Jim Carrey, Seth Rogen, and Adam Sandler, among others, expressed their respects to Norm Macdonald, who died on Tuesday after a nine-year battle with illness. It’s been 61 years since he was born.
After a nine-year cancer struggle, “Norm Macdonald passed away today, far too soon and too young,” said Corden. “Some very terrible news today, we’ve lost an incredible comedic icon,” added Corden. It was a battle Norm never mentioned to anybody. It’s because Norm’s only goal in life was to make us laugh and he excelled at it.”
Corden said, “There was no one exactly like him”. Whenever I was in his presence, I felt privileged. In the history of late-night television, he is one of the all-time great comics.”
Legendary producer Lori Jo Hoekstra, a close friend of Macdonald’s for over a decade, said that he was battling cancer for almost a decade but was trying to keep it a secret from family, friends, and fans. Hoekstra stated he was most proud of his comedy.
It was important to him that no one, not even his closest family members, would be affected by his diagnosis. As far as comics go, Norm was the best of the best. According to his words, “jokes shouldn’t pander; they’re supposed to catch people off guard.” He never bowed to anybody. The loss of Norm will be felt deeply,” Lori told Deadline.
Joined “Saturday Night Live” in 1993, and began hosting Weekend Update in 1994. He was followed by Colin Quinn in the role of Weekend Update anchor in 1998. His caustic humor, non-sequiturs and impersonations of Burt Reynolds, David Letterman, Larry King, Quentin Tarantino, and many others became legendary throughout his five-year stay on the show.
