The deadpan comedian, actor and former Saturday Night Live Weekend Update anchor, Norm Macdonald, has passed away at 61.

Macdonald had been battling cancer for nearly a decade without telling anyone. He was determined to keep his medical diagnosis private from the world. Norm never wanted to be treated differently due to his diagnosis. He was also not a fan of the phrase “lost a battle with cancer,” as it implied the person who had passed had failed somehow.

Macdonald was born in 1959 in Quebec, Canada. His parents were both teachers at the local military base in Quebec City. His father died from heart disease in 1990. Norm was raised in a modest family with two siblings, both an older and younger brother.

Norm was a very influential comedian throughout the 1990s and early 2000s. He started doing stand-up comedy in Ottawa and quickly became a hot commodity for clubs across Canada. A year after performing for Star Seach, Norm got hired for Roseanne’s television series as a writer in 1990. He would quit within a year to join the cast of Saturday Night Live.

SNL alums and comedians around the world are pouring in their tributes across social media.

Today is a sad day. All of us here at SNL mourn the loss of Norm Macdonald, one of the most impactful comedic voices of his or any other generation. pic.twitter.com/KQYuuz5eM9

— Saturday Night Live – SNL (@nbcsnl) September 14, 2021

There was no one like Norm MacDonald ; Every time I watched him perform was a gift. Thank you Norm … thinking of you and your family on this sad day. pic.twitter.com/BfEtja3tqB

— Dave Attell (@attell) September 14, 2021

“Norm @normmacdonald was a great talent, and I loved laughing with him on SNL. *Bob Dole* will miss Norm Macdonald.” pic.twitter.com/gPsdyJ5tS9

— Senator Bob Dole (@SenatorDole) September 14, 2021

Macdonald’s SNL career was legendary. His impressions back in the day of Bob Dole and Burt Reynolds were pure comedic genius and hysterical to watch. Macdonald spent three years as a Weekend Update anchor from 1994-1997. This is considered some of his best work because it further solidified him as one of the funniest comedians in the world.

He often said that he got his jokes and ideas from bumper stickers and coffee mugs. He believed that a good joke should come as a surprise and should never be pandered to.

Norm was also very open for his stance on religion and his Christian background. He believed in God even though he did not think it was a “stylish statement to make” in Hollywood. He never shied away from the topic during interviews.

Norm was granted his television series The Norm Show in 1999, and it ran until 2001. Since then, Norm has appeared in several movies and sitcom series. He had a successful video podcast, Norm Macdonald Live, that would lead to another series. Norm Macdonald Has a Show was released on Netflix in 2018. Norm continued the podcast routine on the show, where he interviewed other celebrities.

Norm was the comics comedian. He was a rare ball of energy that just wanted to make people laugh. His comedy skits will continue to make the world a brighter place even as his light has now faded.

Norm Macdonald is survived by his son, two brothers and his mother.

He will be genuinely missed in Hollywood as well as for those who enjoy him during their favorite late-night shows or movie nights.