Actor and comedian, Norm MacDonald, best known for his work on the television shows Norm and SNL as the weekend update host, as well as a star of hit film Billy Madison has passed away at the age of 61 following a secret battle with cancer.
The late comedian was a prominent fixture of mainstream television throughout the nineties and especially during the trial of OJ Simpson, a topic he would use frequently for humor.
“After grizzly photos of the murder of Nicole Brown Simpson were shown in court, O.J. turned his head away and wept. It was at that moment that he realized he would never be able to kill her again.”
Norm MacDonald
Norm MacDonald’s influence and impact on other comedians can be seen through the out pour of messages on social media in his memory. Conan O’Brien tweeted about Norm’s passing saying he was “devastated about Norm MacDonald.” Conan continued by saying “he was so relentlessly and uncompromisingly funny. I will never laugh that hard again. I’m so sad for all of us today.”
The reaching out of support did not stop there as author Neil Gaiman shared a conversation he had with the late actor, saying “he (Norm MacDonald) reached out for advice about five years ago, and I always figured we’d have lunch. We never did.”
Norm MacDonald’s old stomping grounds, SNL also tweeted about his passing, in which they praised his comedic skills and impact he had on future generations. Norm MacDonald was infamously fired from SNL in late 1998, only for him to return a year later to host an episode of the show.
“They fired me because they said that I wasn’t funny…now, they ask me to host the show. So I wondered, how did I go from being not funny enough to be even allowed in the building, to being so funny that I’m now hosting the show?…Then it occurred to me, I haven’t gotten funnier, the show has gotten really bad!”
Norm MacDonald
It is safe to say that Norm MacDonald’s legacy will live on for many years to come, and the memories of him will be cherished and looked back on fondly. His influence still lives on today in the comedy world and his unapologetic attitude has inspired a whole new generation to speak their minds freely, and to not fear what others will think.