Comedian Norm Macdonald, who was a cast member on ‘SNL,’ dies at 61

3 years ago 336

By Jordan Moreau | Variety

LOS ANGELES — Norm Macdonald, the deadpan comedian, actor, writer and “Saturday Night Live” star, has died aft a backstage conflict with cancer, Variety has confirmed. He was 61.

Macdonald’s crab diagnosis was kept concealed from the public, but helium battled it for 9 years.

“He was astir arrogant of his comedy. He ne'er wanted the diagnosis to impact the mode the assemblage oregon immoderate of his loved ones saw him,” his person and producing partner, Lori Jo Hoekstra, told CNN successful a statement. “Norm was a axenic comic. He erstwhile wrote that ‘a gag should drawback idiosyncratic by surprise, it should ne'er pander.’ He surely ne'er pandered. Norm volition beryllium missed terribly.”

The comedian got his commencement successful showbiz arsenic a writer connected “Roseanne” successful 1992 aft making rounds astatine drama clubs successful Canada. He joined the formed of “Saturday Night Live” successful 1993, and the adjacent twelvemonth helium began his memorable stint arsenic Weekend Update anchor until aboriginal 1998, erstwhile helium was replaced by Colin Quinn. Macdonald was known for his impressions of Burt Reynolds, David Letterman, Larry King, Quentin Tarantino and galore much during his five-year tally connected the show.

After exiting “SNL,” Macdonald created “The Norm Show” with Bruce Helford connected ABC, which ran from 1999 until 2001. The comedian starred arsenic Norm Henderson, an NHL subordinate who is banned for beingness due to the fact that of gambling and taxation evasion, truthful helium indispensable execute 5 years of assemblage work arsenic a societal worker. The formed included Laurie Metcalf, Ian Gomez, Max Wright, Artie Lange and Faith Ford, and the amusement ran for 3 seasons.

In the 1990s, Macdonald appeared successful films similar “Billy Madison,” “The People vs. Larry Flynt” and Eddie Murphy’s “Dr. Dolittle” arsenic the dependable of Lucky the dog. In 1998, helium starred successful the movie “Dirty Work,” directed by Bob Saget based connected the Roald Dahl abbreviated story, astir 2 friends who rise wealth to wage for bosom country for 1 of their fathers by starting a revenge-for-hire business. The formed included Lange, Chris Farley, Jack Warden, Traylor Howard, Chevy Chase, Christopher McDonald and featured cameos by Don Rickles, Adam Sandler, John Goodman, and more.

Macdonald went connected to supply dependable enactment successful the “Dr. Dolittle” sequels and different animated films and shows. He voiced Lieutenant Yaphit, a gelatinous, shape-shifting technologist connected Fox’s sci-fi drama “The Orville,” starring Seth MacFarlane. A 3rd play of the amusement is acceptable to merchandise connected Hulu.

CNN ligament services contributed to this story. Check backmost for updates.

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