Norm Macdonald

Norman Gene Macdonald was born on October 17, 1959, in Quebec City, Quebec.{{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)."{{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 |author-link=Geoff Edgers| newspaper=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}}{{cite web|last1=Lovece|first1=Frank|author-link1=Frank Lovece|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|date=September 16, 2016|quote=You were born Oct. 17, 1959, but until recently told people 1963. Why?|access-date=September 25, 2016|archive-date=September 19, 2016|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160919164354/http://www.newsday.com/entertainment/celebrities/norm-macdonald-of-snl-fame-bringing-his-dry-wit-to-patchogue-1.12327546|url-status=dead}}{{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}} His parents, Ferne (née Mains) and Percy Lloyd Macdonald (1916–1990),{{cite news |work=Ottawa Citizen |date=October 30, 1990|title=Deaths}} were both Anglophone teachers. They worked at CFB Valcartier, a military base north of Quebec City. As a child, his father would not let him learn French, as he wanted the family to speak English.{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BqHj7Oq5uRg |title=Norm Macdonald English vs French - Radio Interview CJAY92 w/ Video |website=YouTube|date=April 10, 2019 }}{{cite web |url=https://thewalrus.ca/deadpan-walking/ |title=Deadpan Walking |first=Grant |last=Munroe |website=The Walrus |date=October 17, 2016}} Macdonald's father died in 1990 of heart disease. He has described himself as being "half-Scottish and half-Irish".{{Cite web |date=September 14, 2018 |title=Episode 8: Michael Keaton |url=https://www.netflix.com/title/80225949 |website=Netflix |series=Norm Macdonald Has a Show}}

He attended Quebec High School{{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}}{{cbignore}}{{Dead YouTube link|date=February 2022}} before his family moved to Ottawa, Ontario. In Ottawa, Macdonald attended Gloucester High School. He claimed to have dropped out at 16, but

in fact graduated at 14.{{YouTube|id=OeefXf08dsU|time=70s|title=Tom Green Live! Norm MacDonald January 30, 2007}}{{Cite news|date=October 22, 2020|title=Norm Macdonald obituary|work=The Times|url=https://www.thetimes.com/uk/article/norm-macdonald-obituary-ptnmm6c62|url-access=subscription|access-date=October 22, 2021|issn=0140-0460}} At 16, he enrolled at Carleton University, where he studied mathematics and philosophy before dropping out.{{Cite news |date=September 17, 2021 |title=SNL veteran Norm Macdonald was revered as a master of stand-up comedy |language=en-CA |work=The Globe and Mail |url=https://www.theglobeandmail.com/canada/article-snl-veteran-norm-macdonald-was-revered-as-a-master-of-stand-up-comedy/ |access-date=May 18, 2023}}{{cite web|title=Standup for a steady job – TheYYSCENE|work=TheYYSCENE - Calgary's Going Out Guide |date=February 6, 2014 |url=https://theyyscene.com/2014/02/06/ffwd-standup-for-a-steady-job/|access-date=December 25, 2021}} Macdonald was later also briefly enrolled in Algonquin College's programs for journalism and broadcasting-television, following his elder brother Neil Macdonald's footsteps. In between periods of school and before starting in comedy, he worked a variety of manual labour jobs, including as a chokerman for a logging company.{{cite web|date=November 23, 2021|title=The legend of Norm Macdonald: How an Algonquin College dropout rose to international comedy fame|url=https://glueottawa.com/2021/11/23/the-legend-of-norm-macdonald-how-an-algonquin-college-dropout-rose-to-international-comedy-fame/|access-date=January 4, 2022|website=Glue Magazine}}{{cite web|last=Ofgang|first=Erik|date=October 4, 2011|title=Norm MacDonald brings his comedy to Foxwoods|url=https://www.ctpost.com/news/article/Norm-MacDonald-brings-his-comedy-to-Foxwoods-2202791.php|access-date=January 4, 2022|website=Connecticut Post}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oU81p6RN6b8 |title=Norm Macdonald Book Tour - Sixth & I (2016) Based on a True Story: A Memoir Full Appearance |last=Sixth & I |access-date=August 3, 2024 |via=YouTube}}

Macdonald's first performances in comedy were at stand-up clubs in Ottawa, regularly appearing on amateur nights at Yuk Yuk's in 1985. He did not appreciate how well his first performance at the club had gone, and he bolted out, saying he would never do it again. The club's owner, Howard Wagman, had to persuade him to come back for more. Eventually his confidence grew. Six months later he performed at the 1986 Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal, and he was heralded by the Montreal Gazette as "one of this country's hottest comics".The Gazette. Montreal, Quebec. September 5, 1986. p. 53. A number of sources reported he recovered from stomach cancer in 1986.{{cite web | url=https://angelusnews.com/arts-culture/nothing-special-is-a-comedians-confrontation-with-life-and-death/ | title=Norm's last laugh: 'Nothing Special' is a parting lesson for us all | date=June 8, 2022 }}{{cite web | url=https://www.reddit.com/r/NormMacdonald/comments/wxip80/norm_had_stomach_cancergastrointestinal_disorder | title=Norm had stomach cancer/Gastro-intestinal disorder when he was young | date=August 25, 2022 }}

In August 1989, 29-year-old Macdonald made his U.S. network television debut by appearing on The Pat Sajak Show. Over the following seven months, he would go on to make five more appearances on the show. By 1990, he performed as a contestant on Star Search.Macdonald, Norm (2016). Based on a True Story: Not a Memoir. Spiegel & Grau. He also appeared on Late Night with David Letterman in May 1990, and the host became a huge fan, saying: "If we could have, we would have had Norm on every week". In 1992, Macdonald served as a writer for the only season of The Dennis Miller Show, working on a staff that also included Barry Crimmins, Nick Bakay, John Riggi, Eddie Feldmann, and Mark Brazill.{{Cite web |last=Irwin |first=Corey |date=January 20, 2022 |title=30 Years Ago: 'The Dennis Miller Show' Begins Its Doomed TV Run |url=https://ultimateclassicrock.com/dennis-miller-show/ |access-date=April 4, 2024 |website=Ultimate Classic Rock |language=en}} He was hired as a writer for television sitcom Roseanne for the 1992–93 season before quitting to join Saturday Night Live.{{cite web |last1=Arnold |first1=Tom |title=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 by all of us today|url=https://twitter.com/TomArnold/status/1437899887194959873 |via=Twitter |access-date=September 15, 2021}}{{Cite web |last=Andreeva |first=Nellie |date=September 23, 2021 |title='The Conners' Pays Tribute To Norm Macdonald In Live Season 4 Premiere |url=https://deadline.com/2021/09/the-conners-tribute-norm-macdonald-live-season-4-premiere-1234843214/ |access-date=May 30, 2022 |website=Deadline |language=en-US}}

