Gilbert Gottfried, the stand-up comic who entertained audiences for decades with his signature, one-of-a-kind voice and no holds barred comedy routines, has died at the age of 67.
Gottfried’s family announced his passing in a statement on social media, noting he died “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.”
According to NBC News, Glenn Schwartz, Gottfried’s longtime friend and publicist, said the comic died due to Recurrent Ventricular Tachycardia due to Myotonic Dystrophy type II.
Gottfried, whose career spanned 50 years, was, literally and figuratively, one of the most iconic voices in comedy. He is best known for the shrill, aggressive, and intentionally annoying voice — not his natural voice, but a key part of his comic persona.
Gottfried was, contradictorily, both best known for his boundary-pushing, frequently crude stand-up routines, and for lending his distinct voice to many family friendly films and TV shows.
To most general audiences, he is perhaps best known as the voice of Iago, the talking parrot of the villainous Jafar, in the hit 1992 Disney film Aladdin.
The character was a breakout hit with audiences, and Gottfried reprised the role in two sequels and a television series and other Disney properties.
He continued to lend his humorous voice to other children’s entertainment, including The Fairly Odd Parents, Superman and Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles.
But while many of his best-known screen roles were “G-rated,” his stand-up couldn’t be further from kid-friendly. Gottfried was known as a “comedian’s comedian,” respected for his willingness to push boundaries and touch on taboo topics when others weren’t.
“It’s a funny thing. For most of the years, I would work squeaky clean because I wanted to make sure that the jokes I was coming up with would work on their own. I always knew a lot of dirty jokes. I just didn’t say them onstage all that much,” he told the Dallas Observer.
“His live performances put aside political correctness while he delivers jokes that know no boundaries,” Glenn Schwartz said in a statement.
One of the most distinct comics of his generation, Gottfried frequently appeared on late-night talk shows and was a regular panelist on Hollywood Squares.
He was in the ensemble of Saturday Night Live for one season in 1980, and subsequently appeared with his SNL co-star Eddie Murphy in the film Beverly Hills Cop II. He also starred in the popular Problem Child movies.
While Gottfried found decades of laughter and success doing stand-up, his no-holds-barred material occasionally courted controversy. He was one of the first comedians to make jokes about 9/11, just days after the attacks, during a roast of Hugh Hefner, promptly receiving cries of “too soon.”
“I lost an audience bigger than anybody has ever lost an audience. People were booing and hissing,” he recalled to Vulture, although he reportedly won back the crowd with a crude “Aristocrats” routine.
And Gottfried’s edgy comic style occasionally cost him some more family-friendly gigs. Gottfried was long known as the voice of the “Aflac duck,” but was let go after making a joke about the 2011 tsunami and earthquake in Japan.
Still, Gottfried was a favorite of audiences and fellow comics. And he didn’t regret occasionally putting his toe over the line by tackling sensitive subjects.
“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.”
Despite facing a long illness, Gottfried continued to work until recently. He hosted his own podcast, Gilbert Gottfried’s Amazing Colossal Podcast, since 2014. He made notable appearances on shows like Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. He was the subject of a 2017 documentary, Gilbert.
After his passing, many expressed their condolences, including fellow comedians.
“Gilbert Gottfried made me laugh at times when laughter did not come easily. What a gift,” said Seinfeld star Jason Alexander. “I did not know him well but I loved what he shared with me. My best wishes and sympathy to his family.”
“Gilbert Gottfried was never not funny,” wrote stand-up comic Dane Cook. “He was a lovely guy, always friendly & made many people happy.”
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.
“He could put you into convulsive hysterics,” wrote Judd Apatow. “He was also the sweetest man.”
Gottfried’s death is the latest too-soon loss of a beloved stand-up comedian. Recent months have seen the passing of comics Norm MacDonald, Louie Anderson, and Bob Saget, all of whom were in their 60s.
A recent photo shared by Gottfried on social media shows is a selfie with Saget and Anderson, with Gottfried saying it was “sad now.”
“Both good friends that will be missed,” he wrote.
Rest in peace, Gilbert Gottfried. Thanks for all the laughs over the decades — we’ll never forget your comedy or your one-of-a-kind voice.
Please share this story with your favorite memories of Gilbert Gottfried.
