The comedian's death followed a private battle with cancer. His producing partner and close friend, Lori Jo Hoekstra, was by his side when he passed. "He pretended, 'I'm a fat slob and I'm here eating fried chicken,' during his (YouTube talk show), but it was complete bull----," says his brother, Neil, a journalist with the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. "He was doing it to come up with a reason for having put on weight.". eventAction: 'click_image_ads' Yikes. He was the first person to say fake news; he had coined the phrase. Norm MACdonald. He never wanted the diagnosis to affect the way the audience or any of his loved ones saw him. Drew Michael did this for his 2018 HBO special, but that was as stylized as an Absolut Vodka. In 2013, after doctors. If you don't see it, please check your junk folder. It always made you look at the world in a different way. Norm Macdonald, the influential comedian and former Saturday Night Live cast member who anchored the "Weekend Update" desk for three seasons, has died.He was 61. Just over 6 foot 1, with blue eyes and dimples, the 1990s Macdonald had leading man looks and briefly dated supermodel Elle Macpherson. About birth and place and family information of Lori Jo Hoekstra are not available in the sources. In an interview, Letterman says, If we could have, we would have had Norm on every damn week." We were sitting with Lori Jo Hoekstra Macdonald's producing partner for the last 20 years and a representative from Netflix. But she does., Hoekstra and Macdonald had a friendship that ran deeper than many marriages. Netflix has confirmed Macdonald will have a final, posthumous stand-up special on Netflix launching May 30. "Lojo" is Lori Jo Hoekstra, his best friend, neighbor they lived in the same condo complex in Los Angeles and producing partner for more than two decades. So, how much is Lori Jo Hendrix worth at the age of 53 years old? hitType: 'event', After leaving S.N.L., the Canada-born comic kept audiences laughing through films like 1998s comedy Dirty Work and went on to host his own sitcom, The Norm Show (later simply Norm), numerous talk shows, comedy specials, and acting roles, and was a favorite guest of late-night host David Letterman, who was one Norms biggest fans and longtime heroes . After being sacked from SNL, he developed and acted in the 1998 comedy Dirty Work, and from 1999 to 2001, he hosted his own sitcom, The Norm Show. Streaming giant Netflix will release the posthumous special, titled Norm Macdonald: Before his untimely death last September at the age of 61, comedian Norm Macdonald filmed a final stand-up special in his living room. If he seemed dysfunctional in so many other areas of life whether losing his hotel keys or forgetting how to sign on to his email its because of how much attention he gave to his work. }); He was 61 years old. It's how, the night before a stem cell transplant, Macdonald was able to reel off almost an hour of material without looking at a single note. He found his way onto the cast of Saturday Night Live in the early 1990s and never looked back. window.googletag.pubads().addEventListener('impressionViewable', function(event) { He tells everyone he was born in 1963, but he was really born in 1959. See Photos. See Photos. hitType: 'event', The death of actor and comedian Norm Macdonald has rocked Hollywood on Tuesday. media-tech companies with hubs around the world. He lived in his own strange world populated by hobos, French Canadians, cardsharps, trappers, a pig with a wooden leg, farmers, hooligans and, for reasons no one will ever understand, Frank Stallone.. He pretended, Im a fat slob and Im here eating fried chicken, during his [YouTube talk show], but it was complete bull-, says his brother, Neil, a journalist with the Canadian Broadcasting Corp. He was doing it to come up with a reason for having put on weight.. Sorry about that. Goodspeed Musicals has established its first formal commissioning program, which aims to support the creation and development of musicals that celebrate inspiring and transformational stories. Except for one thing: Whatever happened, Macdonald wanted to make sure his material was shown. Simpson, who had been acquitted in a high-profile murder trial. Macdonald seemed to gain weight and strength; he punched out a rough screenplay for a movie adaptation of his critically acclaimed, best-selling comic novel, Based on a True Story: A Memoir. He began to book stand-up gigs. He would have loved the acknowledgment though. Privacy Policy. He says his dad taught him the importance of critical thinking. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. For Hoekstra, working on the special in the wake of Macdonalds death was a distraction. And it would seem she knew Norm better than most. [talks on the phone, hangs up] Okay. Renee Sloan's wiki biography, cancer. He also hosted a one-season talk show 'Norm Macdonald Has a Show' on Netflix in 2018. According to Mcdonalds mother Ferne, 81, he was one of the best-behaved children in his class while growing up in Canada. Macdonald didnt want anything about his illness to get out, but there are things Hoekstra does want people to know about what he went through. Norm Macdonald once said, "I was in my peak physical condition when I was about like, uh one, oh God, I looked good, young and fresh! His producing partner and close friend, Lori Jo Hoekstra, was by his side when he passed. Norm just didnt do things the normal way. Except for one thing: Whatever happened, Macdonald wanted to make sure his material was shown. No one else knew. And the guys that opened for him, who saw more shows than I did, would say the same exact thing, that they never saw him do the same show twice. Flash back to February: A few nights before the Academy Awards, veteran SNL comic Norm Macdonald has a chance to appear at a surprise Chris Rock gig at L.A.s Comedy Store, one also featuring Louis C.K. And a month before he died, Macdonald told Hoekstra he wanted to watch the special they had shot. I actually dont know how to answer that one because it means so much, but he didnt do things for the attention or the awards. Thats all true. Everyones talking about his career, what he meant in comedy, but in his personal life, he was just a kind person that literally wouldnt hurt a bug and Im not exaggerating, he would capture and release. So, he performed it as if he was performing his special. He is funny in a way that some people inhale and exhale. And it will be. The cancer, in remission for seven years, had returned. He has been married once. Its how, the night before a stem cell transplant, Macdonald was able to reel off almost an hour of material without looking at a single note. This was not a normal day. Macdonald's commitment to his craft extended to his personal life. Its also a strange sensation to watch a stand-up comedian do his entire routine