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, Clint Eastwood, Charles Kuralt, and Bob Dole, among others. The following year, during the show's twentieth season, Macdonald began anchoring the news satire segment Weekend Update.Fretts, Bruce. April 7, 2014. "Surely You Jost!". TV Guide. p. 9.

His version of Weekend Update often included running jokes about prison rape, "crack whores", and the success of American actor-singer David Hasselhoff in Germany. Macdonald would occasionally deliver a piece of news before taking out his personal compact tape recorder and leaving a "note to self" relevant to what he just discussed. He commonly used actor-singer Frank Stallone as a non-sequitur punchline and absurdly blamed him for such events as toxic waste or high unemployment rates.{{cite web |last1=Prigge |first1=Matt |title=Norm Macdonald Got Sweet Tribute From, You Guessed It, Frank Stallone |url=https://uproxx.com/tv/norm-macdonald-frank-stallone-tribute/ |website=UPROXX |access-date=September 15, 2021 |date=September 14, 2021}} Frank Stallone took no offence, later stating: "He wasn't really attacking me, it was just randomly thrown in there".Rob Torone (September 15, 2021). [https://www.inquirer.com/entertainment/tv/norm-macdonald-death-frank-stallone-saturday-night-live-snl-20210915.html Frank Stallone quietly loved being the butt of Norm Macdonald's jokes]. Philadelphia Inquirer, accessed November 30, 2023 Nonetheless, Macdonald stopped the Frank Stallone jokes after a 1997 request from Sylvester Stallone, Frank's brother, who was guest host for SNL.

On the Weekend Update aired on February 24, 1996, Macdonald joked about John Lotter's sentencing for the murders of Brandon Teena and two others:{{cite book |last1=Joynt |first1=Chase |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/1280274171 |title=Boys Don't Cry |last2=Page |first2=Morgan M. |publisher=McGill–Queen's University Press |year=2022 |isbn=978-0-2280-1081-4 |location=Montreal |chapter=Chapter 3: Take It Like a Man |oclc=1280274171}}

{{blockquote|"And finally, in Falls City, Nebraska, John Lotter has been sentenced to death for attempting to kill three people in what prosecutors called a plot to silence a cross-dressing female who had accused him of rape. Now, this might strike some viewers as harsh, but I believe everyone involved in this story should die."}}

The comments were met with sharp criticism from activist groups, including The Transexual Menace, who threatened to picket SNL.{{Cite web |title=Send NBC a Message: Murder Is No Joke! Flyer |url=https://www.digitaltransgenderarchive.net/files/xk81jk42v |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220601005911/https://www.digitaltransgenderarchive.net/files/xk81jk42v |archive-date=June 1, 2022 |access-date=May 23, 2022 |website=Digital Transgender Archive}} Upon reviewing the show, NBC agreed the line was inappropriate and should not have aired, and said it would ensure that similar incidents would not happen in the future.{{Cite news |date=Summer 1996 |title=MENACE AXES NBC PICKET FOR BRANDON TEENA 'JOKE' |pages=3–4 |work=In Your Face |url=https://www.digitaltransgenderarchive.net/files/gx41mh908 |access-date=May 23, 2022}}

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."{{cite news |last=Brooks|first=Dan|date=August 30, 2018|title=Norm Macdonald, Still in Search of the Perfect Joke|work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/30/magazine/norm-macdonald-still-in-search-of-the-perfect-joke.html|access-date=September 14, 2021|issn=0362-4331}} He followed this up a few episodes later with a report about the singer's collapse and hospitalization. Referring to a report that Jackson had decorated his hospital room with giant photographs of Shirley Temple, Macdonald added: "But don't get any ideas: Michael Jackson is a homosexual pedophile."{{cite news |title=How Norm Macdonald's comedy sets your expectations before pulling the rug out from under you |url=https://nationalpost.com/entertainment/celebrity/how-norm-macdonalds-comedy-sets-your-expectations-before-pulling-the-rug-out-from-under-you |access-date=September 14, 2021 |newspaper=National Post |location=Canada}}

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. He was replaced by Colin Quinn at the Weekend Update desk beginning on the January 10, 1998, episode.{{cite news|date=November 5, 2013|title=Saturday Night's Children: Norm Macdonald (1993–1998)|newspaper=Splitsider|url=http://splitsider.com/2013/11/saturday-nights-children-norm-macdonald-1993-1998/|url-status=dead|access-date=January 20, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170307083436/http://splitsider.com/2013/11/saturday-nights-children-norm-macdonald-1993-1998/|archive-date=March 7, 2017}}

Macdonald believed at the time that the true reason for his dismissal was his series of O. J. Simpson jokes during and after the trial, in which he frequently called him a murderer; Ohlmeyer was a good friend of Simpson and supported him during the proceedings.{{cite news|title=TV Notes; Ohlmeyer Vs. Macdonald|first=Bill|last=Carter|date=June 3, 1998|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/06/03/arts/tv-notes-ohlmeyer-vs-macdonald.html|work=The New York Times}} After being removed from the role, Macdonald went on CBS' Late Show with David Letterman and Howard Stern's syndicated radio show. In both appearances, the hosts accused Ohlmeyer of firing him for making jokes about Simpson. 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.{{cite web|last=Sacks|first=Mike|author-link=Mike Sacks|date=June 24, 2014|title='SNL's James Downey on Working with Norm Macdonald and Getting Fired for Making Fun of OJ Simpson|url=https://www.vulture.com/2014/06/snls-james-downey-on-working-with-norm-macdonald-and-getting-fired-for-making-fun-of-oj-simpson.html|access-date=October 28, 2021|website=Vulture}}

