Norm Macdonald: Difference between revisions
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Macdonald was born on October 17, 1959, and raised in [[Quebec City]].<ref name=brother-cbc>{{cite news| url= https://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/norm-macdonald-book-1.3740268| title=Neil Macdonald on brother Norm's confessions of a cult leader| first=Neil |last=Macdonald |author-link=Neil Macdonald| publisher = [[CBC News]] | date=August 30, 2016|access-date= September 12, 2016| quote= I've known Norm for nearly 57 years| archive-date=September 2, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160902101516/https://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/norm-macdonald-book-1.3740268 | url-status=live}} Additionally, per photo caption: "Norm Macdonald's first day of school in Valcartier, Que., circa 1964. Norm was five in this photo, and his brother Neil, on the right, was seven. ([photo courtesy of] Macdonald family)."</ref><ref name=wapo-august>{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/entertainment/norm-macdonald/| title=Will somebody please give Norm Macdonald another TV show?| first=Geoff| last=Edgers| work=[[The Washington Post]]| date=August 18, 2016| access-date=September 12, 2016| quote=Macdonald, 56... [...] He tells everyone he was born in 1963, but he was really born in 1959.| archive-date=September 2, 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160902015234/https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/entertainment/norm-macdonald/| url-status=live| df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Lovece|first1=Frank|title=Norm Macdonald of 'SNL' fame bringing his dry wit to Patchogue|url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/celebrities/norm-macdonald-of-snl-fame-bringing-his-dry-wit-to-patchogue-1.12327546|website=Newsday|quote=You were born Oct. 17, 1959, but until recently told people 1963. Why?|access-date=September 25, 2016}}</ref><ref name="TVGuide">{{cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/norm-macdonald/bio/168320/|title=Norm Macdonald|work=[[TV Guide]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909051914/http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/norm-macdonald/bio/168320/|archive-date=September 9, 2015|url-status=live|access-date=December 11, 2015}}</ref> His parents, Ferne (née Mains) and Percy Lloyd Macdonald,<ref>{{cite news |work=Ottawa Citizen |date=October 30, 1990|title=Deaths}}</ref> were both teachers.<ref name="wapo-august" /> They worked at [[CFB Valcartier]], a military base north of Quebec City.<ref>{{cite web|url =https://thewalrus.ca/deadpan-walking/|title =Deadpan Walking|first =Grant|last =Munroe|website =The Walrus|date =October 17, 2016}}</ref> Macdonald's father died in 1990 of heart disease.<ref name="wapo-august" /> |
Macdonald was born on October 17, 1959, and raised in [[Quebec City]].<ref name=brother-cbc>{{cite news| url= https://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/norm-macdonald-book-1.3740268| title=Neil Macdonald on brother Norm's confessions of a cult leader| first=Neil |last=Macdonald |author-link=Neil Macdonald| publisher = [[CBC News]] | date=August 30, 2016|access-date= September 12, 2016| quote= I've known Norm for nearly 57 years| archive-date=September 2, 2016 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20160902101516/https://www.cbc.ca/news/arts/norm-macdonald-book-1.3740268 | url-status=live}} Additionally, per photo caption: "Norm Macdonald's first day of school in Valcartier, Que., circa 1964. Norm was five in this photo, and his brother Neil, on the right, was seven. ([photo courtesy of] Macdonald family)."</ref><ref name=wapo-august>{{cite news| url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/entertainment/norm-macdonald/| title=Will somebody please give Norm Macdonald another TV show?| first=Geoff| last=Edgers| work=[[The Washington Post]]| date=August 18, 2016| access-date=September 12, 2016| quote=Macdonald, 56... [...] He tells everyone he was born in 1963, but he was really born in 1959.| archive-date=September 2, 2016| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160902015234/https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/entertainment/norm-macdonald/| url-status=live| df=mdy-all}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|last1=Lovece|first1=Frank|title=Norm Macdonald of 'SNL' fame bringing his dry wit to Patchogue|url=http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/celebrities/norm-macdonald-of-snl-fame-bringing-his-dry-wit-to-patchogue-1.12327546|website=Newsday|quote=You were born Oct. 17, 1959, but until recently told people 1963. Why?|access-date=September 25, 2016}}</ref><ref name="TVGuide">{{cite web|url=http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/norm-macdonald/bio/168320/|title=Norm Macdonald|work=[[TV Guide]]|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150909051914/http://www.tvguide.com/celebrities/norm-macdonald/bio/168320/|archive-date=September 9, 2015|url-status=live|access-date=December 11, 2015}}</ref> His parents, Ferne (née Mains) and Percy Lloyd Macdonald,<ref>{{cite news |work=Ottawa Citizen |date=October 30, 1990|title=Deaths}}</ref> were both teachers.<ref name="wapo-august" /> They worked at [[CFB Valcartier]], a military base north of Quebec City.<ref>{{cite web|url =https://thewalrus.ca/deadpan-walking/|title =Deadpan Walking|first =Grant|last =Munroe|website =The Walrus|date =October 17, 2016}}</ref> Macdonald's father died in 1990 of heart disease.<ref name="wapo-august" /> |
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He |
He had an older brother, [[Neil Macdonald]], who is a journalist with [[CBC News]] (and is married to [[Joyce Napier]], a journalist with [[CTV News]]), and a younger brother named Leslie.<ref name="uptown">{{cite web|last=Story|first=Jared |date=September 23, 2010 |url=http://www.uptownmag.com/arts/features/Norm-Macdonald-talks-to-Uptown-103645619.html |title=Norm Macdonald talks to Uptown|publisher=Uptown |location=Winnipeg|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100928071531/http://www.uptownmag.com/arts/features/Norm-Macdonald-talks-to-Uptown-103645619.html|archive-date=September 28, 2010|url-status=dead |quote=Yeah, my brother is a news reporter. He lives in Washington now. I'm glad because he used to do war reporting.}}</ref><ref name="Macdonald 2015">{{cite news |last=Macdonald |first=Neil |title=Farewell, America, Canada could learn from you: Neil Macdonald |publisher=[[CBC News]]|date=July 14, 2015 |url=http://www.cbc.ca/news/world/farewell-america-canada-could-learn-a-few-things-from-you-1.3143760 |access-date=April 5, 2016}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/norm-macdonald-book-1.3740268|title=Norm Macdonald book review by Neil Macdonald|publisher=Canadian Broadcasting Corporation|access-date=May 10, 2019}}</ref> He attended [[Quebec High School]]<ref>{{Citation|first=Addison|last=Mckinney|title=Norm Macdonald English vs French – Radio Interview CJAY92 w/ video|date=February 26, 2017|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=z6Ko5IgXAjk|access-date=November 3, 2017|via=YouTube}}</ref> and later [[Gloucester High School (Ottawa)|Gloucester High School]] in Ottawa.<ref>{{YouTube|id=OeefXf08dsU|time=70s|title=Tom Green Live! Norm MacDonald January 30, 2007}}.</ref> |
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==Career== |
==Career== |
Revision as of 23:17, 15 September 2021
Norm Macdonald | |
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![]() Macdonald in 2016 | |
Born | Norman Gene Macdonald October 17, 1959 Quebec City, Quebec, Canada |
Died | September 14, 2021 Los Angeles, California, U.S. | (aged 61)
Years active | 1985–2021 |
Spouse |
Connie Vaillancourt
(m. 1988; sep. 1999) |
Children | 1 |
Relatives |
|
Comedy career | |
Medium |
|
Genres | |
Notable works and roles |
Norman Gene Macdonald[i] (October 17, 1959[ii] – September 14, 2021) was a Canadian stand-up comedian, writer, and actor known for his deadpan style.
