The great Norm Macdonald died at 61 years old this morning after a private nine-year battle with cancer. It seems impossible that Norm is gone; his sharp humor made everything he was in better, including Billy Madison, SNL, Klaus, The Middle, and Family Guy, as well as his starring roles in Dirty Work (severely underrated) and Screwed.
The comedy world is mourning his passing on Twitter.
“Oh fuck. I was a huge fan of Norm Macdonald and I essentially ripped off his delivery when I first started acting. I would stay up specifically to watch him on talk shows. He was the funniest guest of all time. We lost a comedy giant today. One of the the all time greats. RIP,” Seth Rogen tweeted following Macdonald’s death. Patton Oswalt wrote, “NOOOOO GODDAMIT. Oh my God what is even happening. Good bye, Norm. You were never not 100% hilarious,” while Bridget Phetasy added, “My timeline is united in sadness over the passing of Norm MacDonald. That was part of his vast genius. He transcended divisions and was always funny, all the time. We have so much to learn from him.”
But Jon Stewart may have put it best:
No one could make you break like Norm Macdonald. Hilarious and unique. Fuck cancer.
— Jon Stewart (@jonstewart) September 14, 2021
Here’s more.
Oh fuck. I was a huge fan of Norm Macdonald and I essentially ripped off his delivery when I first started acting. I would stay up specifically to watch him on talk shows. He was the funniest guest of all time. We lost a comedy giant today. One of the the all time greats. RIP.
— Seth Rogen (@Sethrogen) September 14, 2021
NOOOOO GODDAMIT. Oh my God what is even happening.
Good bye, Norm. You were never not 100% hilarious. https://t.co/loW3QsEjgW
— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) September 14, 2021
Norm is the pinnacle of bravery and originality.
https://t.co/UfeNoEUlUv
— Whitney Cummings (@WhitneyCummings) September 14, 2021
There is no more satisfying YouTube rabbit hole than the “Norm MacDonald talk show” dive. Truly one of the funniest people who has ever lived.
— Sean Fennessey (@SeanFennessey) September 14, 2021
Fuck. Not Norm
— Steve Agee (@steveagee) September 14, 2021
.@TheSimpsons So very sorry to hear of the passing of @normmacdonald I didn’t know him well, but he was very kind to me, and of course as funny off camera as on. Such sad news.
— Al Jean (@AlJean) September 14, 2021
This photo was taken after I was a guest on Norm’s show. At dinner the laughs just continued nonstop. He will be missed. RIP Norm Macdonald pic.twitter.com/DToJCUBdU2
— Gilbert Gottfried (@RealGilbert) September 14, 2021
Plus do yourself a favor and pick up @normmacdonald ‘s book. One of the funniest things I’ve ever read. I have only called a handful of funny people a genius, he was one of them. I love you, Norm. RIP, you delightful weirdo.
— Brian Posehn (@thebrianposehn) September 14, 2021
We loved Norm MacDonald. One of a kind. https://t.co/0sXoCLEtuG
— Steve Martin (@SteveMartinToGo) September 14, 2021
Of the many addictive rabbit holes you can disappear down on the internet, the most pleasurable is ‘Norm MacDonald chat show appearances’. Thanks for all the laughs Norm, very sorry to see you go. https://t.co/ahxZNRdJEw
— edgarwright (@edgarwright) September 14, 2021
Now let’s all watch “The Mouth Joke” for the 45th time. It never gets old.