Ohlmeyer claimed that Macdonald was mistaken, pointing out he had not censored Jay Leno's many jokes about Simpson on The Tonight Show. Ohlmeyer stated 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.{{cite news|title=Gloves Off as Comic Rips NBC Honcho|first=Eric|last=Mink|work=Daily News|location=New York|date=June 5, 1998|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/archives/entertainment/gloves-comic-rips-nbc-honcho-article-1.794946}}

Macdonald remained on SNL as a cast member, but he 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 series titled Who's More Grizzled?,{{cite web|url=https://popculture101.net/2012/05/02/snl-classic-whos-more-grizzled/|title=SNL Classic: Who's More Grizzled|date=May 2, 2012 |access-date=June 2, 2022}} 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." He was dismissed shortly thereafter.{{cite web |last1=Garrity |first1=Katie |title=Norm Macdonald Was Fired From 'Saturday Night Live' in 1998, but Why Exactly? |url=https://www.distractify.com/p/did-norm-macdonald-get-fired-from-snl |website=Distractify |date=September 16, 2021 |access-date=September 17, 2021}}

The situation re-ignited in early June 1998 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 Macdonald's disparaging SNL and NBC with Letterman and Stern. 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.{{cite news|title=Norm Macdonald Wins "Dirty" War|first=Daniel|last=Frankel|date=June 9, 1998|publisher=E! News|url=http://www.eonline.com/news/36539/norm-macdonald-wins-dirty-war}} Macdonald continued to insist that he did not personally dislike Ohlmeyer but that Ohlmeyer hated him.

Macdonald complained to the New York Daily News about NBC's removal of advertising for his film, calling Ohlmeyer a "liar and a thug." He claimed never to have badmouthed SNL or Michaels, who he felt had 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. Macdonald also asserted that Ohlmeyer's influence had resulted in the cancellation of promotional appearances for his film 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). 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."

Members of the media found irony in the situation, as Dirty Work was promoted as 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." In a Late Show with David Letterman interview, Macdonald stated that after being dismissed from anchoring Weekend Update and leaving SNL, he could not "do anything else on any competing show."{{cite video|people=Letterman, David|title=Late Night with David Letterman|medium=TV series|publisher=CBS|location=New York|date=March 6, 1998|url=http://www.fakenews.net/archive/transcripts/1998_03_06_TLS.html|access-date=February 23, 2007}}

In later years, he came to the conclusion that Ohlmeyer had not removed him from Update for his Simpson material; rather, he felt he was 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!'"{{cite news|work=HuffPost|title=Norm Macdonald On 'WTF': Lorne Michaels Wanted A Female 'Weekend Update' Co-Anchor|first=Ross|last=Luippold|date=October 18, 2011|url=http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/10/18/norm-macdonald-on-wtf-weekend-update_n_1018246.html}} 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?"{{cite web|title=Maybe it Wasn't the O. J. Jokes That Got Macdonald Fired|first=Tom|last=Jicha|url=http://www.saturday-night-live.com/snl/news/1999/january/norm-oj-jokes.html|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/19991204105657/http://www.saturday-night-live.com/snl/news/1999/january/norm-oj-jokes.html|url-status=dead|archive-date=December 4, 1999|date=January 1999}}

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, and then he concluded that the only reason he was asked to host was because "the show has gotten really bad" since he left,{{cite web|url=http://snltranscripts.jt.org/99/99cmono.phtml|title=Norm Macdonald's Monologue|date=October 23, 1999|publisher=SNLTranscripts.jt.org|access-date=February 2, 2007}} echoing a perennial criticism of the show.

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 film; the film was dedicated to his memory. Later that year, Macdonald voiced Lucky in the Eddie Murphy adaptation of Dr. Dolittle. He reprised the role in both Dr. Dolittle 2 (2001) and Dr. Dolittle 3 (2006).{{cite web|date=September 14, 2021|title=Beyond 'Saturday Night': Norm Macdonald's best roles from 'Dirty Work' to 'Screwed'|url=https://nypost.com/2021/09/14/norm-macdonalds-best-roles-from-dirty-work-to-screwed/|access-date=November 6, 2021|website=New York Post}}

In 1999, Macdonald starred in The Norm Show (later retitled Norm), co-starring Laurie Metcalf, Artie Lange, and Ian Gomez. It ran for three seasons on ABC. Earlier in 1999, he made an appearance in the Andy Kaufman biographical drama Man on the Moon, directed by Miloš 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.

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.{{cite web|url=http://www.boxofficemojo.com/movies/?id=screwed.htm|title=Screwed|website=Box Office Mojo|access-date=July 3, 2018}} 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, but could have won the million if he had ignored the advice of host Regis Philbin.{{Citation |title=Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? - Norm MacDonald's Run |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QKzJO5Diwm8 |access-date=February 8, 2024 |language=en}}

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 R. Budd Dwyer, featured as a cast member Rob Schneider and never turned into a series. Later in 2005, Macdonald voiced a genie named Norm on the Nickelodeon cartoon series The Fairly OddParents.{{cite episode |title=Genie Meanie Minie Mo/Back to the Norm |season=4 |number=12 |episode-link= |series=The Fairly OddParents}}

File:Norm_Macdonald.jpg

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.Nowak, Peter. August 1, 2008. "[https://www.cbc.ca/news/technology/bell-s-beavers-bite-it-1.748159 Bell's beavers bite it]." CBC News. 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.{{cite web|title=Bell Recruits Two New Spokesbeavers |publisher=Cossette.com |date=November 7, 2005 |url=http://www.cossette.com/affiche/nouvelles/details.asp?div=0&id=1961 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070928115312/http://www.cossette.com/affiche/nouvelles/details.asp?div=0&id=1961 |archive-date=September 28, 2007 |access-date=April 21, 2007}} Announcement With links to two QuickTime videos. 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.{{cite web |url= http://www.superdeluxe.com/sd/series/fake_news|title=Norm Macdonald Presents: The Fake News |website= SuperDeluxe.com |publisher= Turner Broadcasting System |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20071218194347/http://www.superdeluxe.com/sd/series/fake_news |archive-date=December 18, 2007 |access-date=October 3, 2010}} 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.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}}