Early in his career, he wrote for the sitcom Roseanne. Macdonald was then a cast member on Saturday Night Live (SNL) for five years, including anchoring the Weekend Update segment for three seasons,[1] during which time he also made guest appearances on shows such as The Drew Carey Show and NewsRadio. After leaving SNL, he starred in the 1998 film Dirty Work and in his own sitcom, The Norm Show, from 1999 to 2001.
In 2013, Macdonald started a video podcast, Norm Macdonald Live, on which he interviewed comedians and other celebrities. In 2018, he released Norm Macdonald Has a Show, a Netflix talk show with a similar premise to his podcast. Throughout his career, Macdonald appeared in numerous movies and was a guest on talk shows such as Conan, Late Night with David Letterman, and The Howard Stern Show. He also worked as a voice actor, notably on the animated show Mike Tyson Mysteries.
Early life
Macdonald was born on October 17, 1959, and raised in Quebec City.[2][3][4][5] His parents, Ferne (née Mains) and Percy Lloyd Macdonald,[6] were both teachers.[3] They worked at CFB Valcartier, a military base north of Quebec City.[7] Macdonald's father died in 1990 of heart disease.[3]
He had an older brother, Neil Macdonald, who is a journalist with CBC News (and is married to Joyce Napier, a journalist with CTV News), and a younger brother named Leslie.[8][9][10] He attended Quebec High School[11] and later Gloucester High School in Ottawa.[12]
Career
Macdonald's first performances in comedy were at stand-up clubs in Ottawa, regularly appearing on amateur nights at Yuk Yuk's in 1985. Following an appearance at the 1986 Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, he was heralded by the Montreal Gazette as, "One of this country's hottest comics."[13] By 1990, he would perform as a contestant on Star Search.[14] He was hired as a writer for the Roseanne television sitcom for the 1992–93 season before quitting to join Saturday Night Live.[15]
1993–1998: Saturday Night Live
Macdonald joined the cast of NBC's Saturday Night Live (SNL) television program in 1993, where he performed impressions of Larry King, Burt Reynolds, David Letterman, Quentin Tarantino, Charles Kuralt, and Bob Dole, among others. The following year during the show's twentieth season, Macdonald anchored the segment Weekend Update. Current Weekend Update anchor and writer Colin Jost named Macdonald as a primary influence on Jost's own work behind the Update desk, explaining that Macdonald's tone was one that he grew up with in high school.[16]
Macdonald's version of Weekend Update often included references to prison rape, crack whores, and the Germans' love of Baywatch star David Hasselhoff. He would occasionally deliver a piece of news, then take out his personal compact tape recorder and leave a "note to self" relevant to what he just discussed. He commonly used Frank Stallone as a non-sequitur punchline.[17]
After the announcement that Michael Jackson and Lisa Marie Presley planned to divorce, Macdonald joked about their irreconcilable differences on Weekend Update. "According to friends, the two were never a good match. She's more of a stay-at-home type, and he's more of a homosexual pedophile."[18] He followed this up a few episodes later with a report about the singer's collapse and hospitalization. Referring to a report of how Jackson had decorated his hospital room with giant photographs of Shirley Temple, Norm stated, "In case viewers are confused, we'd like to remind you that Michael Jackson is in fact a homosexual pedophile."[19]
Leaving SNL
![]() | This section's tone or style may not reflect the encyclopedic tone used on Wikipedia. (May 2019) |
In early 1998, Don Ohlmeyer, president of NBC's West Coast division, had Macdonald removed as Weekend Update anchor, citing a decline in ratings and a drop-off in quality. Macdonald was replaced by Colin Quinn at the Weekend Update desk beginning on the January 10, 1998, episode.[20]
Macdonald and others believed that the true reason for his dismissal was his series of O. J. Simpson jokes during and after the trial, frequently calling him a murderer; Ohlmeyer was a good friend of Simpson and supported him during the proceedings.[21] After being removed from the role, Macdonald went on CBS's Late Show with David Letterman and Howard Stern's syndicated radio show. In both appearances, he accused Ohlmeyer of firing him for making jokes about Simpson.[21] The jokes were written primarily by Macdonald and longtime SNL writer Jim Downey, who was fired from SNL at the same time. Downey pointed out in an interview that Ohlmeyer threw a party for the jurors who acquitted Simpson.[22]
Ohlmeyer claimed that Macdonald was mistaken, pointing out that he had not censored Jay Leno's many jokes about Simpson on The Tonight Show.[21] Ohlmeyer stated that he was concerned that ratings research showed people turning away from the program during Macdonald's segment; likewise, network insiders told the New York Daily News that Ohlmeyer and other executives had tried several times to get Macdonald to try a different approach on Update.[23]
Macdonald remained on SNL as a cast member, but disliked performing in regular sketches. On February 28, 1998, in one of his last appearances on SNL, he played the host of a fictitious TV show called Who's More Grizzled? who asked questions from "mountain men," played by that night's host Garth Brooks and special guest Robert Duvall. In the sketch, Brooks' character says to Macdonald's character, "I don't much care for you," to which Macdonald replies, "A lot of people don't." Macdonald was dismissed shortly thereafter.
