Comedy Legend Norm Macdonald Dies At 61

Norm Macdonald, whose laconic delivery of sharp and incisive observations made him one of Saturday Night Live's most influential and beloved cast members, died today after a nine-year private battle with cancer. He 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."

White men are so stupid. But its not their fault that they are so stupid. The danger comes when you take the stupidest people on earth, white men, and give them all the power. Now, that is truly stupid. Maybe the stupidest decision the smart people ever made. https://t.co/WlQA5mYyj1

— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) June 16, 2018