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.{{cite web | title=Match Game| publisher=OCA: On Camera Audiences |access-date=June 19, 2008 |url=http://on-camera-audiences.com/shows/Match_Game}} 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.{{cite news | title=Norm Macdonald's roast of Bob Saget remembered as 'one of the most brilliant pieces of comedy ever'|website=Independent.co.uk|date=September 15, 2021|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/norm-macdonald-bob-saget-roast-b1920258.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220621/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/norm-macdonald-bob-saget-roast-b1920258.html |archive-date=June 21, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live|access-date=September 15, 2021}} In AT&T commercials around Christmas 2007 and 2008, Macdonald voiced a gingerbread boy in a commercial for AT&T's GoPhone.{{cite news |title=Norm Macdonald here Jan. 21 |newspaper=Red Deer Advocate |location=Alberta, Canada |publisher=Black Press |date=January 6, 2009 |url=http://www.reddeeradvocate.com/entertainment/people/Norm_MacDonald_here_Jan_21.html |access-date=August 16, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120401095447/http://www.reddeeradvocate.com/entertainment/people/Norm_MacDonald_here_Jan_21.html |archive-date=April 1, 2012}}

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.{{cite web|last=Rytlewski|first=Evan|date=March 13, 2009|title=Norm MacDonald Talks Stand-Up, Teases FX "Reality" Show|url=https://shepherdexpress.com/wehaa_articles_redirect/5845/|access-date=November 20, 2021|website=Shepherd Express}} The show was picked up and Garry Shandling was added to the cast, but it was cancelled halfway through filming.{{cite news |last1=Edgers |first1=Geoff |author-link1=Geoff Edgers |title=Will somebody please give Norm Macdonald another TV show? |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/graphics/entertainment/norm-macdonald/ |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=August 28, 2020}}{{cite web |last1=Evans |first1=Bradford |title=The Lost Roles of Norm Macdonald |url=https://www.vulture.com/2012/04/the-lost-roles-of-norm-macdonald.html |website=Vulture |date=April 26, 2012 |access-date=August 28, 2020}} On the May 16, 2009, episode of Saturday Night Live, Macdonald reappeared as Burt Reynolds on Celebrity Jeopardy!, and in another sketch.{{Citation needed|date=September 2016}} On May 31, 2009, he appeared on Million Dollar Password.{{cite web |title=Million Dollar Password |url=https://www.tvguide.com/tvshows/million-dollar-password/episode-11-season-1/jamie-kennedy-and-norm-macdonald/293961/ |website=TV Guide |access-date=March 13, 2020}}

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.{{cite web|date=September 15, 2021|title=Everyone Is Sharing Their Favourite Norm Macdonald Moments In Tribute To The Beloved Comedian|url=https://junkee.com/norm-macdonald-death-funniest-moments/308835|access-date=November 26, 2021|website=Junkee}}

In September 2010, Macdonald was developing a series for Comedy Central that he described as a sports version of The Daily Show.{{cite web |title=Comedy Central Developing Weekly Sports Pilot with Norm Macdonald |date=September 21, 2010|publisher=Broadcasting & Cable |access-date=February 22, 2011 |url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/457427-Comedy_Central_Developing_Weekly_Sports_Pilot_with_Norm_Macdonald.php}} Sports Show with Norm Macdonald premiered April 12, 2011.[http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sports-show-with-norm-macdonald/index.jhtml "Sports Show with Norm Macdonald Official Site"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110322132104/http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/sports-show-with-norm-macdonald/index.jhtml |date=March 22, 2011}}. Comedy Central. Retrieved April 4, 2011. Nine ordered episodes were broadcast. Macdonald's first stand-up special, Me Doing Stand-Up, aired on Comedy Central on March 26, 2011.{{cite press release |title=03.01.11 Norm Macdonald: Me Doing Stand-Up |publisher=Comedy Central |date=March 1, 2011 |access-date=March 20, 2011 |url=http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2011/030111-norm-macdonald-me-doing-stand-up.jhtml |archive-date=March 17, 2011 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110317104348/http://www.comedycentral.com/press/press_releases/2011/030111-norm-macdonald-me-doing-stand-up.jhtml |url-status=dead}} 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.{{cite press release |url=http://corp.gsn.com/press/releases/norm-macdonald-new-host-gsns-high-stakes-poker |title=Norm Macdonald New Host of GSN's High Stakes Poker |date=February 7, 2011 |publisher=Game Show Network |access-date=January 11, 2016 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303175749/http://corp.gsn.com/press/releases/norm-macdonald-new-host-gsns-high-stakes-poker |archive-date=March 3, 2016}}

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.{{cite web |last1=Rose |first1=Lacey |title=Upfronts 2012: TBS Unveils Development Slate With Conan O'Brien Comedies, Norm Macdonald Talk Show |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/tbs-conan-obrien-norm-macdonald-324982 |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=May 16, 2012 |access-date=August 28, 2020}} Clips for the unaired pilot published by The Washington Post resemble a sketch comedy show in the vein of Back to Norm.

