Norm Macdonald

Norm Macdonald (October 17, 1959 - September 14, 2021), born Norman Gene Macdonald, was 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 numerous films and was a frequent guest on late-night talk shows, where he developed a reputation for his chaotic yet understated comedic style. His appearances on Conan O'Brien's and David Letterman's programs were especially well-received, with Letterman describing him as "the best" stand-up comedian.

Earlier in his career, Macdonald's first television work included writing for comedies such as Roseanne and The Dennis Miller Show. In 1993, he was hired as a writer and cast member on Saturday Night Live, spending five seasons on the series, which included anchoring the show's Weekend Update segment for three and a half seasons. He was removed as host of Weekend Update in 1998, allegedly for relentlessly mocking O. J. Simpson during his murder trial. After leaving SNL, he 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 for Family Guy, The Fairly OddParents, Mike Tyson Mysteries, The Orville, and the Dr. Dolittle films.

Macdonald was born in Quebec City, Quebec, to Ferne and Percy Lloyd Macdonald, both Anglophone teachers. He attended Quebec High School and then Gloucester High School in Ottawa, graduating at the age of 14, before enrolling at Carleton University to study mathematics and philosophy. His first performances were at stand-up clubs in Ottawa, regularly appearing on amateur nights at Yuk Yuk's in 1985, and six months later he performed at the 1986 Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal. Between 2013 and 2018, he hosted the talk shows Norm Macdonald Live and Norm Macdonald Has a Show, and in 2016 he authored the novel Based on a True Story. He died of leukemia in September 2021, a condition he had not publicly disclosed.