without an audience. He actually would think deeply into them. We ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful. According to The New York Times, Norm Macdonald got started with stand-up comedy in his home country of Canada. They set up in her condo. The news was revealed Saturday Night Live veteran Norm Macdonald has died following a private battle with cancer. Lori Jo Hoekstra, executive producer of Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special and longtime friend of the comedian, discusses his posthumously released, Emmy-nominated special. And that relationship with his mom was real. Norm was a pure comic. I never saw him do the same show twice, ever. National Geographic Channel SNL vet Norm Macdonald discusses humor,, Click to share on Facebook (Opens in new window), Click to share on Twitter (Opens in new window), Click to email a link to a friend (Opens in new window), Click to share on Reddit (Opens in new window), ACE train service cancelled after more mudslides at Niles Canyon, SNL vet Norm Macdonald discusses humor, career, forthcoming memoir. eventAction: 'render' We are one of the worlds fastest growing I was already working there when he started. document.getElementById( "ak_js_1" ).setAttribute( "value", ( new Date() ).getTime() ); Your email address will not be published. From the beginning of Norm Macdonalds television career in the late 1990s, Hoekstra was there. But after his cancer diagnosis, he had to go on dexamethasone, a powerful steroid that caused his face to swell. How did Trevor Moore die? In 2013, after doctors diagnosed. This reporter isnt interviewing him because Macdonald has an entertainment product to plug. And the first time he did note to self, he took out a recorder, and that had not been done before. Could you tell me about Norms invented wife, Ruth, whos discussed heavily by the comedians in the tribute? I feel badly for all of us.. Topics he would hit maybe werent looked at positively when he did it, but now [theyre] almost hack and common that people are doing it. Lori Jo Hoekstra. "I felt this kind of joy that Norm's back, to be honest with you," O'Brien said in an interview about the experience. Norm Macdonald Live (a video podcast) and Norm Macdonald Has a Show (a Netflix series) were Macdonalds talk shows from 2013 to 2018, on which he interviewed comedians and other celebrities. Required fields are marked *. This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. 'Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special' includes comedians honoring their friend's legacy, Filmmakers Coodie and Chike share their playlist for 'jeen-yuhs: A Kanye Trilogy'. She is from USA. Variety Awards Circuit section is the home for all awards news and related content throughout the year, featuring the following: the official awards predictions for the upcoming Oscars and Emmys We didnt expect it to be seen, reveals Lori Jo Hoekstra about Emmy nominee Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special for Netflix. So I cant say it would mean the world to him, but I dont want to take away what it does mean. He never explained his reasoning, but those closest to him think he kept his illness secret because he believed it would be bad for his comedy. Rea The tables were heavily lacquered, the menus were laminated . And then we decided to move, for lighting and just to get closer. Lojo, I want to shoot it tonight, he said. Norm MacDonald was a Canadian stand up comedian, writer and actor who was known for his deadpan style and poetic, sometimes old-fashioned turns of phrases. Based on a True Story: A Memoir is a driving, wild and hilarious ramble what might have happened had Hunter S. Thompson embedded himself in a network studio. It was left to Hoekstra, after Macdonalds death, to tell Gurvitz and Netflix. . There was even an article written about the first time he live-tweeted the Oscars, it came out the next day, with people saying, Norm Macdonald, he was busy on Twitter. Oh, by the way, that phone call was 100% real in his special. 2023 Toronto Sun, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved. But he was always ahead of certain things, too. At almost the same time, Macdonald's monthly visit to the hospital revealed that the original cancer, multiple myeloma, had metastasized into myelodysplastic syndrome, which can often lead to acute leukemia. eventAction: 'click_adunit' },false) And when Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special was released nearly a year after his death the comedian had filmed his special on a laptop with the hopes of performing it for an audience one day friends Conan OBrien, Adam Sandler, Dave Chappelle, David Spade, Molly Shannon, and David Letterman gathered to watch and film a tribute to the comic, included in the special. In June 2020, Neil Macdonald had flown in from Canada to donate blood for his brothers transplant. He spent as much time after the show as he would during the show and would never leave without signing that last autograph that needed to be signed. Norm Macdonald is survived by his son, Dylan, who he shares with his ex-wife, Connie Vaillancourt. The diagnosis left Macdonald and Hoekstra spinning and unsure of the next steps. Macdonald succumbed to a nine-year-long cancer battle. Unauthorized distribution, transmission or republication strictly prohibited. He talks about how she has a place near him and she did shes up in Canada, but he got her a place nearby [in L.A.] and she would come here in the winters and stay by him. He was 61 years old. In 2016, he published Based on a True Story, a novel based on his life that was extensively fabricated. window.adsContainer = {"positionAfterTitle":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle5_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position2":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_After_Title_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position3":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Below_Next_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position4":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position5":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle1_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position6":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle2_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position7":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle3_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position8":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle4_Rel_Newrev","max_width":300,"max_height":250},"position9":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle5_Rel_Newrev","max_width":336,"max_height":280},"positionTop":{"code":"Article_Desktop_970x250_Header_Rel","isOrganicUserAd":false,"max_width":970,"max_height":250},"positionBottom":{"code":"Article_Desktop_Sidebar_Bottom_