Norm Macdonald: Iconic comedian and former SNL anchor passes away at 61

Comedy icon and SNL veteran Norm Macdonald has passed away. This shocking news just broke via Deadline, which revealed the 61-year-old had privately been battling cancer for nine years.

Born in Quebec, Macdonald’s acerbic style earned him a spot writing on ABC’s Roseanne which segued into a long run on NBC’s Saturday Night Live. SNL gave Macdonald a showcase as the host of their Weekend Update segment where he was fired after constant references to OJ Simpson, a friend of then NBC West Coast President Don Ohlmeyer. Macdonald had his own sitcom, The Norm Show, for two years. He also launched Norm Macdonald Has a Show on Netflix in 2018.

Macdonald was a prolific presence on the big screen as well with headlining roles in films like Dirty Work and Screwed along with frequent appearances in Adam Sandler movies. A frequent voice actor and consistent talk show staple, Macdonald’s career in stand-up and podcasting did not let up even leading to his untimely death.

Word of Macdonald’s passing has hit the JoBlo office hard, and we’d like to extend our most sincere condolences to Norm’s family, friends, and fans. He was a comic and personality unlike any other and will be sorely missed.

Source: Deadline

About the Author

Born and raised in New York, then immigrated to Canada, Steve Seigh has been a JoBlo.com editor, columnist, and critic since 2012. He started with Ink & Pixel, a column celebrating the magic and evolution of animation, before launching the companion YouTube series Animation Movies Revisited. He's also the host of the Talking Comics Podcast, a personality-driven audio show focusing on comic books, film, music, and more. You'll rarely catch him without headphones on his head and pancakes on his breath.