We have received the news of the passing of one of the greatest comedians of our time with great sadness. After a long illness, the person who made millions laugh with his boundary-pushing, frequently crude stand-up routines, Gilbert Gottfried, passed away at 67.
“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 posted on the social media.
— Gilbert Gottfried (@RealGilbert) April 12, 2022
Condolences came pouring in from friends, family members, and fellow comedians.
“Gilbert Gottfried made me laugh at times when laughter did not come easily. What a gift,” Seinfeld star Jason Alexander wrote. “I did not know him well but I loved what he shared with me. My best wishes and sympathy to his family.”
Gilbert Gottfried made me laugh at times when laughter did not come easily. What a gift. I did not know him well but I loved what he shared with me. My best wishes and sympathy to his family. #ripGilbertGottfried
— jason alexander (@IJasonAlexander) April 12, 2022
“Gilbert Gottfried was never not funny,” wrote stand-up comic Dane Cook. “He was a lovely guy, always friendly & made many people happy.”
Sending love to @RealGilbert’s wife Dara, his family & fans. Gilbert Gottfried was never not funny. He was a lovely guy, always friendly & made many people happy.
— Dane Cook (@DaneCook) April 12, 2022
Jon Stewart wrote a tribute, recalling the “great thrill” of opening for Gottfried. “He could leave you gasping for breath…just indescribably unusually hilarious,” Stewart wrote.
RIP Gilbert. Opening for Gilbert Gottfried at Carolines and Princeton Catch was one of the great thrills of my early stand up life. He could leave you gasping for breath…just indescribably unusually hilarious…Damn.
— Jon Stewart (@jonstewart) April 12, 2022
“He could put you into convulsive hysterics,” wrote Judd Apatow. “He was also the sweetest man.”
As reported by NBC News, Gottfried’s close friend Glenn Schwartz, said that the comedian died of Recurrent Ventricular Tachycardia due to Myotonic Dystrophy type II.
Despite his health condition, Gottfried didn’t stop working until the last weeks of his life.
During his career which spanned 50 years, Gottfried made a name for himself as one of the best in the field. Among the rest, he landed his aggressive voice to Jafar’s talking parrot in Alladin. A role he reprised in two sequels.
Further, Gottfried worked on various other Disney productions, including The Fairly Odd Parents, Superman and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
This great man was never afraid to tackle topics many others were afraid to speak on. After the 9/11 attack, he made jokes of the event but many believed he did that way too soon. As a result, he said he lost a huge audience. “I lost an audience bigger than anybody has ever lost an audience. People were booing and hissing,” he recalled to Vulture. He, however, managed to win that audience back with a crude “Aristocrats” routine.
He spent many years being the voice of the “Aflac duck,” but he was fired after making a joke about the tsunami which hit Japan in 2011.
His jokes knew no boundaries.
“Maybe I’m self-destructive, maybe I’m just plain stupid,” he told Vulture. “But if someone tells me don’t do something, then I want to do it. I’ve always said tragedy and comedy are roommates. Wherever tragedy’s around, comedy’s a few feet behind them sticking his tongue out and making obscene gestures.”
Since 2014, he was running his Gilbert Gottfried’s Amazing Colossal Podcast. Over the years, he made numerous appearances in a number of shows such as Last Week Tonight with John Oliver, Saturday Night Live, and Hollywood Squares, among the rest.
This photo is very sad now. RIP Bob Saget and RIP Louie Anderson. Both good friends that will be missed. pic.twitter.com/DLJ8Ntt7LN
— Gilbert Gottfried (@RealGilbert) January 21, 2022
After Bob Saget passing, Gottfried posted a photo of him, Bob, and Louie Anderson, writing it was sad now and how much he missed his friends.
Looking at this photo now that Gottfried is no longer around us makes it even sadder.
2022 is a sad, sad year for the comedy world. Rest in peace, Gilbert Gottfried, your jokes will live forever.