At the start of Norm McDonald’s career, he would help make the family sitcom Rosanne a comedic hit as one of the writers on the show.
By Nisie
Dirty Work (1998)
There, he was discovered by Lorene Michaels and became widely known during his time on SNL as Host of Weekend Update. His unique delivery and obscure punchlines led to unending laughter. His jokes were sometimes controversial and would eventually land him in hot water. Oddly enough, an NBC exec and friend of OJ Simpsons took Simpson’s side when Norm McDonald made fun of the accused murderer during multiple Weekend update segments. McDonald’s SNL career was cut short. The same year he left SNL he would star in his movie Directed by Bob Saget “Dirty Work”.
Along with Co-Star Artie Lang as his best friend ‘Sam’, they would create a one-of-a-kind comedy that was somehow heartwarming and grotesque all at once. Cameos by legendary comedians Don Rickles and Chevy Chase are hilarious. Although the movie wasn’t a box office hit, the movie kept a cult following. Later he would do a Christmas movie, “Screwed” costarring Dave Chapel and featuring Silver Silverman and Danny DeVito. In 1999 he Starred in the TV Series “Norm” as characterized version of his real self. The show would only last a few seasons.
But the comedian would continue to work in various TV shows and family movies like Dr. Doolittle. I still remember how excited I was as a small girl when he was featured in the Fairly Odd Parents as “Norm the Genie”. Throughout his long career he would do many voice-overs, cameos, and features in popular TV shows and Movies. Most recently he was more focused on his stand-up comedy and up until 2017 he had his own talk- show, “Norm McDonald Live”.
October 17, 1959 – September 14, 2021 (age 61)
Norm McDonald was deeply loved and adored by his fellow comedians and his fans. His love for the art of comedy was not a selfish one. He truly wanted to make others happy with his risky humor and has said, “All my life’s about is cracking up people and them cracking me up and trying not to think about dying. That doesn’t cost very much money.” Maybe that’s why he hid his cancer diagnosis from his friends, family, and his fans. Close relatives stated that he did not want his diagnosis to distract from his jokes. He succumbed to the disease on September 14, 2021.
McDonald was truly a one-of-a-kind comedian and entertainer. His sarcastic approach to even the most difficult subjects reminded us not to take life too seriously. Thank you for the laughs.
Sources:
https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0005172/?ref_=nmbio_bio_nm