Matters intensified when Ohlmeyer prevented NBC from airing advertisements from Metro-Goldwyn-Mayer for Macdonald's new film, Dirty Work, out of retaliation for what he saw as disparaging SNL and NBC with Letterman and Stern.[21] Robert Wright, Ohlmeyer's boss, later overturned the decision not to show ads for the movie on NBC but did leave in place the ban on playing it during SNL.[24] Macdonald continued to insist that he did not personally dislike Ohlmeyer but that Ohlmeyer hated him.[24]
Macdonald complained about NBC's advertising removal for his film to the New York Daily News, calling Ohlmeyer "a liar and a thug."[23] He said he never badmouthed SNL or Michaels, who he said always supported him. Macdonald pointed out that he had only taken issue with Ohlmeyer, whereas the people taking shots at NBC and SNL were Letterman, who wanted Macdonald to come to CBS, and Stern, who wanted him to join his show opposite SNL.[24] Macdonald also asserted that Ohlmeyer's influence had caused his promotional appearances for his film to be cancelled on WNBC's Today in New York, NBC's Late Night with Conan O'Brien, and the syndicated Access Hollywood (a joint venture between 20th Century Television and NBC).[23] The shows that Macdonald named denied being influenced by Ohlmeyer. Macdonald said Ohlmeyer was "about a thousand times more powerful than I am. It's difficult for anybody to take my side in this. This guy should get a life, man."[23]
It was felt that there was some irony in the situation as Dirty Work was a revenge comedy. When an interviewer pointed this out Macdonald said "It would be good revenge if everybody went and saw this movie if they want to get revenge against Don Ohlmeyer for trying to ban my ads."[24] In a Late Show with David Letterman interview, Macdonald said that after being dismissed from anchoring Weekend Update and leaving SNL, he could not "do anything else on any competing show."[25]
In later years, Macdonald came to the conclusion that Ohlmeyer had not removed him from Update for his Simpson material; rather, he felt he had been removed because he was seen as insubordinate: "I think the whole show was tired of me not taking marching orders. Lorne would hint at things.... I'd do Michael Jackson jokes. And Lorne would say, 'do you really want a lawsuit from Michael Jackson?' And I'd say, 'Cool! That'd be fuckin' cool, Michael Jackson suing me!'"[26] Elsewhere Macdonald would concede, "In all fairness to him, my Update was not an audience pleasing, warm kind of thing. I did jokes that I knew weren't going to get bigger reactions. So I saw [Ohlmeyer's] point. Why would you want some dude who's not trying to please the audience?"[27]
Macdonald returned to Saturday Night Live to host the October 23, 1999, show. In his opening monologue, he expressed resentment at being fired from Weekend Update, then concluded that the only reason he was asked to host was because "the show has gotten really bad" since he left,[28] echoing a perennial criticism of the show. The next episode, airing November 6, 1999, and hosted by Dylan McDermott, featured a sketch wherein Chris Kattan, as the androgynous character Mango, is opening letters from celebrity admirers and, after opening the last one, says "[The letter is from] Norm Macdonald—who is that?"
1999
Soon after leaving Saturday Night Live, Macdonald co-wrote and starred in the "revenge comedy" Dirty Work (1998), directed by Bob Saget, co-starring Artie Lange, and featuring Chris Farley in his last movie; the film was dedicated to his memory. Later that year, Macdonald voiced the character of Lucky the Dog in the Eddie Murphy adaptation of Dr. Dolittle. He reprised the role in both Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001) and Dr. Dolittle 3 (2006).
In 1999, Macdonald starred in the sitcom The Norm Show (later renamed Norm), co-starring Laurie Metcalf, Artie Lange, and Ian Gomez. It ran for three seasons on ABC. Earlier in 1999, he made a cameo appearance in the Andy Kaufman biographical drama Man on the Moon, directed by Milos Forman. When Michael Richards refused to portray himself in the scene reenacting the famous Fridays incident in which Kaufman threw water in his face, Macdonald stepped in to play Richards, although he was not referred to by name. Macdonald also appeared in Forman's previous film, The People vs. Larry Flynt (1996), as a reporter summoned to Flynt's mansion regarding secret tapes involving automaker John DeLorean.
2000–2005
In 2000, Macdonald played the starring role for the second time in a motion picture alongside Dave Chappelle, Screwed, which fared poorly at the box office.[29] He continued to make appearances on television shows and in films. Also in 2000, Macdonald made his first appearance on Family Guy, as the voice of Death. That role was later recast to Adam Carolla. On November 12, 2000, he appeared on the Celebrity Edition of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?, winning $500,000 for Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Charity Camp.[30]
In 2003, Macdonald played the title character in the Fox sitcom A Minute with Stan Hooper, which was cancelled after six episodes. In 2005, Macdonald signed a deal with Comedy Central to create the sketch comedy Back to Norm, which debuted that May. The pilot, whose cold opening parodied the suicide of Budd Dwyer, starred Rob Schneider and never turned into a series. Later in 2005, Macdonald voiced a genie named Norm on two episodes of the cartoon series The Fairly OddParents, but could not return for the third episode, "Fairy Idol", owing to a scheduling conflict.[31][better source needed]
2006–2009
In 2006, Macdonald again performed as a voice actor, this time in a series of commercials for the Canadian mobile-services provider Bell Mobility, as the voice of Frank the Beaver.[32] The campaign was extended through 2008 to promote offerings from other Bell Canada divisions such as the Internet provider Bell Sympatico and the satellite service Bell Satellite TV.[33] In September 2006, Macdonald's sketch comedy album Ridiculous was released by Comedy Central Records. It features appearances by Will Ferrell, Jon Lovitz, Tim Meadows, Molly Shannon, and Artie Lange. On the comedy website Super Deluxe, he created an animated series entitled The Fake News.[34] Macdonald filled in during Dennis Miller's weekly "Miller Time" segment on O'Reilly Factor, and guest-hosted Miller's radio show, on which he was briefly a weekly contributor.
