Sheilah Graham
American gossip columnist (1904-1988)
Norm Macdonald was a renowned Canadian stand-up comedian, actor, and writer known for his deadpan delivery and old-fashioned comedy style. He was a regular guest on late-night talk shows and had a successful career in both television and film, with roles in shows like Saturday Night Live and movies like Dirty Work.
Table of Contents
About the Norm MacDonald
Norman Gene Macdonaldwas a Canadian stand-up comedian, actor, and writer whose style was characterized by deadpan delivery, eccentric understatement, and the use of folksy, old-fashioned turns of phrase. He appeared in many films and was a regular guest on late-night talk shows, where he became known for his chaotic, yet understated style of comedy. Many critics and fellow comedians considered him to be the ultimate talk show guest, while prominent late-night figure David Letterman regarded him as “the best” of stand-up comedians.
Earlier in his career, Macdonald’s first work on television included writing for such comedies as Roseanne and The Dennis Miller Show. In 1993, Macdonald was hired as a writer and cast member on Saturday Night Liveand Norm Macdonald Has a Show (a Netflix series), on which he interviewed comedians and other celebrities. In 2016, he authored Based on a True Story, a novel that presented a heavily fictionalized account of his life. Macdonald died of leukemia in September 2021, a condition he had not publicly disclosed.
Frequently Asked Questions
Norm Macdonald was a Canadian stand-up comedian, actor, and writer best known for his deadpan delivery and eccentric understatement in his comedy style.
Norm Macdonald was a writer and cast member on Saturday Night Live, where he anchored the Weekend Update segment for several seasons. He also wrote for and appeared in other TV shows and films, such as Roseanne, The Dennis Miller Show, and Dirty Work.
Norm Macdonald’s comedy style was characterized by his deadpan delivery, eccentric understatement, and the use of folksy, old-fashioned turns of phrase, which made him a popular and acclaimed talk show guest.
Norm Macdonald was removed as host of SNL’s Weekend Update in 1998, allegedly for relentlessly mocking O.J. Simpson during his murder trial, which offended producer Don Ohlmeyer, a close friend of Simpson.
After being fired from SNL, Norm Macdonald wrote and starred in the 1998 film Dirty Work and headlined his own sitcom, The Norm Show, from 1999 to 2001. He also provided voice acting roles for various animated shows like Family Guy, The Fairly OddParents, and The Orville.
Norm Macdonald died of leukemia in September 2021, a condition he had not publicly disclosed.
Many critics and fellow comedians considered Norm Macdonald to be the ultimate talk show guest, while prominent late-night figure David Letterman regarded him as ,the best, of stand-up comedians.