Gilbert Gottfried, RIP

Comedian and actor Gilbert Gottfried has died at age 67. His family shared the news via Gilbert’s social media, writing, “We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved Gilbert Gottfried 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.”

Born in Brooklyn in 1955, Gilbert started his standup career in the late -’70s and was chosen as a cast member for the 1980/1981 season of Saturday Night Live, where he didn’t get a lot of camera time and was only on for 12 episodes. His standup, featuring his distinctive voice and delivery, began to catch on thanks to regular appearances on The Howard Stern Show, Late Night with David Letterman and other shows. By the end of the decade, he was host of USA Network’s Up All Night, and getting regular acting and voicework jobs. He may be best known for voicing Iago in Aladdin, but his CV includes Problem Child, the 2010s Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles animated series, and he was the voice of Aflac duck.

Rest in peace, Gilbert. Read tributes from Judd Apatow, Patton Oswalt, Jason Alexander, Maynard James Keenan and others, and watch a compilation of Gilbert’s many Letterman appearances, below.

https://twitter.com/JuddApatow/status/1513974008340832259

https://brooklynvegan.slack.com/archives/G1R09QS68/p1649798031224429

https://twitter.com/IJasonAlexander/status/1513957373160955924