Macdonald was a guest character on My Name Is Earl in the episode "Two Balls, Two Strikes" (2007) as Lil Chubby, the son of "Chubby" (played by Burt Reynolds), similar to Macdonald's portrayals of Reynolds on SNL. On June 19, 2008, Macdonald was a celebrity panellist on two episodes of a revived version of the game show Match Game.[35] On August 17, 2008, Macdonald was a participant in the Comedy Central Roast of Bob Saget, performing intentionally cheesy and G-rated material that contrasted greatly with the raunchy performances of the other roasters.[36] In AT&T commercials around Christmas 2007 and 2008, Macdonald voiced a gingerbread boy in a commercial for AT&T's GoPhone.[37]
In 2009, Macdonald and Sam Simon pitched a fake reality show to FX called The Norm Macdonald Reality Show where Macdonald would play a fictional, down-on-his-luck version of himself.[38] The show was picked up and Garry Shandling was added to the cast, but it was cancelled halfway through filming.[39][40] On the May 16, 2009, episode of Saturday Night Live, Macdonald reappeared as Burt Reynolds on Celebrity Jeopardy!, and in another sketch.[citation needed] On May 31, 2009, he appeared on Million Dollar Password.[41]
2010–2012
Macdonald became a frequent guest on The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien during its 2009 and 2010 run. He made frequent appearances on the Internet talk show Tom Green's House Tonight, and on May 20, 2010, was guest host.[citation needed]
In September 2010, Macdonald was developing a series for Comedy Central that he described as a sports version of The Daily Show.[42] Sports Show with Norm Macdonald premiered April 12, 2011.[43] Nine ordered episodes were broadcast. Macdonald's first stand-up special, Me Doing Stand-Up, aired on Comedy Central on March 26, 2011.[44] On February 26, 2011, he became a commentator and co-host (with Kara Scott) of the seventh season of the TV series High Stakes Poker on Game Show Network.[45]
Early in 2012, it was reported that Macdonald was developing a talk show for TBS titled Norm Macdonald is Trending, which would see Macdonald and a team of correspondents covering headlines from pop culture and social media.[46] Clips for the unaired pilot published by The Washington Post resemble a sketch comedy show in the vein of Back to Norm.[39]
In June 2012, he became the spokesperson for Safe Auto Insurance Company. Along with television and radio commercials, web banners, and outdoor boards, the effort included a series of made-for-web videos. As part of the campaign, the state minimum auto insurance company introduced a new tagline, "Drive Safe, Spend Less."
2013: Norm Macdonald Live
In 2013, Macdonald premiered his new podcast, called Norm Macdonald Live, co-hosted by Adam Eget, streaming live weekly on Video Podcast Network, and posted later on YouTube.[47] It received positive notices from USA Today,[48] Entertainment Weekly,[49] and the "America's Comedy" website,[50] while the Independent Film Channel stated that while Macdonald remained "a comedy force to be reckoned with", and "did not quite disappoint," the show was "a bit rough around the edges."[51] The second season of Norm Macdonald Live began in May 2014 and the third began in September 2016.
2014–2020
In 2014, Macdonald unsuccessfully campaigned on Twitter to be named the new host of The Late Late Show after then-host Craig Ferguson announced he would be leaving.[52][53] On May 15, 2015, Macdonald was the final stand-up act on the Late Show with David Letterman: during his set, which ended with him breaking into tears as he told Letterman that he truly loved him, Macdonald included a joke Letterman had told the first time Macdonald had ever seen him, during a 1970s appearance on the Canadian talk show 90 Minutes Live, where a 13-year-old Macdonald had been in the studio audience.[54] Also in 2015, Macdonald was a judge for the ninth season of NBC's Last Comic Standing, joining the previous season's judges, Roseanne Barr and Keenan Ivory Wayans and replacing fellow Canadian Russell Peters from 2014.
