Norm Macdonald dead at 61

Comedian Norm Macdonald has died at the age of 61, after nearly a decade battle against cancer. On Tuesday, the Saturday Night Live alums management firm Brillstein Entertainment confirmed the passing.

Macdonald’s comedian career kicked off in the mid 1980s in Ottawa. He was a writer on the hit sitcom Roseanne and his joining of SNL is what brought him to the global comedy stage. Macdonald appeared on a few films as well, including Billy Madison in 1995,and Dirty Work in 1998 which he co wrote.

"He was most proud of his comedy, he never wanted the diagnosis to affect the way the audience or any of his loved ones saw him. Norm was a pure comic, he once wrote that a joke should catch someone by surprise, it should never pander, he certainly never pandered. Norm will be missed terribly," said Lori Jo Hoekstra, a producer and friend of Macdonald.

Following the news, fans started reflecting their fondest moments of the comedian. Macdonald was scheduled to be in the New York Comedy Festival lineup in November.