Comedian Norman Gene Macdonald has passed away.......... RIP

We are shocked, and extremely sad that comedian, actor and true great Norman Gene Macdonald has lest us and passed due to years of dealing with cancer in private. He was a Canadian stand-up comedian, writer, and actor known for his deadpan style. Early in his career, he wrote for the sitcom Roseanne and made guest appearances on shows such as The Drew Carey Show and NewsRadio.

He was one of the most underrated and hilarious comedians of any era… But those who know comedy admired his comedic style. He was such a brilliant performer. “He was most proud of his comedy,” his producing partner and friend Lori Jo Hoekstra told Deadline. “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.”

SNL fans may remember Macdonald as an anchor on the show’s “Weekend Update” segments. He was known for his impressions, particularly that of Burt Reynolds. In his signature droll manner, he lampooned former superstar Michael Jackson and former football star and actor O.J. Simpson throughout the latter’s murder trial. Macdonald later said he was pressured by network executives to stop blasting Simpson, who was eventually acquitted, as a murderer, and he attributed getting fired from the show for his refusal to stop.

After competing on Star Search in 1990, he was hired to write for The Dennis Miller Show, then the sitcom Roseanne. Macdonald made appearances on late night shows with David Letterman and Conan O’Brian and had a recurring role on the show The Middle. He also appeared in films such as The People vs. Larry Flynt, and he was the voice of Lucky the Dog in the Eddie Murphy comedy Dr. Dolittle.

After SNL, Macdonald had his own comedy series, The Norm Show, where he played an NHL player who had to perform community service after being busted for gambling and tax evasion. He also had his own talk show, Norm Macdonald Has a Show, on Netflix.