In August 2015, he succeeded Darrell Hammond as Colonel Sanders in TV commercials for the KFC chain of fast food restaurants.[55][56] Macdonald was replaced by Jim Gaffigan in the role by February 2016.[57]
In September 2016, Macdonald's semi-fictional memoir Based on a True Story was published by Random House imprint Spiegel & Grau.[58] It debuted at number 15 on the New York Times Best Sellers list for hardcover nonfiction,[59] and made number 6 on the Best Sellers list for humour.[60]
Starting in May 2017, Macdonald started to move his comedy to a more reserved, deadpan style. On stage he has claimed to have "no opinions" and the minimalist delivery has been described by The A.V. Club as "reduc[ing] gesture and verbiage down to an absurd minimum."[61]
In March 2018, Netflix announced it had ordered ten episodes of a new talk show entitled Norm Macdonald Has a Show, hosted by Macdonald.[62] The series premiered on September 14, 2018.[63]
In September 2018, Macdonald sparked controversy after the publication of an interview in which he appeared to criticize aspects of the #MeToo movement and defend friends and fellow comedians Louis C.K. and Roseanne Barr. Macdonald's scheduled appearance on NBC's Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon was subsequently cancelled.[64]
In February 2020, Macdonald launched Loko, a dating app he co-created which relies heavily on video to make first impressions.[65]
Influences and views on comedy
Macdonald said his influences included Bob Newhart,[66] Leo Tolstoy,[67] Bob Hope,[68] Sam Kinison,[68] and Dennis Miller.[69]
Speaking about Canada's homegrown comedy industry, Macdonald reflected that he would have liked there to have been more opportunity for him to stay in the country early in his career, stating:
Now I know there's more of, like, an industry there. Like I was happy that Brent Butt got Corner Gas. Because he's a really funny guy. But there wasn't that opportunity when I was there. I remember Mike MacDonald had one short-lived series, but that was about it. Otherwise, there was nothing to do. But it was great with standup. It was way, way better with standup than in the States. Like, I think the standups are generally much better in Canada. Because, like, when I was in Canada, none of us had any ambition to do movies or TV because there were no movies or television. So it was all standup and we just assumed we'd be standups for our whole lives and that was what was fun. And then when I came to the States, I realized, whoa, they don't take their standup very seriously here because they're just trying to do something other than standup and using standup as, like, a springboard to something else that they're generally not as good at.[70]
Reflecting on the state of modern comedy, Macdonald bemoaned the influx of dramatic actors into comedy and comedians into dramatic acting:
What young, handsome person is funny? I remember on Saturday Night Live hosts would come in. You know, like handsome hosts. They'd be dramatic actors generally. And the publicist would always be like, "This is a big chance for this guy because he's really a funny guy and people don't know it. He's hilarious!" And then he'd just suck, you know?… I always liked Steve Martin when he was crazy. Because dramatic actors know how to be likeable and stuff. To me, if you've got a guy like Steve Martin or Jim Carrey or something, who are unbelievably funny, I don't know why they'd want to be dramatic actors when they have no chance. They're completely outclassed by actual dramatic actors. How many funny comedy actors are there? There's like a million great dramatic actors. I don't know why they'd want to switch. I guess to get respect or something, I don't know.[70]
Personal life
In 1988, Macdonald married Connie Vaillancourt, with whom he had a son, Dylan, born 1993.[71] The couple separated in April 1999.[72]
Macdonald said his past gambling addiction had been initiated by a six-figure win at a craps table in Atlantic City.[73] In an appearance on the WTF with Marc Maron podcast in 2011, Macdonald revealed that he lost all of his money gambling three times, and the largest amount he lost at once was $400,000.[74] As a poker player, his best live result was cashing for $20,915 in the $1,000 Bellagio Weekly Tournament, in July 2006.[75] In the 2007 World Series of Poker, he came in 20th place out of 827 entrants in the $3,000 No-Limit Texas Hold 'em event, winning $14,608.[76] He also frequently played live cash games[75] as well as online poker. Macdonald stated in a 2018 interview that, prior to the ruling in United States v. Scheinberg, he would play up to 20 online limit hold'em games at once. "Since they went offline, it kind of saved my life. Because I was just grinding out and couldn't even sleep."[77]
Death
Macdonald died from acute leukemia at a hospital in Los Angeles on September 14, 2021, at the age of 61.[78] He had been diagnosed nine years prior, though he disclosed his diagnosis to only a few close friends and family members, fearing that publicly discussing his health would "affect the way he was perceived," according to his brother, Neil.[79][80] Many comedians mourned Macdonald publicly, including David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, Steve Martin, Jim Carrey, Adam Sandler, Seth Rogen, Seth MacFarlane, Jim Gaffigan, Patton Oswalt, and Sarah Silverman.[81]
Works
Comedy
Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
2006 | Ridiculous | sketch album |
2011 | Me Doing Stand-Up | stand-up special |
2017 | Hitler's Dog, Gossip & Trickery | stand-up special |
TV series
Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
1999–2001 | The Norm Show | 3 seasons, 54 episodes, with Bruce Helford |
2003 | A Minute with Stan Hooper | 1 season, 7 episodes, with Barry Kemp |
Literature
Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
2016 | Based on a True Story: Not a Memoir | non-fiction[82] |
Talk shows
Year | Title | Notes |
---|---|---|
2011 | Sports Show with Norm Macdonald | 9 episodes, with Mike Gibbons, Lori Jo Hoekstra, and Daniel Kellison |
2013–2017 | Norm Macdonald Live | 3 seasons, 36 episodes |
2018 | Norm Macdonald Has a Show | 10 episodes |
2020 | Quarantined | 5 episodes (final appearance) |
As performer
Film
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1995 | Billy Madison | Frank | |
1996 | The People vs. Larry Flynt | Network Reporter | |
1998 | Dirty Work | Mitch Weaver | Also writer |
Dr. Dolittle | Lucky | Voice | |
