Norman Gene Macdonald was a Canadian comedian, actor, and writer known for his deadpan delivery, eccentric understatement, and use of old-fashioned language. He was a frequent guest on late-night talk shows, where his chaotic yet understated comedic style made him a favorite among critics and fellow comedians. David Letterman even dubbed him "the best" stand-up comedian.
1916: Birth of Norm Macdonald's Father
Norm Macdonald's father, Percy Lloyd Macdonald, was born in 1916.
October 17, 1959: Birth of Norm Macdonald
Norm Macdonald was born on October 17, 1959. He was known for his comedic style characterized by deadpan delivery and eccentric understatement.
1985: Early Stand-Up Comedy at Yuk Yuk's
Norm Macdonald's foray into the world of stand-up comedy began in 1985 at Yuk Yuk's comedy club in Ottawa. Despite initial nervousness, he quickly gained recognition for his comedic talent.
1986: Breakthrough at Just For Laughs Festival
Norm Macdonald's performance at the 1986 Just For Laughs Comedy Festival in Montreal proved to be a significant breakthrough moment. The Montreal Gazette praised him as one of Canada's most promising comedic talents.
1988: Marriage to Connie Vaillancourt
Norm Macdonald married Connie Vaillancourt in 1988.
1990: Death of Norm Macdonald's Father
In 1990, Norm Macdonald experienced the loss of his father, Percy Lloyd Macdonald, who passed away due to heart disease.
1990: Appearance on "Star Search"
In 1990, Norm Macdonald took his comedic talent to the stage of the talent competition show "Star Search." This appearance further increased his visibility and recognition in the entertainment industry.
1992: Writing for "The Dennis Miller Show" and "Roseanne"
In 1992, Norm Macdonald honed his writing skills by contributing to the short-lived "The Dennis Miller Show." Later that year, he joined the writing staff of the popular sitcom "Roseanne" before transitioning to "Saturday Night Live."
1992: Birth of Son, Dylan
Norm Macdonald's son, Dylan, was born in 1992.
1993: Norm Macdonald Joins Saturday Night Live
In 1993, Norm Macdonald's career reached a new height when he joined the cast and writing team of the iconic sketch comedy show, Saturday Night Live (SNL).
1993: Joining the Cast of "Saturday Night Live"
Norm Macdonald officially became a cast member on the legendary sketch comedy show "Saturday Night Live" (SNL) in 1993. He quickly made his mark with impressions of figures like Larry King, Burt Reynolds, and David Letterman.
February 24, 1996: Controversial Joke About John Lotter Case
On February 24, 1996, during "Weekend Update," Norm Macdonald made a controversial joke about the sentencing of John Lotter for the murders of Brandon Teena and two others. This instance demonstrated his willingness to push boundaries with dark humor.
1996: Role in "The People vs. Larry Flynt"
In 1996, Norm Macdonald appeared in Miloš Forman's film "The People vs. Larry Flynt," taking on the role of a reporter.
1997: Sylvester Stallone's Request and End of Frank Stallone Jokes
Following a request from actor Sylvester Stallone, who was hosting SNL, Norm Macdonald stopped using Frank Stallone as a recurring punchline in his "Weekend Update" segments. This incident highlighted the influence of guest hosts on the show's content.
1997: Relationship with Elle Macpherson
Norm Macdonald was reported to be dating model Elle Macpherson from 1997 to 1998.
January 10, 1998: Removal from "Weekend Update"
On January 10, 1998, Norm Macdonald was removed from his position as the anchor of SNL's "Weekend Update" segment. Don Ohlmeyer, the president of NBC's West Coast division, cited declining ratings and a perceived drop in quality as reasons for the decision.
February 28, 1998: Final Appearance on "Saturday Night Live"
On February 28, 1998, Norm Macdonald made his final appearance as a cast member on "Saturday Night Live." In one of his last sketches, he played the host of a fictional TV show alongside guest stars Garth Brooks and Robert Duvall. Shortly after, his tenure on the show came to an end.
June 1998: NBC Blocks Ads for "Dirty Work"
In June 1998, Don Ohlmeyer, president of NBC's West Coast division, barred the network from airing ads for Norm Macdonald's film "Dirty Work." This decision stemmed from Ohlmeyer's perception that Macdonald had disparaged both SNL and NBC during appearances on talk shows hosted by David Letterman and Howard Stern. While the ban on ads during SNL remained, NBC's leadership ultimately reversed the decision to block ads entirely.
