News of comedian, writer and actor Norm Macdonald’s death on Tuesday elicited an outpouring of support, condolences and remembrances from an array of entertainment icons and world leaders.
The longtime “Saturday Night Live” alum and writer, whose movie credits included “Billy Madison” and “Dirty Work,” died at 61, following a nine-year battle with cancer that he never disclosed publicly.
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Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was among the first public figures to offer condolences, calling Macdonald a “comedic genius, and a great Canadian.”
The world was a much funnier place because Norm Macdonald was in it. We’ve lost a comedic genius, and a great Canadian. Sending my condolences to his loved ones and countless fans mourning his passing.
— Justin Trudeau (@JustinTrudeau) September 14, 2021
A parade of comic stalwarts lined up across social media platforms to share memories of Macdonald and cheer his trademark deadpan delivery.
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
Today the world lost a very, very funny man. We miss him already. R.I.P Norm Macdonald.
— Eugene Levy (@Realeugenelevy) September 14, 2021
Comedian and actor Bob Newhart, in an email to The Associated Press, said, “He was an original. When I watched young comics on the early comedy TV shows, like ‘The Improv’ or ‘Catch a Rising Star,’ I’d study each comic’s style and think, ‘Oh yeah, he’s doing Leno, or he’s doing Letterman, or he’s doing Rickles.’ When Norm came on, I said, ‘He’s not doing anybody.”
Meanwhile, “Saturday Night Live” executives told the AP in an emailed statement that Macdonald was “one of the most impactful comedic voices of his or any other generation.”
“There are so many things that we’ll miss about Norm — from his unflinching integrity to his generosity to his consistent ability to surprise. But most of all he was just plain funny. No one was funny like Norm,” the statement concluded.
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