugh.
He was wicked funny. RIP Norm.
At least he cheated the ‘rona.
>Macdonald had been battling cancer for nearly a decade but
was determined to keep his health struggles private, away
from family, friends and fans.
Yeah, he always joked that he was a hypochondriac and always visited the doctor in case he was to die. He truly did work like a hog (or Kitchner Leslie’s girlfriend) because he was doing stand-up sets 48 weeks a year even a couple of years ago.
Oh my! I had no idea he had cancer. RIP, Norm!
Yes and shame on you.
Yes. Before political correctness destroyed comedy.
Never heard of him! I quit watching after the Akroyd, Belushi, Chase, Murray and Radner era. I never even saw Franken on the show.
He got very bloated recently. I feared he might be ill but was hoping it was just age. He was one of a kind. HisDirtyJohnny joke is epic.
Most of his fake news bits are available on YouTube and are very funny.
Must people have Sunday off. But good job of taking a number two on a death thread. Stay classy.
Am I the only one who has no recollection of Norm MacDonald at all?
No, but you’re in a tiny minority.
This is the most idiotic post I’ve ever read on FR... and that’s saying something!
Hard to believe they didn’t blame this on Covid.
Most people don’t work on Sundays. You win the dumbest post of the day.
It was a lame attempt at smug self-congratulation.
He played Burt Reynold’s,Big Chubby,son, Little Chubby, on the My Name is Earl TV show.
That’s the last time I saw him. He was very funny,
He played Burt Reynold’s,Big Chubby,son, Little Chubby, on the My Name is Earl TV show.
That’s the last time I saw him. He was very funny,
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