1998: End of Relationship with Elle Macpherson
Norm Macdonald's relationship with model Elle Macpherson reportedly ended in 1998.
1998: Voice Acting in "Dr. Dolittle" and Release of "Dirty Work"
In 1998, Norm Macdonald showcased his comedic talents both on screen and in voice acting. He co-wrote and starred in the comedy "Dirty Work" and lent his voice to the character Lucky in Eddie Murphy's adaptation of "Dr. Dolittle."
1998: Departure from SNL and Release of "Dirty Work"
After his controversial removal as the "Weekend Update" anchor, Norm Macdonald left SNL in 1998. The same year, he co-wrote and starred in the comedy film "Dirty Work," directed by Bob Saget.
April 1999: Separation and Divorce from Connie Vaillancourt
In April 1999, Norm Macdonald and his wife Connie Vaillancourt separated. Their divorce followed later that year.
October 23, 1999: Hosting "Saturday Night Live"
Norm Macdonald returned to "Saturday Night Live" as a host on October 23, 1999. During his opening monologue, he didn't shy away from addressing his past departure, expressing some lingering resentment over his firing from "Weekend Update."
1999: Appearance in "Man on the Moon" and Premiere of "The Norm Show"
Norm Macdonald had a busy year in 1999, appearing in the Andy Kaufman biopic "Man on the Moon" and launching his sitcom "The Norm Show." In "Man on the Moon," he stepped in to portray Michael Richards in a reenactment of a famous incident involving Andy Kaufman.
1999: "The Norm Show" Premieres
Norm Macdonald's sitcom, "The Norm Show," debuted in 1999. The show, later renamed "Norm," ran for three seasons and featured a cast including Laurie Metcalf and Artie Lange.
November 12, 2000: Who Wants to Be a Millionaire? Appearance
On November 12, 2000, Norm Macdonald appeared on the Celebrity Edition of "Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?" where he won $500,000 for the Paul Newman's Hole in the Wall Charity Camp.
2001: Reprising Role in "Dr. Dolittle 2"
Norm Macdonald reprised his voice role as Lucky in "Dr. Dolittle 2" in 2001.
2001: Conclusion of "The Norm Show"
In 2001, "The Norm Show," concluded after three seasons.
2003: "A Minute with Stan Hooper" Premiere
In 2003, Norm Macdonald starred in the Fox sitcom "A Minute with Stan Hooper," which was canceled after six episodes.
2005: "Back to Norm" Pilot and "The Fairly OddParents" Voice Role
Norm Macdonald signed a deal with Comedy Central in 2005 to create the sketch comedy show "Back to Norm," which ultimately didn't become a series. He also voiced the character Norm the genie on Nickelodeon's "The Fairly OddParents" in 2005.
July 2006: Poker Success at Bellagio Weekly Tournament
In July 2006, Norm Macdonald achieved his most successful live poker result, winning $20,915 in the $1,000 Bellagio Weekly Tournament.
September 2006: "Ridiculous" Album Release
Comedy Central Records released Norm Macdonald's sketch comedy album, "Ridiculous," in September 2006.
2006: Voice Acting in "Dr. Dolittle 3"
Continuing his voice acting work, Norm Macdonald once again voiced Lucky in "Dr. Dolittle 3," released in 2006.
2007: AT&T Commercials
Norm Macdonald lent his voice to AT&T commercials in 2007 and 2008 as a gingerbread boy.
2007: Placement in World Series of Poker
Norm Macdonald secured 20th place out of 827 participants in the $3,000 No-Limit Texas Hold 'em event at the 2007 World Series of Poker, winning $14,608.
June 19, 2008: "Match Game" Appearance
Norm Macdonald appeared as a celebrity panelist on two episodes of the game show "Match Game" on June 19, 2008.
August 17, 2008: Comedy Central Roast of Bob Saget
On August 17, 2008, Norm Macdonald participated in the Comedy Central Roast of Bob Saget, where he stood out for his uncharacteristically clean routine.
2008: Bell Mobility Commercials
Norm Macdonald voiced the character Frank the Beaver for Bell Mobility in a series of commercials that ran from 2006 to 2008.