In June 2012, he became the spokesman 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."{{cite web |date=June 11, 2012 |author=Adrian Burns |title=SNL's Macdonald will hawk Safe Auto policies |url=https://www.bizjournals.com/columbus/news/2012/06/11/snls-macdonald-will-hawk-safe-auto.html |website=Bizjournals.com |access-date=November 26, 2021}}

In 2013, Macdonald premiered the podcast Norm Macdonald Live, with sidekick Adam Eget, streaming live weekly on Video Podcast Network and posted later on YouTube.{{cite web|url=http://www.aintitcool.com/node/61647 |title=Wait!! What?? NORM MACDONALD LIVE Launched Last Night?? His First Guest Was Super Dave Osborne?? |publisher=Ain't It Cool News |date=March 26, 2013 |access-date=October 6, 2013}} (includes press release) It received positive notices from USA Today,{{cite web |url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/popcandy/2013/03/26/norm-macdonald-podcast/2020533/ |first=Whitney |last=Matheson |author-link=Whitney Matheson |website=USA Today|date=March 26, 2013 |title=Norm MacDonald launches a video podcast |access-date=October 6, 2013}} Entertainment Weekly,{{cite magazine |url=http://popwatch.ew.com/2013/03/27/norm-macdonald-podcast/ |url-status=deviated |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130529042707/http://popwatch.ew.com/2013/03/27/norm-macdonald-podcast/ |archive-date=May 29, 2013 |title=Norm Macdonald talks new video podcast |first=Kyle |last=Anderson |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=March 27, 2013 |access-date=April 12, 2024}}{{cbignore}} and the "America's Comedy" website,{{cite web |url=http://www.americascomedy.com/norm-macdonald-live-in-video-podcast-retrospect-adam-eget-tom-green/ |title='Norm Macdonald Live' in Retrospect |publisher=America's Comedy |first=Darren |last=Staley |date=May 29, 2013 |access-date=October 6, 2013}} 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."{{cite web|url=http://www.ifc.com/fix/2013/03/norm-macdonald-live-review |title=Review: 'Norm Macdonald Live' |publisher=Independent Film Channel |date=March 26, 2013|first=Ron |last=Mwangaguhunga|access-date=October 6, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131230234654/http://www.ifc.com/fix/2013/03/norm-macdonald-live-review|archive-date=December 30, 2013}} The second season of Norm Macdonald Live began in May 2014, and the third began in September 2016.{{cite web|last=Johnson|first=Jocelyn|date=July 12, 2017|title=JASH Renews Norm Macdonald Live & Expands Distribution to Amazon and Pluto|url=https://medium.com/@jocelynjohnson/jash-renews-norm-macdonald-live-expands-distribution-to-amazon-and-pluto-3689e9113826|access-date=November 26, 2021|website=Medium}}

Macdonald played the role of Rusty Heck, Mike Heck's hapless-yet-crafty brother on the sitcom The Middle, which ran from 2009 to 2018.

Macdonald also joined Grantland as a contributor in the first two months of 2013.{{cite web |url=https://awfulannouncing.com/2013/norm-macdonald-hired-as-golf-columnist-by-grantland.html |title=Norm Macdonald hired as golf columnist by Grantland |website=awfulannouncing.com |date=January 4, 2013 |access-date=October 20, 2021}}{{cite web |url=https://grantland.com/contributors/norm-macdonald/ |title=Posts by Norm Macdonald |website=Grantland |date=February 2013 |access-date=October 20, 2021}}

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.Evans, Bradford. (May 2, 2014). [https://archive.today/20140503154535/http://splitsider.com/2014/05/norm-macdonald-is-campaigning-on-twitter-to-become-host-of-cbss-late-late-show/ "Norm Macdonald Is Campaigning on Twitter to Become Host of CBS's 'Late Late Show'"]. Splitsider.{{cite web|url=http://www.thewrap.com/craig-ferguson-to-be-replaced-by-james-corden-as-host-of-late-late-show-exclusive/|title=Craig Ferguson to Be Replaced by James Corden as Host of 'Late Late Show' (Exclusive)|first=Jeff |last=Sneider |date=August 5, 2014 |website=The Wrap|access-date=January 11, 2016}} 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.{{cite magazine |title=Norm Macdonald gives David Letterman an emotional, beautiful send-off |url=http://www.ew.com/article/2015/05/16/norm-macdonald-david-letterman-tribute |access-date=May 16, 2015 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly |date=May 16, 2015}} 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.{{Citation needed|date=September 2021}}

In August 2015, he succeeded Darrell Hammond as Colonel Sanders in TV commercials for the KFC chain of fast food restaurants.{{cite news|last1=Hanks|first1=Henry|title=KFC has another new Colonel Sanders: Norm Macdonald|url=http://www.cnn.com/2015/08/17/entertainment/norm-macdonald-kfc-sanders-feat/index.html|work=CNN|access-date=August 17, 2015}}{{cite web| url=http://www.businessinsider.com/kfc-brings-on-last-comic-standing-judge-norm-macdonald-as-its-new-colonel-2015-8| title=KFC has another new Colonel – and it'll be hoping some viewers hate these ads as much as the last |website=Business Insider| first=Lara |last=O'Reilly |date=August 17, 2015 |access-date=January 11, 2016}} Macdonald was replaced by Jim Gaffigan in the role by February 2016.{{cite web|last=Johnson|first=Lauren|url=http://www.adweek.com/news/advertising-branding/kfc-swaps-out-norm-macdonald-jim-gaffigan-its-latest-real-colonel-169469|title=KFC Swaps Out Norm Macdonald for Jim Gaffigan as Its Latest 'Real' Colonel|website=Adweek|date=February 6, 2016|access-date=July 3, 2018}}

In September 2016, Macdonald's semi-fictional memoir Based on a True Story was published by Random House imprint Spiegel & Grau.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/12/21/books/norm-macdonalds-often-funny-always-fabulist-based-on-a-true-story.html|title=Norm Macdonald's Often Funny, Always Fabulist 'Based on a True Story'|last=Williams|first=John|date=December 21, 2016|work=The New York Times|access-date=March 10, 2018|issn=0362-4331}} It debuted at number 15 on the New York Times Best Sellers list for hardcover nonfiction,{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2016/10/09/books/review/the-story-behind-this-weeks-best-sellers.html|title=The Story Behind This Week's Best Sellers|last=Cowles|first=Gregory|date=September 30, 2016|work=The New York Times|access-date=March 10, 2018|issn=0362-4331}} and made number 6 on the Best Sellers list for humour.{{Cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/books/best-sellers/2016/10/01/humor/|title=Humor Books – Best Sellers – October 9, 2016 – The New York Times|work=The New York Times |access-date=March 10, 2018}}

From May 2017, Macdonald moved his comedy to a more reserved, deadpan style. On stage, he claimed to have "no opinions" and the minimalist delivery was described as "reduc[ing] gesture and verbiage down to an absurd minimum."{{cite web |url=http://www.avclub.com/review/norm-macdonald-owns-his-deadpan-minimalism-new-net-254787 |first=Jesse |last=Hassenger |date=May 10, 2017| title=Norm Macdonald owns his deadpan minimalism in new Netflix special|access-date=June 28, 2017 |publisher=The A.V. Club}}

