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Norm Macdonald died of cancer in September 2021. The actor and comedian was 61. The Saturday Night Live alum didn’t shy away from sharing his opinions on comedy and television throughout his life. Whether he shocked viewers with his “Weekend Update” jokes or lent his voice to a movie, Macdonald always spoke his mind in a way his fans enjoyed. 

Although he had a lengthy entertainment career, the Screwed star never won an Emmy award. Macdonald once gave his take on why he would never hold the coveted trophy. 

Norm Macdonald looking away from the camera next to a microphone.
Norm McDonald | Tim Mosenfelder/Getty Images

Norm Macdonald spent over two decades in the entertainment industry 

Macdonald’s comedy career began in the 1980s. While living in Canada, he performed at gigs as a standup comic. Soon, Hollywood called, but not for the actor’s on-air talent. In the ‘90s, Macdonald booked his first gig as a writer on Roseanne. However, his fame elevated once he landed SNL as a full-time cast member. 

After he booked SNL, Macdonald stood out for his “Weekend Update.” During the segments, he famously shared updates on O.J. Simpson’s criminal trial. Several years later, MacDonald would say his jokes about Simpson caused him to get fired from SNL in 1998. However, the jokes and his impersonations of celebrities such as Burt Reynolds remained a gem for the show’s fans. 

Following his exit from SNL, Macdonald starred in movies such as Man on the Moon, Dirty Work, and Billy Madison. Additionally, he landed a sitcom, Norm, in 1999. Macdonald also became a fan-favorite in between gigs on late-night talk shows for entertaining hosts like Conan O’Brien. Despite working in entertainment for over 20 years, the actor said in 2017 that he didn’t believe he would earn an Emmy or other accolade for his talents. 

“I will never be given an award, and that is as it should be,” Macdonald said to a fan on Twitter in 2017. 

Norm Macdonald found comedy and TV ‘alienating’ 

In addition to his SNL fame, his guest spots on Family Guy and Nickelodeon’s Fairly Oddparents. However, Macdonald eventually pivoted to creating spaces for his comedy. Soon, he launched a talk show with Netflix: Norm Macdonald Has a Show.

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While promoting his new platform in 2018, Macdonald said the laugh tracks on current TV shows gave him an “alienating” feeling. 

“I hate when I’m at home, and I’m like, ‘Is everyone like this except me?’” Macdonald told IndieWire in regards to laugh tracks. “Like, think about this: Every joke on television, every joke works. When you think about it, that’s insane, right? If you just run around hearing jokes, and everyone you laughed at it, you’d think you were going crazy! Or if you laughed at watching TV as much as the studio audience, you’d be an idiot. It’s alienating. You’d go, ‘Why are these people so f****** wildly entertained?’”

Several of the ‘SNL’ alum’s former cast members have Emmys

When he died, many fans mourned Macdonald by celebrating his work on social media. During his career, the actor worked with several comedians who became famous after SNL. Unlike their co-star, they went on to win Emmys for the roles they played. Eddie Murphy, who starred alongside Macdonald in Dr. Dolittle and Dr. Dolittle 2, earned two awards for his SNL characters in 1983 and 1984. 

Adam Sandler, who worked with Macdonald in Billy Madison, Grown Ups, and Jack and Jill, won two Emmys during his SNL tenure. In 1993, he received an award for ​​Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series, followed by Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing in a Variety or Music Program.

Even though he didn’t win any awards in his lifetime, Macdonald had a solid fan base and plenty of hilarious moments that will live forever. 

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