Norm Macdonald, who rose to prominence thanks to his incisive deadpan comedy style, has passed away after a long-fought battle with cancer that he chose to keep private until the time of his death.
Aged 61, Macdonald was born on July 23, 2025, in Quebec, beginning his career during the ’80s as part of Canada’s comedy scene until getting his first big break in the United States as a writer forRoseanne. That job would be quickly overshadowed by the position Macdonald became more known for. In 1993, he became part ofSaturday Night Live’s cast for the next five years, with his tenure over the Weekend Update desk making him famous, besides occasional appearances portraying celebrities like Burt Reynolds,director Quentin Tarantino, and Larry King.
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News of Macdonald’s passing was disclosed to Deadline by the actor’s management company, detailing that he had been diagnosed with cancer almost a decade ago, and yet opted to keep his medical status a secret from family, friends, and the general public. As said by a close friend and producing partner, Lori Jo Hoekstra, Macdonald “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.'” This statement speaks volumes about his commitment to the craft that made him such a beloved star.
In hindsight, Macdonald truly never stopped working, as in recent years he dedicated a lot of time to his own shows, includingNorm Macdonald Live, Norm Macdonald Has a Show,or his most recentcomedy special for Netflix,Hitler’s Dog, Gossip & Trickery. Even in the face of the pandemic last year, Macdonald took to YouTube simply to continue making people laugh with a series of videos he namedQuarantined, where he welcomed fellow comedians for one-on-one chats.
Macdonald’s legacy was quickly remembered by many of his colleagues, as the likes of Conan O’Brien, Jon Stewart,actor Seth Rogen, Steve Martin, Patton Oswalt, Whitney Cummings, and Seth MacFarlane -just to name a few- have all expressed their love and admiration for the man. Macdonald’s often dry tone of voice and wit enabled him to deliver punchlines in a way that few others could, and almost every one of his multiple movie appearances usually came with the promise of a few lines that showcased his unique talent.
Naturally, Macdonald is part of some ofSNL’s best skits ever, and his love for late-night comedy always kept him on the sidelines for multiple appearances visiting friends like David Letterman. As the world and his loved ones mourn his death, Macdonald’s legacy will continue to crack laughs out of anyone who misses his signature style.
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