In March 2018, Netflix announced it had ordered ten episodes of a new talk show titled Norm Macdonald Has a Show, hosted by Macdonald.{{Cite magazine |last=Snierson |first=Dan |date=March 9, 2018 |title=Norm Macdonald to host Netflix talk show |url=http://ew.com/tv/2018/03/09/norm-macdonald-netflix-talk-show/ |access-date=March 10, 2018 |magazine=Entertainment Weekly}} The series premiered on September 14, 2018.{{Netflix title|title=Norm Macdonald Has a Show|qid=Q54958601}}

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.{{Cite news|title=Comedian Norm Macdonald stirs controversy with comments on #MeToo, Roseanne|publisher=NBC News|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/celebrity/comedian-norm-macdonald-stirs-controversy-comments-metoo-roseanne-n908646|url-status=live|access-date=January 4, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190214141727/https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/celebrity/comedian-norm-macdonald-stirs-controversy-comments-metoo-roseanne-n908646|archive-date=February 14, 2019}}

In 2019, Macdonald appeared on Lights Out with David Spade and claimed to have changed his mind on O. J. Simpson's guilt, alleging that he could have rushed to judge the man. It was unclear if Macdonald's comments were meant to be taken as a joke, but Macdonald's close friend Lori Jo Hoekstra claimed Simpson himself reached out to Macdonald to thank him for the gentler commentary and offered to play golf.{{cite news |last1=Edgers |first1=Geoff |author-link1=Geoff Edgers |date=April 12, 2024 |title=The unlikely but enduring bond between Norm Macdonald and O.J. Simpson |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/entertainment/2024/04/12/norm-macdonald-fired-oj-jokes/ |access-date=April 12, 2024 |newspaper=Washington Post}}

In February 2020, Macdonald launched Loko, a dating app he co-created that relies heavily on video to make first impressions.Hahn, Jason Duaine. February 14, 2020. "[https://people.com/human-interest/you-could-meet-valentine-video-dating-app-created-norm-macdonald/ You Could Meet Your Valentine on This Video-Only Dating App Created by Comedian Norm Macdonald]." People.

That summer, he had a stand-up set prepared for a final Netflix special, and he taped his audienceless dry run with the intention of filming it professionally to an audience. While the proper filming never materialized, the run-through was released posthumously as Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special on May 30, 2022, to critical acclaim.{{cite web |last1=Mitovich |first1=Matt Webb |title=Norm Macdonald Taped a Final Netflix Special as He Quietly Battled Cancer, 'Just in Case Things Went South' |url=https://tvline.com/2022/05/12/norm-macdonald-final-netflix-special-taped-before-death/ |website=TVLine |access-date=May 12, 2022 |date=May 12, 2022}} The special was followed with a discussion with Dave Chappelle, Molly Shannon, David Letterman, Conan O'Brien, David Spade, and Adam Sandler.

He had a recurring role as Yaphit, a gelatinous engineer, on the Fox science fiction series The Orville, whose third season, subtitled New Horizons, premiered in June 2022; Macdonald appeared posthumously in his last casting.{{cite web |last1=Andreeva |first1=Nellie |title=Norm Macdonald Leaves Behind New Episodes Of 'The Orville' As Seth MacFarlane Mourns His "Hilarious And Generous" Co-Star |url=https://deadline.com/2021/09/norm-macdonald-the-orville-new-episodes-season-3-seth-macfarlane-1234833506/ |website=Deadline |access-date=May 12, 2022 |date=September 14, 2021}}

Macdonald said his influences included the comedians Bob Newhart,Macdonald, Norm. 2006. Ridiculous. Comedy Central Records. Sam Kinison,{{cite web |last1=Reilly |first1=Dan |title=20 Times Norm Macdonald Was the Best TV Guest |url=https://www.vulture.com/article/norm-macdonald-was-the-best-tv-guest.html |website=Vulture |access-date=September 20, 2021 |date=September 15, 2021}} Rodney Dangerfield, Dennis Miller,{{cite interview |last=Miller |first=Dennis |interviewer=Dennis Miller |title=The Dennis Miller Show |last2=Macdonald |first2=Norm |url=http://www.dennismillerradio.com/b/SNL-Power-Hour:-Norm-MacDonald--Jason-Sudeikis!/819509015359385647.html |date=June 16, 2011 |url-status=usurped |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130629193547/http://www.dennismillerradio.com/b/SNL-Power-Hour:-Norm-MacDonald--Jason-Sudeikis!/819509015359385647.html |archive-date=June 29, 2013}} and the writers Leo Tolstoy{{cite interview |last=MacPherson |first=Guy |interviewer=Guy MacPherson |title=What's So Funny? |url=http://wsf1027fm.blogspot.fi/2012/07/podcast-episode-287ish-norm-macdonald.html |date=July 23, 2012}} and Anton Chekhov.{{Cite magazine|date=October 10, 2016|title=Norm Macdonald Talks Chekhov|url=http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2016/10/17/norm-macdonald-talks-chekhov|access-date=October 11, 2021|magazine=The New Yorker}} In a 2006 interview to promote his new album Ridiculous at The Daily Show, Macdonald mentioned how he grew up listening to albums of fellow Canadians Cheech and Chong all the time, and wanted to make an adult comedy album once he became a professional comedian; Macdonald was also a big fan of Bill Cosby and George Carlin.{{Cite web|last=McAtee|first=Holly|title= Norm Macdonald: CSI Cabaret 2010 |url= https://www.spiritofomaha.com/metro-magazine/the-magazine/new-york-new-york/article_578e5e9c-c6b5-5d53-a753-ac3f23b2e00c.html|date=2010-04-23}}{{YouTube|xEDTX3epipU}}

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:

{{blockquote|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.{{cite interview|url=http://www.comedycouch.com/interviews/nmacdonald.htm|title= Norm Macdonald|first=Guy |last=MacPherson|date=January 17, 2006|publisher=ComedyCouch.com|access-date=October 3, 2010| archive-date=November 8, 2006 | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061108171818/http://comedycouch.com/interviews/nmacdonald.htm| url-status=live}}}}

Reflecting on the state of modern comedy, he bemoaned the influx of dramatic actors into comedy and comedians into dramatic acting.

