
Macdonald was rather abruptly and unceremoniously dropped from “Weekend Update,” a decision made by then-NBC West Coast president Don Ohlmeyer.

He joined the cast of “Saturday Night Live” the following year, where he became known for his impressions of David Letterman, Larry King, Burt Reynolds, Quentin Tarantino and others.īut it was as the anchor of the news satire segment “Weekend Update” where Macdonald hit his stride.

He found work writing for the sitcom “Roseanne” in 1992. That first taste of LA made an impression and Macdonald moved to the city, intent on breaking into Hollywood. He quickly became known for his deadpan and sardonic delivery and in 1987 was given the opportunity to perform at the “Just For Laughs” Comedy Festival in Los Angeles. Norm will be missed terribly.”īorn in Quebec City, Quebec, Canada, he started in entertainment as a standup comedian who worked the Ottawa club circuit before branching out to clubs across Canada. He once wrote that ‘a joke should catch someone by surprise, it should never pander.’ He certainly never pandered. He never wanted the diagnosis to affect the way the audience or any of his loved ones saw him,” Hoekstra said. Macdonald had been battling cancer for several years but kept his diagnosis private, his friend and producing partner, Lori Jo Hoekstra, told CNN in a statement.

Norm Macdonald, a comic who was beloved as anchor of “Saturday Night Live’s” popular “Weekend Update” segments, died Tuesday, according to multiple reports, citing his manager.
