Norm Macdonald Dies: Influential Comedian & Former 'SNL' Weekend Update Anchor Was 61

[TheProle]

Source: Deadline

Norm Macdonald, whose laconic delivery of sharp and incisive observations made him one of Saturday Night Live‘s most influential and beloved cast members, died today after a nine-year private battle with cancer. He was 61.

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 when died, 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.”

Read more: https://deadline.com/2021/09/norm-macdonald-dead-obituary-comedian-saturday-night-live-weekend-update-anchor-was-61-1234833212/

[Carlitos Brigante]

1. Holy shit! I had no idea he was sick. nt

[hlthe2b]

5. It sure did (for me, at least). I had no idea he'd been fighting cancer.

Funny guy and one I enjoyed a great deal.

I absolutely LOVED his Burt Reynolds impression. He was great!

[alphafemale]

20. the article suggests barely anyone does

Quite a thing to go through that long without much support.

[LisaM]

2. Ah, he could make me laugh so much.

I'm very sorry to hear this.

[JohnnyRingo]

3. FUCK!!

Longtime SNL fans will know that Norm would have wanted me to say that.
I'm deeply saddened by the news.

[BlueTsunami2018]

4. Funny dude, always enjoyed his work.

Cancer sucks.

[blm]

6. His Burt Reynolds on SNL was always a good laugh.

[bullwinkle428]

14. I just recently learned he was the primary writer for the "Celebrity Jeopardy"

sketches on SNL, in addition to his appearances in those sketches as "Burt". I literally laughed myself sore, with tears running down my cheeks, watching them!!

I'll make a point to watch more of them again tonight, raising a glass in Norm's memory. R.I.P....

[yonder]

19. 10-4 on the Celebrity Jeopardy laughs. "Burt", along with "Sean Connery" remain one of the funniest

skits on SNL, IMO. Even today, the game show skits are generally a hoot. Maybe because of Norm's early influence?

Mr. MacDonald will be missed.

[smirkymonkey]

24. Actually, that was one of the funniest skits ever.

Loved "Turd Ferguson". He was quite humerous in that sketch. Darryl Hammond as Sean Connery was hilarious! Did Norm write his lines?

[twodogsbarking]

7. He was a thinking comedian. Very good.

Cancer. Fuck.

[luvtheGWN]

12. Yep.

He was a Canadian thinking comedian (sorry, I just had to throw that in.) Comedians and actors -- Canada's greatest exports......

[twodogsbarking]

16. That too, eh.

[underpants]

8. He was really good. He made every joke funny.

His “Moth joke” on Conan was just beautiful

[Initech]

9. Man that really sucks. RIP.

[MenloParque]

10. RIP FUNNY MAN!

[Roy Rolling]

13. Bummer

I’ve been enjoying his show on Netflix and YouTube clips lately. Nobody had any idea he was battling cancer.

One of the best Weekend Update anchors.

[SarcasticSatyr]

15. funny, and really nice, guy ....

and only 61, way to young .... RIP Norm, thanks for all the laughs.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

17. Very funny guy.

SNL's Twilight Zone sketch:

And the supposed story behind it:

[Missn-Hitch]

33. Yes!! I loved hearing this story told about Kattan.

[DownriverDem]

18. Awwwwwww

So sad and surprising. RIP Norm. Your fight is over.

[captain queeg]

21. I guess he rubbed some people the wrong way but I thought he was really funny

Haven't seen him in anything recently though he did the voice for the Pidgeon on Mike Tysons Mystreys (I think).

[LudwigPastorius]

22. Norm in character:

...and out of character for a little bit at the end.

[FailureToCommunicate]

38. Wow. Thank you. That was amazing. Such grace...through obvious pain.

[IrishAfricanAmerican]

23. RIP, Norm.

[SergeStorms]

25. I thought 2020 was bad for deaths...

2021 isn't any better.

I really liked Norm's style and delivery. I went to two comedy shows where he was the headliner. He always left us wanting more.

Rest in peace, Norm, and thank you for all the laughs over the years. Your voice will be greatly missed.

[Bristlecone]

26. Wow. Far too young

[PSPS]

27. RIP Pigeon

[Tommymac]

28. Godspeed Norm

[Jon King]

29. Sad news.

Funny guy.

[Fritz67]

30. Definitely one of my favorites

This is one of my personal favorites from his SNL days:

[Mosby]

31. That was really funny!

[The Unmitigated Gall]

32. Norm...all he had to do was stand there and I'd laugh.

Reminds me of the skit someone did where the West Side Story-era gang danced up against a modern gang of Bloods/Crips.

[Buckeye_Democrat]

34. LOL! Thanks, I don't remember seeing that sketch!

Norm was probably like me, when I saw part of West Side Story on the TV as a little kid, and I wondered what the hell kind of story is this?!

I've STILL never watched all of it, and I never will.

[Unknown Beatle]

35. Oh no...

One of my all-time favorite comedians is gone.

I was shocked when I read the news.

RIP Norm. I'll see you on the other side.

[Blue Owl]

36. Norm had a unique, individual style of comedy and humor

RIP brother...

[Dr. Strange]

37. RIP you old chunk of coal!

[MustLoveBeagles]

39. RIP

[Skittles]

40. his expression alone cracked me up

always looked like he was privy to something that was highly amusing

[Wingus Dingus]

41. Sad to hear this.

Just heard a clip of him on Sirius XM this morning and maybe that was why.

[oasis]

42. I enjoyed his work and looked foward to his appearances. So sad he

was stricken for such a long time and taken from us.

Rest in peace Norm.

[eppur_se_muova]

43. Loved his SNL days, and was so glad Family Guy found a role for him ... as Death !

[twodogsbarking]

44. When you saw him you paid attention for two reasons.

You knew it would be funny.
You didn't want to miss anything.

[Polybius]

45. Oh no!

I loved his Bob Dole. Damn this is horrible news. RIP.