In Memory of Norm MacDonald – A Fan’s Tribute

Norm MacDonald

I am certain that many of you have heard the sad news that Norm MacDonald passed away this past Tuesday at the age of 61. He had been fighting an unspecified form of cancer for the past nine years but had not told anybody. In typical Norm fashion, he didn’t want to make this anybody’s business and didn’t want special treatment from his fans or the public.

The loss of Norm MacDonald is a massive loss for everybody that loves comedy. For the past 30 years, he has touched every form of comedy from TV, to stand-up, to movies, to books. The entire time he always stayed true to himself and did what he thought was funny and/or right. He did this to the point of even getting fired or canceled because he would not play games and just did what was funny.

At the same time, he was a very kind man that never intentionally tried to hurt anybody. It was quite a balance. He would touch on topics that included death, cancer, and other horrible things with his unique insight, but it never came off as mean or harsh. You instinctually knew he was kind at heart and meant no harm.

I personally have felt a connection to Norm MacDonald from an early age. I first saw him in school on Saturday Night Live on “Weekend Update” and then the wonderful film Dirty Work (seriously, in my top five comedies of all time) and later The Norm Show I was excited because he had a voice I could relate to.

I love comedy and comedians, but my own sense of humor was a little different. And when I came across Norm it was amazing to me to see somebody that spoke as I did.

In my senior year of high school, I actually went to see his newest film (Screwed) on the day of graduation. I got back late for graduation and everybody was waiting for me because I was the Salutatorian, but I didn’t care. It was for Norm.

I went on to see Norm do stand-up about 6 times and in 2009 I actually got to meet him, and he couldn’t have been kinder. I continued to follow him through the years, never losing that love and respect for his work.

I just wanted to take a moment to just recognize a personal hero of mine and anybody else that has kind words, memories, or favorite memories from Norm please shout out below.

Rest in Peace Norman Gene MacDonald, October 17, 1969 – September 14, 2021

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  1. While not particularly a fan, I do have to give him credit for being a good actor and one with a sense of humor. It is sad that he has passed on at such a young age.