Comedian Gilbert Gottfried, famed for his unique voice and cutting humor, has died of what his family describes as “a long illness” at age 67.
rest in peace to Gilbert Gottfried who has probably the best sequence in game show history on Hollywood Squares. if you're not an old hag like me who remembers the rules, both contestants needed his square to secure the 5-square win, but he decided to troll both of them pic.twitter.com/Egzyzygudd
— manny (@mannyfidel) April 12, 2022
Gilbert Gottfried, the comedian, “Aladdin” star and owner of the most recognizable voice in Hollywood, has died after battling a long illness, his family announced Tuesday. He was 67.
His publicist told the Washington Post that he died of myotonic dystrophy type 2, a form of muscular dystrophy.
“We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved Gilbert Gottfried after a long illness. In addition to being the most iconic voice in comedy, Gilbert was a wonderful husband, brother, friend and father to his two young children. Although today is a sad day for all of us, please keep laughing as loud as possible in Gilbert’s honor,” his family wrote on Twitter.
Many people in Hollywood, including comedians Jason Alexander, Dane Cook and more, paid tribute to Gottfried after the shocking news of his death. “Gilbert Gottfried was never not funny,” wrote Cook. “He was a lovely guy, always friendly and made many people happy.”
One of his more memorable moments was at the roast of Hugh Hefner, where just weeks after 9/11, and in New York, the sometimes too fearless for his own good Gilbert cracked a 9/11 joke, then pulled it back and won the room back with an epic telling of The Aristocrats.
RIP Mr. Gottfried.Report
I was never a huge fan, but I always recognized the voice. Knowing it is gone is kind of like discovering that a major background building in my city has just vanished. Or maybe a major lake. RIP sir.Report
I hadn’t thought about these movies in years but I remember finding his appearances in the Problem Child movies hilarious. Certainly not high art by any means but not everything needs to be.Report
I remember him best as Iago in Aladdin, though not exactly like this.
(Very NSFW.)
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Heh the world will definitely be a less funny place without him and that is unfortunate.Report
Who’s never heard of Stone Cold Steve Austin?Report
I hadn’t heard of him before reading Jaybird’s wrestling posts here — I would’ve been just as ignorant as the contestant on that one back when this aired. “Steve Austin” to me is the $6,000,000 man.Report
OK. I assumed that if someone as wrestling-averse as me had heard his name over and over, everyone would have. Isn’t he more or less the Tiger Woods of that sport?
Also, not knowing that 1908 was (at the time) the last Cubs championship made me shake my head.Report
I’m pretty sure I would have got the Cubs thing, and I don’t know squat about sports history.Report
Would have been interesting if Gilbert knew enough to offer “Stunning Steve Austin”, his original WCW moniker.Report
Today I learned two things about Gilbert Gottfried:
1. He was more than an annoying gimmicky voice.
2. He wasn’t East Asian. Am I the only one who thought this?Report
Asian or avian?Report