1999 | Deuce Bigalow: Male Gigolo | Bartender | Uncredited cameo[83] |
Man on the Moon | Michael Richards | ||
2000 | Screwed | Willard Fillmore | |
2001 | The Animal | Mob Member | Cameo |
Dr. Dolittle 2 | Lucky | Voice | |
2005 | Deuce Bigalow: European Gigolo | Earl McManus | Uncredited cameo[83] |
2006 | Farce of the Penguins | Join Twosomes Penguin | Voice |
Dr. Dolittle 3 | Lucky | Voice | |
2007 | Senior Skip Day | Mr. Rigetti[84] | |
Christmas Is Here Again | Buster the Fox | Voice | |
2008 | Dr. Dolittle: Tail to the Chief | Lucky | Voice (uncredited)[85] |
The Flight Before Christmas | Julius | Voice | |
2009 | Funny People | Himself | Cameo |
Dr. Dolittle: Million Dollar Mutts | Lucky | Voice | |
2010 | Grown Ups | Geezer | Cameo |
Hollywood & Wine | Sid Blaustein | ||
2011 | Jack & Jill | Funbucket | Cameo |
2012 | The Adventures of Panda Warrior | King Leo | Voice |
Vampire Dog | Fang | Voice | |
The Outback | Quint | Voice | |
2014 | The 7th Dwarf | Burner the Dragon | Voice |
2015 | The Ridiculous Six | Nugget Customer | Cameo |
2017 | Treasure Hounds | Skipper | Voice |
2019 | Klaus | Mogens | Voice |
Television
Year | Title | Role | Notes |
---|---|---|---|
1990 | Star Search | Himself | Stand-up comedy competitor |
1991 | One Night Stand | Himself | Stand-up special |
1992 | The Dennis Miller Show | Writer | |
1992–1993 | Roseanne | Writer and story editor | |
1993 | The Jackie Thomas Show | Jordan | Episode: "Strike" |
1993–1999 | Saturday Night Live | Various roles, Host | 98 episodes; also writer |
1995 | The Larry Sanders Show | Himself | Episode: "Hank's Sex Tape" |
1996, 2000 | The Drew Carey Show | Simon Tate / Himself | 2 episodes |
1997 | NewsRadio | Roger Edwards | Episode: "The Injury" |
1999–2001 | The Norm Show | Norm Henderson | 54 episodes; also producer |
2000, 2017 | Family Guy | Death Himself |
Voice (uncredited) Episode: "Death Is a Bitch" Episode: "Don't Be a Dickens at Christmas" |
2003 | A Minute with Stan Hooper | Stan Hooper | 7 episodes; also executive producer |
2004 | Oliver Beene | Hobo Bob | Episode: "Girly Dad" |
2005 | The Fairly OddParents | Norm the Genie | Voice 2 episodes |
Back to Norm | Various roles | Television special; also writer and producer | |
2007–2009 | My Name Is Earl | Little Chubby | 2 episodes |
2008 | The Comedy Central Roast of Bob Saget | Himself | Television special |
2010–2018 | The Middle | Orville "Rusty" Heck | 10 episodes |
2011 | High Stakes Poker | Himself (host) | Season 7 |
2014–2020 | Mike Tyson Mysteries | Pigeon | Voice 49 episodes |
2015 | Real Rob | Himself | Episode: "The Penis Episode Part 1"[86] |
Last Comic Standing | Himself (judge) | 8 episodes | |
Sunnyside | Hole | 12 episodes | |
2016 | 4th Canadian Screen Awards | Himself (host) | Television special |
2016–2018 | Skylanders Academy | Glumshanks | Voice Main role |
2017 | Girlboss | Rick | 4 episodes |
2017–2021 | The Orville | Yaphit | Voice Recurring role |
2018 | Roseanne | Consulting producer |
Notes
- ^ The capitalization of Norm Macdonald's surname has been inconsistently reported in publications such as TV Guide. Books that discuss him, such as Shales (2003) and Crawford (2000), as well as others such as the Game Show Network and Comedy Central's Sports Show with Norm Macdonald, all consistently report "Macdonald" (lowercase "d") as his surname.
- ^ One of the standard references that erroneously gives his date of birth as October 17, 1963, is "Norm Macdonald". TV Guide. Archived from the original on September 9, 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
References
- ^ Brooks, Dan (August 30, 2018). "Norm Macdonald, Still in Search of the Perfect Joke". The New York Times Magazine. Retrieved September 5, 2018.
- ^ Macdonald, Neil (August 30, 2016). "Neil Macdonald on brother Norm's confessions of a cult leader". CBC News. Archived from the original on September 2, 2016. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
I've known Norm for nearly 57 years
Additionally, per photo caption: "Norm Macdonald's first day of school in Valcartier, Que., circa 1964. Norm was five in this photo, and his brother Neil, on the right, was seven. ([photo courtesy of] Macdonald family)." - ^ a b c Edgers, Geoff (August 18, 2016). "Will somebody please give Norm Macdonald another TV show?". The Washington Post. Archived from the original on September 2, 2016. Retrieved September 12, 2016.
Macdonald, 56... [...] He tells everyone he was born in 1963, but he was really born in 1959.
- ^ Lovece, Frank. "Norm Macdonald of 'SNL' fame bringing his dry wit to Patchogue". Newsday. Retrieved September 25, 2016.
You were born Oct. 17, 1959, but until recently told people 1963. Why?
- ^ "Norm Macdonald". TV Guide. Archived from the original on September 9, 2015. Retrieved December 11, 2015.
- ^ "Deaths". Ottawa Citizen. October 30, 1990.
- ^ Munroe, Grant (October 17, 2016). "Deadpan Walking". The Walrus.
- ^ Story, Jared (September 23, 2010). "Norm Macdonald talks to Uptown". Winnipeg: Uptown. Archived from the original on September 28, 2010.
Yeah, my brother is a news reporter. He lives in Washington now. I'm glad because he used to do war reporting.
- ^ Macdonald, Neil (July 14, 2015). "Farewell, America, Canada could learn from you: Neil Macdonald". CBC News. Retrieved April 5, 2016.
- ^ "Norm Macdonald book review by Neil Macdonald". Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. Retrieved May 10, 2019.
- ^ Mckinney, Addison (February 26, 2017), Norm Macdonald English vs French – Radio Interview CJAY92 w/ video, retrieved November 3, 2017 – via YouTube
- ^ Tom Green Live! Norm MacDonald January 30, 2007 on YouTube.
- ^ The Gazette. Montreal, Quebec. September 5, 1986. p. 53.
- ^ Macdonald, Norm (2016). Based on a True Story: Not a Memoir. Spiegel & Grau.
- ^ Arnold, Tom. "One of the easiest things I've ever done was hire my bud #NormMacdonald to write the Roseanne show in 1992. Harder was letting him out of his contract in 1993 so he could take his dream job on SNL.Norm was fearless in comedy & life & his unique voice is missed byOne of the easiest things I've ever done was hire my bud #NormMacdonald to write the Roseanne show in 1992. Harder was letting him out of his contract in 1993 so he could take his dream job on SNL.Norm was fearless in comedy & life & his unique voice is missed by all of us today all of us today". Retrieved September 15, 2021 – via Twitter.[non-primary source needed]
- ^ Fretts, Bruce. April 7, 2014. "Surely You Jost!". TV Guide. p. 9.
