Comedian Norm Macdonald, a former “Saturday Night Live Weekend Update” anchor, reportedly has died “after a long and private battle with cancer.” He was 61.
Macdonald, who was an “SNL” cast member from 1993 to 1998, battled cancer for nine years, according to Deadline Hollywood.
The comedian’s death was announced to Deadline by Brillstein Entertainment, which was Macdonald’s management firm.
Lori Jo Hoekstra, Macdonald’s friend and longtime producing partner, told Deadline the comedian was determined to keep his health struggles private.
“He was most proud of his comedy,” Hoekstra told Deadline. “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.”
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