During an interview on CTV News with his sister-in-law, Joyce Napier, Macdonald talked about his belief that imitation was the highest form of flattery and his distaste for the "low-hanging fruit" of Donald Trump jokes.{{YouTube|id=olkgPzlh5A8|time=229s|title=Norm Macdonald talks Trump, Trudeau and the secrets to political comedy March 19, 2018}}

In 1988, Macdonald married Connie Vaillancourt, with whom he had a son, Dylan, born in 1992.{{cite news|url= https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1998-06-28-9806280045-story.html|title=Norm Macdonald| first=Cheryl|last=Lavin|date=June 28, 1998|access-date=July 28, 2020|newspaper=Chicago Tribune |archive-date=October 19, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20181019184547/https://www.chicagotribune.com/news/ct-xpm-1998-06-28-9806280045-story.html|url-status=live|quote=Marital status: Married for eight years to Connie Macdonald. Children: Dylan, 5.}} The couple separated in April 1999 and divorced later the same year.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-news/norm-macdonald-mr-wrong-180661/|title=Norm Macdonald: Mr. Wrong|date=April 15, 1999 |first=David|last=Wild|author-link=David Wild|magazine=Rolling Stone| access-date=July 28, 2020|archive-date=July 29, 2020|archive-url=https://archive.today/20200729224948/https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-news/norm-macdonald-mr-wrong-180661/ |url-status=live}}

Macdonald was a Christian and discussed theology and his personal beliefs publicly.{{Cite news |newspaper=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/20/opinion/norm-macdonald-christian-comedy.html |access-date=October 11, 2023 |date=September 20, 2021 |department=Opinion |language=en-US |title=Norm Macdonald's Comedy Was Quite Christian |first=Matthew |last=Walther |issn=1553-8095 |oclc=1645522}} Macdonald's views on the Christian faith have been compared to that of Christian philosopher Søren Kierkegaard and Cardinal John Henry Newman.{{Cite news |last=Walther |first=Matthew |date=September 20, 2021 |title=Opinion {{!}} Norm Macdonald's Comedy Was Quite Christian |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2021/09/20/opinion/norm-macdonald-christian-comedy.html |access-date=February 4, 2025 |work=The New York Times |language=en-US |issn=0362-4331}}

While judging on Last Comic Standing, Macdonald criticized a contestant for a joke about the Harry Potter books and the Bible, saying: "I think if you're going to take on an entire religion, you should at least know what you're talking about." He pointed out that J. K. Rowling was a Christian who once said: "If you were familiar with the Scriptures, you could easily guess the ending of my book."{{YouTube|id=ac8ye65tHMc|time=211s|title=Bible Story with Norm Macdonald April 14, 2020}}

Macdonald had a gambling addiction he claimed started with a six-figure win at a craps table in Atlantic City.{{cite AV media|url= https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tK3I6Z0yB_k |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211221/tK3I6Z0yB_k |archive-date=December 21, 2021 |url-status=live|title=Larry King Now|date=October 17, 2016|people=Macdonald, Norm|via=YouTube|time=23:21|access-date=February 22, 2017}}{{cbignore}} 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.{{cite web|last1=Maron|first1=Marc|title=Episode 219 – Norm Macdonald|url=http://www.wtfpod.com/podcast/episodes/episode_219_-_norm_macdonald|website=WTF with Marc Maron Podcast|date=October 17, 2011 |publisher=Marc Maron}} It was reported by The Times that he went bankrupt twice.

As a poker player, his best live result was cashing for $20,915 in the $1,000 Bellagio Weekly Tournament in July 2006.{{cite web|url =https://www.pokergonews.com/articles/norm-macdonald-poker-player/|title =Norm Macdonald the Poker Player|first =Paul|last =Seaton|website =PokerGo|date =December 16, 2019}} 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.{{cite web|date=June 17–19, 2007|title=The 2007 World Series of Poker – No-Limit Hold'em (Event 28)|url=http://www.WSOP.com/tournaments/results.asp?grid=309&tid=3455|access-date=July 21, 2007|publisher=Caesar's Interactive Entertainment}} He also frequently played live cash games as well as online poker. Macdonald said in a 2018 interview that, prior to the shutdown of online poker in the United States through the Unlawful Internet Gambling Enforcement Act of 2006, 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."{{cite web|url =https://www.pokernews.com/news/2018/06/norm-macdonald-poker-hand-31262.htm|title =The Hand I'll Never Forget: Quads Over Quads with Norm MacDonald|first =Sean|last =Chaffin|website =PokerNews|date =June 29, 2018}}

In 2013, Macdonald was diagnosed with multiple myeloma.{{cite news |last1=Edgers |first1=Geoff |author-link1=Geoff Edgers |title=Norm Macdonald had one last secret |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2022/05/29/norm-macdonald-nothing-special-netflix/ |url-access=subscription |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20221109233702/https://www.washingtonpost.com/arts-entertainment/2022/05/29/norm-macdonald-nothing-special-netflix/ |archive-date=November 9, 2022 |newspaper=The Washington Post |access-date=July 17, 2022}} He disclosed his diagnosis only to his family, agent, and producing partner, fearing that revealing his condition to the public would "affect the way he was perceived", according to his brother Neil.{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2021/09/norm-macdonald-dead-obituary-comedian-saturday-night-live-weekend-update-anchor-was-61-1234833212/ | title=Norm Macdonald Dies: Influential Comedian And Former 'SNL' Weekend Update Anchor Was 61|work=Deadline Hollywood|first=Greg|last=Evans |date=September 14, 2021|access-date=September 14, 2021}}{{cite news |title=Comedian and actor Norm Macdonald dead at 61 |url=https://www.cbc.ca/news/entertainment/norm-macdonald-dies-1.6175474 |website=CBC News |access-date=September 15, 2021 |date=September 14, 2021}} Macdonald received several stem cell transplants, using aliases to avoid attention, with his final transplant occurring in March 2021. He was prescribed dexamethasone, which caused him to gain weight. After chemotherapy, Macdonald suffered from peripheral neuropathy, which led him to give up golf and tennis. The cancer went into remission not long after, but in early 2020, Macdonald developed treatment-associated myelodysplastic syndrome, a cancer that often develops into acute myeloid leukemia.