- ^ Prigge, Matt (September 14, 2021). "Norm Macdonald Got Sweet Tribute From, You Guessed It, Frank Stallone". UPROXX. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
- ^ Brooks, Dan (August 30, 2018). "Norm Macdonald, Still in Search of the Perfect Joke". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
- ^ "How Norm Macdonald's comedy sets your expectations before pulling the rug out from under you". National Post. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
- ^ "Saturday Night's Children: Norm Macdonald (1993–1998)". Splitsider. November 5, 2013. Archived from the original on March 7, 2017. Retrieved January 20, 2017.
- ^ a b c d Carter, Bill (June 3, 1998). "TV Notes; Ohlmeyer Vs. Macdonald". The New York Times.
- ^ Sacks, Mike (June 24, 2014). "'SNL's James Downey on Working with Norm Macdonald and Getting Fired for Making Fun of OJ Simpson". Retrieved December 24, 2015.
- ^ a b c d Mink, Eric (June 5, 1998). "Gloves Off as Comic Rips NBC Honcho". Daily News. New York.
- ^ a b c d Frankel, Daniel (June 9, 1998). "Norm Macdonald Wins "Dirty" War". E! News.
- ^ Letterman, David (March 6, 1998). Late Night with David Letterman (TV series). New York: CBS. Retrieved February 23, 2007.
- ^ Luippold, Ross (October 18, 2011). "Norm Macdonald On 'WTF': Lorne Michaels Wanted A Female 'Weekend Update' Co-Anchor". HuffPost.
- ^ Jicha, Tom (January 1999). "Maybe it Wasn't the O. J. Jokes That Got Macdonald Fired". Archived from the original on December 4, 1999.
- ^ "Norm Macdonald's Monologue". SNLTranscripts.jt.org. October 23, 1999. Retrieved February 2, 2007.
- ^ "Screwed". Box Office Mojo. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
- ^ "Norm on Millionaire Part 3". October 28, 2006. Retrieved May 14, 2017 – via YouTube.
- ^ "Fairly OddParents - Genie Meanie Minie Mo/Back to the Norm". January 2005. Retrieved February 16, 2021.
{{cite web}}
: CS1 maint: url-status (link) - ^ Nowak, Peter. August 1, 2008. "Bell's beavers bite it." CBC News.
- ^ "Bell Recruits Two New Spokesbeavers". Cossette.com. November 7, 2005. Archived from the original on September 28, 2007. Retrieved April 21, 2007. Announcement With links to two QuickTime videos.
- ^ "Norm Macdonald Presents: The Fake News". SuperDeluxe.com. Turner Broadcasting System. Archived from the original on December 18, 2007. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ "Match Game". OCA: On Camera Audiences. Retrieved June 19, 2008.
- ^ "Norm Macdonald's roast of Bob Saget remembered as 'one of the most brilliant pieces of comedy ever". Retrieved September 15, 2021.
- ^ "Norm Macdonald here Jan. 21". Red Deer Advocate. Alberta, Canada: Black Press. January 6, 2009. Archived from the original on April 1, 2012. Retrieved August 16, 2010.
- ^ Rytlewski, Evan (March 13, 2009). "Norm Macdonald Talks Stand-Up, Teases FX "Reality" Show". Express Milwaukee. Retrieved July 3, 2010.
- ^ a b Edgers, Geoff. "Will somebody please give Norm Macdonald another TV show?". The Washington Post. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
- ^ Evans, Bradford. "The Lost Roles of Norm Macdonald". Vulture. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
- ^ "Million Dollar Password". TV Guide. Retrieved March 13, 2020.
- ^ "Comedy Central Developing Weekly Sports Pilot with Norm Macdonald". Broadcasting & Cable. September 21, 2010. Retrieved February 22, 2011.
- ^ "Sports Show with Norm Macdonald Official Site". Comedy Central. Retrieved April 4, 2011.
- ^ "03.01.11 Norm Macdonald: Me Doing Stand-Up" (Press release). Comedy Central. March 1, 2011. Retrieved March 20, 2011.
- ^ "Norm Macdonald New Host of GSN's High Stakes Poker" (Press release). Game Show Network. February 7, 2011. Archived from the original on March 3, 2016. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
- ^ Rose, Lacey. "Upfronts 2012: TBS Unveils Development Slate With Conan O'Brien Comedies, Norm Macdonald Talk Show". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved August 28, 2020.
- ^ "Wait!! What?? NORM MACDONALD LIVE Launched Last Night?? His First Guest Was Super Dave Osborne??". Ain't It Cool News. March 26, 2013. Retrieved October 6, 2013. (includes press release)
- ^ Matheson, Whitney (March 26, 2013). "Norm MacDonald launches a video podcast". USA Today. Retrieved October 6, 2013.
- ^ Anderson, Kyle (March 27, 2013). "Norm Macdonald talks new video podcast". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved October 6, 2013.
- ^ Staley, Darren (May 29, 2013). "'Norm Macdonald Live' in Retrospect". America's Comedy. Retrieved October 6, 2013.
- ^ Mwangaguhunga, Ron (March 26, 2013). "Review: 'Norm Macdonald Live'". Independent Film Channel. Archived from the original on December 30, 2013. Retrieved October 6, 2013.
- ^ Evans, Bradford. (May 2, 2014). "Norm Macdonald Is Campaigning on Twitter to Become Host of CBS's 'Late Late Show'". Splitsider.
- ^ Sneider, Jeff (August 5, 2014). "Craig Ferguson to Be Replaced by James Corden as Host of 'Late Late Show' (Exclusive)". The Wrap. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
- ^ "Norm Macdonald gives David Letterman an emotional, beautiful send-off". Entertainment Weekly. May 16, 2015. Retrieved May 16, 2015.
- ^ Hanks, Henry. "KFC has another new Colonel Sanders: Norm Macdonald". CNN. Retrieved August 17, 2015.