May 16, 2009: "Saturday Night Live" Appearance
Norm Macdonald returned to "Saturday Night Live" on May 16, 2009, reprising his role as Burt Reynolds for the show's Celebrity Jeopardy! sketch.
May 31, 2009: "Million Dollar Password" Appearance
On May 31, 2009, Norm Macdonald appeared on the game show "Million Dollar Password."
2009: "The Middle" Premiere
Norm Macdonald took on the recurring role of Rusty Heck in the sitcom "The Middle," which ran from 2009 to 2018.
2009: Frequent Guest on "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien"
Norm Macdonald became a regular guest on "The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien" during its run in 2009 and 2010.
May 20, 2010: Guest Host on "Tom Green's House Tonight"
Norm Macdonald frequently appeared on the online talk show "Tom Green's House Tonight," eventually guest hosting the show on May 20, 2010.
September 2010: Development of "Sports Show with Norm Macdonald"
In September 2010, Norm Macdonald began developing a sports-themed show for Comedy Central, which would later become "Sports Show with Norm Macdonald."
February 26, 2011: "High Stakes Poker" Commentator and Co-Host
On February 26, 2011, Norm Macdonald joined the seventh season of GSN's "High Stakes Poker" as a commentator and co-host alongside Kara Scott.
March 26, 2011: "Me Doing Stand-Up" Premiere
Norm Macdonald's first stand-up special, "Me Doing Stand-Up," premiered on Comedy Central on March 26, 2011.
April 12, 2011: "Sports Show with Norm Macdonald" Premiere
"Sports Show with Norm Macdonald," a series developed for Comedy Central, premiered on April 12, 2011, with a nine-episode run.
2011: Publicly Discusses Gambling Struggles
During an appearance on the "WTF with Marc Maron" podcast in 2011, Norm Macdonald spoke candidly about his experiences with gambling addiction, including significant financial losses.
June 2012: Safe Auto Insurance Company Spokesperson
Starting in June 2012, Norm Macdonald became the spokesperson for Safe Auto Insurance Company, appearing in their television and radio commercials and online videos.
2012: Development of Talk Show "Norm Macdonald is Trending"
In 2012, Norm Macdonald was working on a talk show for TBS called "Norm Macdonald is Trending," which was ultimately not picked up for a full series.
2013: Grantland Contributor
Norm Macdonald joined Grantland as a contributor for a brief period in 2013.
2013: "Norm Macdonald Live" Podcast Premiere
Norm Macdonald launched his podcast, "Norm Macdonald Live," in 2013 with co-host Adam Eget.
2013: "Norm Macdonald Live" Podcast Begins
Norm Macdonald launched his video podcast, "Norm Macdonald Live," in 2013, engaging in conversations with fellow comedians and celebrities.
2013: Multiple Myeloma Diagnosis
Norm Macdonald was diagnosed with multiple myeloma in 2013, a diagnosis he kept private from the public.
May 2014: "Norm Macdonald Live" Season Two Premiere
The second season of Norm Macdonald's podcast, "Norm Macdonald Live," debuted in May 2014.
2014: Unsuccessful Campaign for "The Late Late Show" Host
Following Craig Ferguson's departure from "The Late Late Show," Norm Macdonald launched a campaign on Twitter in 2014 in hopes of becoming the new host, but he was ultimately not selected.
May 15, 2015: Final Stand-Up Act on "Late Show with David Letterman"
On May 15, 2015, Norm Macdonald performed the last stand-up routine on "Late Show with David Letterman," marking the end of an era for the show.
August 2015: Colonel Sanders for KFC Commercials
Taking over for Darrell Hammond, Norm Macdonald became the face of KFC in August 2015, portraying Colonel Sanders in a series of commercials.
February 2016: Replaced by Jim Gaffigan as Colonel Sanders
Norm Macdonald's run as Colonel Sanders for KFC ended in February 2016 when he was succeeded by Jim Gaffigan.
September 2016: "Based on a True Story" Release
Norm Macdonald's memoir, "Based on a True Story," hit bookshelves in September 2016, published by Spiegel & Grau, an imprint of Random House.
September 2016: "Norm Macdonald Live" Season Three Premiere
The third season of Norm Macdonald's podcast, "Norm Macdonald Live," premiered in September 2016.