In July 2021, Macdonald entered the City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, California, for a round of chemotherapy, where he developed an infection. While in the hospital, he recorded a voice-over role for the television series The Orville. He remained hospitalized at the City of Hope until his death from complications from acute leukemia on September 14, 2021. His remains were later cremated.{{Cite web |title=2021 Celebrity Cremations - Cremation Association of North America (CANA) |url=https://www.cremationassociation.org/blogpost/776820/393628/2021-Celebrity-Cremations |access-date=February 5, 2024 |website=www.cremationassociation.org}}

He was survived by his older brother, Neil; his younger brother, Leslie; his son, Dylan; and his mother, Ferne.{{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=usurped |quote=Yeah, my brother is a news reporter. He lives in Washington now. I'm glad because he used to do war reporting.}}{{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}}{{cite news|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}}

Jon Stewart called him the funniest person he knew in Macdonald's first interview at The Daily Show in order to promote The Norm Show. David Letterman called him "[The best] in every important way, in the world of stand-up... an opinion shared by me and all peers."{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-news/norm-macdonald-david-letterman-1226552/ |title=David Letterman Remembers Norm Macdonald: 'He Was the Best' |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=September 14, 2021}} According to Conan O'Brien, "Norm had the most unique comedic voice I have ever encountered and he was so relentlessly and uncompromisingly funny. I will never laugh that hard again."{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-news/conan-obrien-norm-macdonald-1226487/ |title=Conan O'Brien Mourns Norm Macdonald: 'I Am Absolutely Devastated' |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=September 14, 2021}} Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wrote on Twitter: "The world was a much funnier place because Norm Macdonald was in it. We've lost a comedic genius, and a great Canadian."{{cite web |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-us-canada-58565272 |title='Comedian Norm Macdonald dies at 61 from cancer |website=BBC News |date=September 15, 2021 |access-date=May 24, 2023}} Both John Oliver and Lorne Michaels dedicated their victories at the 73rd Primetime Emmy Awards to Macdonald's memory.{{cite news |last1=Carras |first1=Christi |title=Norm Macdonald saluted by John Oliver, 'SNL' boss Lorne Michaels at 2021 Emmys |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2021-09-19/emmys-2021-norm-macdonald-tribute-john-oliver-lorne-michaels |newspaper=LA Times |access-date=October 6, 2021}} Season 3 of The Orville opened with an onscreen dedication to Macdonald.{{cite web |url=https://www.hitc.com/en-gb/2022/06/06/norm-macdonald-the-orville/ |title=The Orville season 3 offers a touching tribute to late Yaphit actor Norm Macdonald |work=HITC |date=June 6, 2022 |last1=Weston |first1=Christopher }}

On July 12, 2022, Macdonald was posthumously nominated for three Primetime Emmy Awards for his stand-up special Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special.{{cite news |last1=Wynne |first1=Kelly |title=Norm Macdonald Receives Three Emmy Nods for Posthumous Netflix Special |url=https://people.com/tv/norm-macdonalds-receives-three-emmy-nominations-posthumous-netflix-special/ |newspaper=People |access-date=July 12, 2022}}{{cite news |last1=Strause |first1=Jackie |title=Chadwick Boseman, Norm Macdonald and Jessica Walter Earn Posthumous Emmy Nominations |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/chadwick-boseman-norm-macdonald-posthumous-2022-emmy-nominations-1235178874/ |access-date=July 12, 2022 |publisher=Hollywood Reporter |date=July 12, 2022}} Following O. J. Simpson's death on April 10, 2024,{{cite news |last1=Shapiro |first1=Emily |date=April 11, 2024 |title=O.J. Simpson, former football star acquitted of murder, dies at 76 |url=https://abcnews.go.com/US/oj-simpson-former-football-star-acquitted-murder-dies/story?id=16354000 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240411144714/https://abcnews.go.com/US/oj-simpson-former-football-star-acquitted-murder-dies/story?id=16354000 |archive-date=April 11, 2024 |access-date=April 11, 2024 |work=ABC News}} Macdonald's regular Saturday Night Live jokes about Simpson's trial were shared across the internet.{{cite news |last1=Parkel |first1=Inga |last2=Murray |first2=Tom |date=April 12, 2024 |title=Norm Macdonald's scathing OJ takedowns on SNL resurface after Simpson's death: 'Murder is legal in California' |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/oj-simpson-snl-norm-macdonald-b2527599.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240413085108/https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/oj-simpson-snl-norm-macdonald-b2527599.html |archive-date=April 13, 2024 |access-date=April 13, 2024 |work=The Independent}} Conan O'Brien remembered the late comic as giving the most notable commentary on the trial and murders, remembering him as having given "some of the most brilliant comedy of anybody" about the incident. He further remembered Macdonald as one of the greatest talk show guests and comedians of all time.{{cite news |last1=Kaloi |first1=Stephanie |date=April 11, 2024 |title=Conan O'Brien Praises Norm Macdonald's 'Brilliant' O.J. Simpson Jokes That Got Him Fired From 'SNL' |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/conan-o-brien-praises-norm-014459482.html |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240414010305/https://www.yahoo.com/web/20240414010305/https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/conan-o-brien-praises-norm-014459482.html |archive-date=April 14, 2024 |access-date=April 14, 2024 |work=Yahoo}}

Dave Chappelle dedicated his Netflix special The Closer to the memory of Macdonald, who had died shortly before its release. Chappelle also opened his 2023 special The Dreamer crediting Macdonald with making him fall in love with comedy again.

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{{Succession box | title=Weekend Update anchor | before=Kevin Nealon | after=Colin Quinn | years=1994–1998}}

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Category:1959 births

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Category:20th-century Canadian comedians

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