Norm Macdonald, the comedian who served as the Weekend Update anchor on TV’s Saturday Night Live for three of his five seasons on the sketch comedy program, died September 14, 2021, of cancer. The comedian’s longtime producing partner and friend Lori Jo Hoekstra, said Macdonald, 61, had kept his cancer battle private 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,” said Hoekstra, who was with him when died. “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.”
On the season premiere of Saturday Night Live on Oct. 2, 2021, the sketch comedy series paid tribute to its former cast member during Weekend Update.
Watch this edition of SNL‘s classic Jeopardy! sketch featuring Macdonald as a gum-chewing Burt Reynolds
Many more tributes to Norm Macdonald…
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
This photo was taken after I was a guest on Norm’s show. At dinner the laughs just continued nonstop. He will be missed. RIP Norm Macdonald pic.twitter.com/DToJCUBdU2
— Gilbert Gottfried (@RealGilbert) September 14, 2021
Gottfried himself passed just seven months later.
Very sad to hear of the passing of Norm Macdonald. He was a bold, fearless and original voice. This is a huge loss.
— Billy Crystal (@BillyCrystal) September 14, 2021
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
The Canadian-born Macdonald was born Oct. 17, 1959, in Quebec City, Quebec. After serving as a stand-up comic in Ottawa, he was hired as a writer for the TV sitcom, Roseanne. After just one season, he joined Saturday Night Live, in 1993, as part of their repertory company. The next year, the show’s 20th, he was named anchor for Weekend Update. (More Norm Macdonald tributes below.)
This makes us laugh every time.
We are saddened by the news of Norm Macdonald. He was a hilarious man and an absolute legend. Thankful to have been the inspiration behind one of the “Best Weekend Update Jokes of All Time,” according to the internet. Rest In Peace Norm, and may your jokes live on forever. pic.twitter.com/hNwId2Zc6y
— Better Than Ezra (@betterthanezra) September 14, 2021
I am absolutely devastated about Norm Macdonald. Norm had the most unique comedic voice I have ever encountered and he was so relentlessly and uncompromisingly funny. I will never laugh that hard again. I’m so sad for all of us today.
— Conan O’Brien (@ConanOBrien) September 14, 2021
Oh fuck. I was a huge fan of Norm Macdonald and I essentially ripped off his delivery when I first started acting. I would stay up specifically to watch him on talk shows. He was the funniest guest of all time. We lost a comedy giant today. One of the the all time greats. RIP.
— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) September 14, 2021
As a member of SNL‘s repertory company, Macdonald portrayed such celebrities as Bob Dole, David Letterman, and Larry King.
“Norm @normmacdonald was a great talent, and I loved laughing with him on SNL. *Bob Dole* will miss Norm Macdonald.” pic.twitter.com/gPsdyJ5tS9
— Senator Bob Dole (@SenatorDole) September 14, 2021
Today the world lost a very, very funny man. We miss him already. R.I.P Norm Macdonald.
— Eugene Levy (@Realeugenelevy) September 14, 2021
Today is a sad day. All of us here at SNL mourn the loss of Norm Macdonald, one of the most impactful comedic voices of his or any other generation. pic.twitter.com/KQYuuz5eM9
— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) September 14, 2021
“He was the gold standard.” @SethMeyers reflects on the passing of comedy legend Norm Macdonald. pic.twitter.com/kvxi01VN7Z
— Late Night with Seth Meyers (@LateNightSeth) September 15, 2021
In every important way, in the world of stand-up, Norm was the best. An opinion shared by me and all peers. Always up to something, never certain, until his matter-of-fact delivery leveled you.
— David Letterman (@Letterman) September 14, 2021
I was always delighted by his bizarre mind and earnest gaze. (I’m trying to avoid using the phrase, “twinkle in his eyes”). He was a lifetime Cy Young winner in comedy. Gone, but impossible to forget.
Dave Letterman— David Letterman (@Letterman) September 14, 2021
Related: Musicians and celebrities we lost in 2021
1 Comment
I am just broken hearted to hear that Norm McDonald has died. He was so funny! Sometimes I wouldn’t get something that he said, and it never was that he wasn’t funny, I was just slow sometimes. I LOVED his Jeopardy sketches and when he played Burt Reynolds I was rolling on the floor! R.I.P. NormMcDonald the world will never be as funny.