- ^ O'Reilly, Lara (August 17, 2015). "KFC has another new Colonel – and it'll be hoping some viewers hate these ads as much as the last". Business Insider. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
- ^ Johnson, Lauren (February 6, 2016). "KFC Swaps Out Norm Macdonald for Jim Gaffigan as Its Latest 'Real' Colonel". Adweek. Retrieved July 3, 2018.
- ^ Williams, John (December 21, 2016). "Norm Macdonald's Often Funny, Always Fabulist 'Based on a True Story'". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
- ^ Cowles, Gregory (September 30, 2016). "The Story Behind This Week's Best Sellers". The New York Times. ISSN 0362-4331. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
- ^ "Humor Books – Best Sellers – October 9, 2016 – The New York Times". Retrieved March 10, 2018.
- ^ Hassenger, Jesse (May 10, 2017). "Norm Macdonald owns his deadpan minimalism in new Netflix special". The A.V. Club. Retrieved June 28, 2017.
- ^ "Norm Macdonald to host Netflix talk show". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved March 10, 2018.
- ^ Norm Macdonald Has a Show on Netflix
- ^ "Comedian Norm Macdonald stirs controversy with comments on #MeToo, Roseanne". NBC News. Archived from the original on February 14, 2019. Retrieved January 4, 2020.
- ^ Hahn, Jason Duaine. February 14, 2020. "You Could Meet Your Valentine on This Video-Only Dating App Created by Comedian Norm Macdonald." People.
- ^ Macdonald, Norm. 2006. Ridiculous. Comedy Central Records.
- ^ MacPherson, Guy (July 23, 2012). "What's So Funny?" (Interview). Interviewed by Guy MacPherson.
- ^ a b Hughezy (October 19, 2012). "HughezyVSTheWorld" (Interview). Interviewed by Hughezy.
- ^ Miller, Dennis; Macdonald, Norm (June 16, 2011). "The Dennis Miller Show" (Interview). Interviewed by Dennis Miller. Archived from the original on June 29, 2013.
- ^ a b MacPherson, Guy (January 17, 2006). "Norm Macdonald" (Interview). ComedyCouch.com. Archived from the original on November 8, 2006. Retrieved October 3, 2010.
- ^ Lavin, Cheryl (June 28, 1998). "Norm Macdonald". Chicago Tribune. Archived from the original on October 19, 2018. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
Marital status: Married for eight years to Connie Macdonald. Children: Dylan, 5.
- ^ Wild, David (April 15, 1999). "Norm Macdonald: Mr. Wrong". Rolling Stone. Archived from the original on July 29, 2020. Retrieved July 28, 2020.
- ^ Macdonald, Norm (October 17, 2016). Larry King Now. Event occurs at 23:21. Retrieved February 22, 2017 – via YouTube.
- ^ Maron, Marc. "Episode 219 – Norm Macdonald". WTF with Marc Maron Podcast. Marc Maron.
- ^ a b Seaton, Paul (December 16, 2019). "Norm Macdonald the Poker Player". PokerGo.
- ^ "The 2007 World Series of Poker – No-Limit Hold'em (Event 28)". Caesar's Interactive Entertainment. June 17–19, 2007. Retrieved July 21, 2007.
- ^ Chaffin, Sean (June 29, 2018). "The Hand I'll Never Forget: Quads Over Quads with Norm MacDonald". PokerNews.
- ^ Vincent, Donovan. "'Comedy giant' Norm Macdonald, known for his dry wit and compassion, dies at 61". Toronto Star. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
- ^ Evans, Greg (September 14, 2021). "Norm Macdonald Dies: Influential Comedian And Former 'SNL' Weekend Update Anchor Was 61". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved September 14, 2021.
- ^ "Comedian and actor Norm Macdonald dead at 61". CBC News. September 14, 2021. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
- ^ "'We lost a comedy giant': Conan O'Brien, Jim Carrey, Adam Sandler mourn Norm Macdonald". Variety. Retrieved September 15, 2021.
- ^ Macdonald, Norm (2016). Based on a True Story: Not a Memoir. Spiegel & Grau. ISBN 978-0812983869.
- ^ a b Norm Macdonald at IMDb.
- ^ "Senior Skip Day – Full Cast & Crew". Retrieved June 8, 2020.
- ^ Mavis, Paul (February 20, 2008). "Dr. Dolittle: Tail to the Chief". DVDTalk.com. Archived from the original on February 23, 2017. Retrieved February 23, 2017.
The cast is anonymous (tellingly, comedian Norm MacDonald, who I believe has voiced Lucky the Dog in all the Dolittle films, is unbilled here again...
- ^ Gables, Rick and Christina (November 27, 2015). "'Real Rob' is a Comedic Depiction of SNL Alum Rob Schneider's Real Life". My TV Weekly Now. Archived from the original on March 4, 2016. Retrieved January 11, 2016.
External links
![](http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/thumb/f/fa/Wikiquote-logo.svg/34px-Wikiquote-logo.svg.png)
- Official website
- Norm Macdonald at IMDb
- Norm Macdonald discography at Discogs
- Norm Macdonald
- 1959 births
- 2021 deaths
- 20th-century Canadian comedians
- 20th-century Canadian male actors
- 21st-century Canadian comedians
- 21st-century Canadian male actors
- 21st-century Canadian male writers
- Anglophone Quebec people
- Canadian Screen Award winners
- Canadian expatriate male actors in the United States
- Canadian impressionists (entertainers)
- Canadian male comedians
- Canadian male film actors
- Canadian Christians
- Canadian male non-fiction writers
- Canadian male television actors
- Canadian male voice actors
- Canadian men podcasters
- Canadian podcasters
- Canadian sketch comedians
- Canadian stand-up comedians
- Canadian television talk show hosts
- Carleton University alumni
- Comedians from Quebec
- Deaths from leukemia
- Deaths from cancer in California
- Male actors from Quebec City
- Poker commentators
- Writers from Quebec City