Comedian and actor Norm McDonald passed away last night (Tuesday) after a nine-year battle with cancer.
During his battle with the disease, McDonald continued to perform as usual and did not publicize his illness.
He was 61 at the time of his death.
McDonald began his career on the standup stages in Canada, and burst into consciousness in 1993 when he joined the classic sketch show "Saturday Night Live", where he also served as a writer and presenter of the "Weekend Update" corner.
He starred in a number of films, including "Jack and Jill" and "Grown Up" starring another outcast of the show, Adam Sandler, and also starred in the series he created - "The Norm Show," which survived only two seasons.
He began recording a podcast that bore his name in 2013, and five years later that podcast became a 10-episode program on Netflix.
McDonald was scheduled to attend the New York Comedy Festival towards the end of the year.
Many comedians praised McDonald, including Sandler, who wrote on his Twitter account: "Each of us loved Norm. Some of the best laughs in my life were with this man. He was the most fearless man we knew, a great dad, a great friend, a legend. I love you , Member".
Every one of us loved Norm.
Some of the hardest laughs of my life with this man.
Most fearless funny original guy we knew.
An incredible dad.
A great friend.
A legend.
Love u pal.
pic.twitter.com/2Pftw28uPc
- Adam Sandler (@AdamSandler) September 14, 2021
Jim Carrey also said goodbye to McDonald: "My dear friend Norm McDonald died after fighting bravely for ten years (mistake originally, D.S.). He was one of our most precious gems. A comical and brave genius. I love him."
One of the comedian's last roles was as an alien in "The Orville," Seth McFarlane's comedy-science-fiction series in which he played an alien.
McFarlane also paid tribute to him: "For so many people in comedy, including me, there was no one more funny than Norm McDonald. You always hoped he would walk around after the filming, just so you could hear his stories and laugh. So funny and so generous in his personality I'll miss him.
Another eulogist is Conan O'Brien, who wrote on his Twitter account that he is "completely devastated": "Norm had the most unique comedic voice I have ever encountered, and he was so incessantly funny and uncompromising. I will never laugh so loud again. Sad for me all of us Today".
To so many people in comedy, me included, there was nobody funnier than Norm MacDonald.
You always hoped he would hang around after the work was done, just so you could hear his stories and get a laugh.
So hilarious and so generous with his personality.
I'm gonna miss him.
- Seth MacFarlane (@SethMacFarlane) September 14, 2021