2016: Publication of "Based on a True Story"
In 2016, Norm Macdonald released his novel, "Based on a True Story." The book presented a fictionalized and humorous take on his life experiences.
May 2017: Shift to Deadpan Comedy Style
May 2017 marked a noticeable shift in Norm Macdonald's comedic approach as he embraced a more understated, deadpan style in his performances.
March 2018: Netflix Orders "Norm Macdonald Has a Show"
Netflix ordered ten episodes of "Norm Macdonald Has a Show" in March 2018, marking Macdonald's return to the talk show format.
September 14, 2018: "Norm Macdonald Has a Show" Premiere
Netflix premiered Norm Macdonald's new talk show, "Norm Macdonald Has a Show," on September 14, 2018.
September 2018: Controversy Surrounding #MeToo Comments
In September 2018, Norm Macdonald attracted controversy for comments he made during an interview, where he seemed to criticize the #MeToo movement and defend Louis C.K. and Roseanne Barr. This resulted in the cancellation of his scheduled appearance on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon."
2018: "Norm Macdonald Has a Show" Premieres
Continuing his ventures into the world of talk shows, Norm Macdonald debuted "Norm Macdonald Has a Show" on Netflix in 2018. The series featured his unique interviewing style and discussions with notable guests.
2018: Reflects on Online Poker's Impact
In 2018, Norm Macdonald revealed in an interview that he used to play numerous online limit hold 'em games simultaneously until the UIGEA's restrictions on online poker in the United States. He expressed that this change "kind of saved [his] life."
2018: "The Middle" Finale
Norm Macdonald's recurring role on the sitcom "The Middle" ended in 2018 with the conclusion of the series.
2019: Shifting Views on O.J. Simpson
In 2019, Norm Macdonald appeared on "Lights Out with David Spade" and expressed a potential change in his perspective on O. J. Simpson's guilt. It was unclear whether his comments were intended as humor, but his friend Lori Jo Hoekstra mentioned that Simpson reached out to thank Macdonald for the more moderate stance.
February 2020: Launch of Dating App "Loko"
February 2020 saw Norm Macdonald launching "Loko," a dating app he co-created that prioritizes video for first impressions.
2020: Development of Myelodysplastic Syndrome
In early 2020, Norm Macdonald developed treatment-associated myelodysplastic syndrome, a type of cancer that can progress to acute leukemia.
March 2021: Final Stem Cell Transplant
In March 2021, Norm Macdonald underwent his final stem cell transplant as part of his treatment for multiple myeloma.
July 2021: Hospitalization and Chemotherapy
Norm Macdonald was admitted to the City of Hope National Medical Center in Duarte, California, in July 2021 for chemotherapy. During this time, he contracted an infection but continued to work, recording a voiceover for "The Orville."
September 14, 2021: Death of Norm Macdonald
On September 14, 2021, Norm Macdonald passed away. He left behind a legacy as a comedian, actor, and writer, known for his unique style and memorable appearances on late-night talk shows.
September 2021: Norm Macdonald Passes Away
On September 2021, Norm Macdonald, known for his dry wit and memorable appearances on SNL, passed away. He had been battling leukemia privately.
May 30, 2022: Posthumous Release of "Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special"
On May 30, 2022, "Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special" was released posthumously. This Netflix special was a recording of Macdonald's final stand-up set, performed without an audience. The release was followed by a discussion featuring notable figures in comedy.
June 2022: Posthumous Appearance in "The Orville: New Horizons"
June 2022 marked the premiere of "The Orville: New Horizons," the third season of the Fox science fiction series. This season featured Norm Macdonald posthumously in his final acting role as Yaphit.
July 12, 2022: Posthumous Primetime Emmy Nominations
Norm Macdonald received three posthumous Primetime Emmy Award nominations for his stand-up special "Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special" on July 12, 2022.
April 10, 2024: Renewed Appreciation for O.J. Simpson Commentary
After O.J. Simpson's passing on April 10, 2024, Norm Macdonald's jokes about the O.J. Simpson trial, frequently featured on "Saturday Night Live," resurfaced and were widely shared online. Conan O'Brien praised Macdonald's commentary on the trial and murders, highlighting him as one of the greatest comedic voices.