Norm MacDonald Dies: Influential Comedian & Former ‘SNL’ Weekend Update Anchor Was 61

Macdonald’s death was announced to Deadline by his management firm Brillstein Entertainment. The comedian’s longtime producing partner and friend Lori Jo Hoekstra, who was with him when died, said Macdonald had been battling cancer for nearly a decade but was determined to keep his health struggles private, away from family, friends and fans.

“He was most proud of his comedy,” Hoekstra said. “He never wanted the diagnosis to affect the way the audience or any of his loved ones saw him. Norm was a pure comic. He once wrote that ‘a joke should catch someone by surprise, it should never pander.’ He certainly never pandered. Norm will be missed terribly.”
Norm MacDonald used bluntness as a comedy weapon more effectively than anyone, with the exception of Don Rickles (who had a more layered approach and used it differently).



There are longer versions of this legendary late night interview, but this one had the clearest picture.