Norm Macdonald
About Norm Macdonald
- Biography
- Fast Facts
- Quotes
Norman Gene Macdonald was a Canadian actor, writer, and stand-up comedian known for his deadpan delivery and old-fashioned phrasing. He was a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1993–1998, and co-created and starred in The Norm Show from 1999–2001. He also wrote for Roseanne and appeared in the movies Screwed and Dirty Work.
He was best known for his deadpan comedy style and became especially famous as the anchor of SNL’s Weekend Update. Britannica notes that he became Weekend Update anchor in 1994.
Before SNL, he wrote for TV comedies, including The Dennis Miller Show and Roseanne.
He wrote and starred in the cult comedy film Dirty Work after leaving SNL, and later led his own sitcom, The Norm Show.
He was a major talk-show favorite, especially with Conan O’Brien and David Letterman. Letterman called him one of the funniest stand-ups “in every important way.”
His famous “moth joke” became a comedy legend because he stretched a simple punchline into a long, dark, absurd story.
His final stand-up special, Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special, was released posthumously on Netflix in 2022 and earned Emmy nominations.
“Comedy is surprises…”
“All my life’s about is cracking up people…”
“The only thing an old man can tell a young man is that it goes fast, real fast, and if you’re not careful it’s too late.”
“I always told everybody the perfect joke would be where the setup and punchline were identical.”
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