Hollywood is mourning the loss of famed Saturday Night Live alum Norm MacDonald. MacDonald passed away Tuesday at the age of 61 after a lengthy battle with cancer. Several SNL stars, as well as other Hollywood actors, took to social media Tuesday to pay their respects to MacDonald.
‘One of the most impactful comedic voices’
We loved Norm MacDonald. One of a kind. https://t.co/0sXoCLEtuG
— Steve Martin (@SteveMartinToGo) September 14, 2021
“Today is a sad day. All of us here at SNL mourn the loss of Norm Macdonald, one of the most impactful comedic voices of his or any other generation,” SNL shared in a statement on social media. “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.”
‘Nobody funnier’
“Norm @normmacdonald was a great talent, and I loved laughing with him on SNL. *Bob Dole* will miss Norm Macdonald.” pic.twitter.com/gPsdyJ5tS9
— Senator Bob Dole (@SenatorDole) September 14, 2021
“To so many people in comedy, I included, there was nobody funnier than Norm Macdonald,” Seth MacFarlane, who created and starred in The Orville with MacDonald, tweeted. “You always hoped he would hang around after the work was done, just so you could hear his stories and get a laugh. So hilarious and so generous with his personality. I’m gonna miss him.”
‘Fearlessly funny’
Every one of us loved Norm. This man gave me some of the most memorable laughs of all my life. We knew the most fearless, funny, and original man we have ever known. An incredible dad. A great friend. A legend. Love u pal. pic.twitter.com/2Pftw28uPc
— Adam Sandler (@AdamSandler) September 14, 2021
“Norm was in a comedy genre of his own. No one like him on this planet,” Sarah Silverman wrote in her tribute. “Please do yourself a favor and watch his stuff. He was one of a kind of all time.”
‘We lost a comedy giant’
Oh fuck. I was a big fan Norm Macdonald. I essentially copied his delivery as my first acting gig. I would stay up late just to watch him on talk-shows. He was the greatest comedian of all time. Today, we lost a comedy legend. One of the greatest comedians of all time. RIP.
— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) September 14, 2021
“Norm, may you Rest In Peace,” wrote Molly Shannon, who joined SNL in 1995. “Your comedy and the way you cared so much about words and sentences and storytelling was like no one else. Just brilliant. Your writing was like poetry. You preferred long-dead authors like Mark Twain. Your favorite book was The Adventures of Huckleberry Finn. You were always reading!! You poured that love you had of those great authors into your own work. You were one of a kind. And a lot of people don’t know this but Norm was a math genius. Great father and friend. Old-time elegance…..love ya baby.”
‘Shocked and saddened’
Devastated. At 17 years old, I met Norm at Ottawa. Been close for decades. We have lost an eminent comedian. Comedy has lost a voice that is as unique, prolific, bold, dark, funny, and sincere as this one. Love you forever, Norm. pic.twitter.com/V44nyouhQN
— bob saget (@bobsaget) September 14, 2021
“I was absolutely shocked and saddened to hear of Norm MacDonald’s passing this morning,” added MacDonald’s former co-star Kevin Nealon. “He was, without a doubt, one of a kind. So clever, daring, well-read, and smart as a whip. His comedy was brilliant and at times biting. We all loved him on SNL‘s Weekend Update and I don’t actually think he ever got credit for coining the phrase, ‘Fake News.’ Norm and I often toured doing stand-up and occasionally golfed together. A few years ago we took a road trip to Palm Springs and he insisted on blasting Johnny Cash tunes the entire way, windows down with his barefoot dangling out. Luckily I was driving. Thank you for your unique brilliance and charm, Norm. I miss you already.”
‘One of the most precious gems’
My dear friend Norm MacDonald passed after a brave 10 year battle. He was one our most treasured gems. A comedian genius, honest and courageous. I love him.
— Jim Carrey (@JimCarrey) September 14, 2021
“I am absolutely devastated about Norm Macdonald,” Conan O’Brien tweeted. “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.”
‘Norm was the best’
Oh my God. We lost a legend. Norm was a punishingly funny man. Unique and organic. RIPNormMacDonald https://t.co/u3nkFjs099
— Jim Gaffigan (@JimGaffigan) September 14, 2021
“In every important way, in the world of stand-up, Norm was the best. An opinion shared by me and all peers. Always up to something, never certain, until his matter-of-fact delivery leveled you,” wrote David Letterman. “I was always delighted by his bizarre mind and earnest gaze. (I’m trying to avoid using the phrase, “twinkle in his eyes”). He was a lifetime Cy Young winner in comedy. Gone, but impossible to forget.”