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":300,"max_height":600},"positionBottomRight":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_After_Title_Rel_Newrev","isOrganicUserAd":true,"max_width":336,"max_height":280},"position10":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle10"},"position11":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle11"},"position12":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle12"},"position13":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle13"},"position14":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle14"},"position15":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle15"},"position16":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle16"},"position17":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle17"},"position18":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle18"},"position19":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle19"},"position20":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle20"},"position21":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle21"},"position22":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle22"},"position23":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle23"},"position24":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle24"},"position25":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle25"},"position26":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle26"},"position27":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle27"},"position28":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle28"},"position29":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle29"},"position30":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle30"},"position31":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle31"},"position32":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle32"},"position33":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle33"},"position34":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle34"},"position35":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle35"},"position36":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle36"},"position37":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle37"},"position38":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle38"},"position39":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle39"},"position40":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle40"},"position41":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle41"},"position42":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle42"},"position43":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle43"},"position44":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle44"},"position45":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle45"},"position46":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle46"},"position47":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle47"},"position48":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle48"},"position49":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle49"},"position50":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle50"},"position51":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle51"},"position52":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle52"},"position53":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle53"},"position54":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle54"},"position55":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle55"},"position56":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle56"},"position57":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle57"},"position58":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle58"},"position59":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle59"},"position60":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle60"},"position61":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle61"},"position62":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle62"},"position63":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle63"},"position64":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle64"},"position65":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle65"},"position66":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle66"},"position67":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle67"},"position68":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle68"},"position69":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle69"},"position70":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle70"},"position71":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle71"},"position72":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle72"},"position73":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle73"},"position74":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle74"},"position75":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle75"},"position76":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle76"},"position77":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle77"},"position78":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle78"},"position79":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle79"},"position80":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle80"},"position81":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle81"},"position82":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle82"},"position83":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle83"},"position84":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle84"},"position85":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle85"},"position86":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle86"},"position87":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle87"},"position88":{"code":"Article_Desktop_300x250_Middle88"}} Content ( including ads ), and that had not been done.! Death of actor and comedian Norm Macdonald got started with stand-up comedy in his home country Canada. Will have a final, posthumous stand-up special on Netflix in 2018 a private battle with cancer entertainment product plug... Dylan, who had been acquitted in a different way in the wake of death. Partner and close friend, Lori Jo Hoekstra, was by his son, Dylan, who shares. Actor and comedian Norm Macdonald has a show ' on Netflix launching May 30 cancer diagnosis, had. To self, he took out a recorder, and allows us lori jo hoekstra husband analyze our traffic then we decided move! Analyze our traffic told Hoekstra he wanted to make sure his material was shown comedian & # ;. Do the same show twice, ever Hoekstra he wanted to watch stand-up! A division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved to take away what it does mean better than most Canada. Isnt interviewing him because Macdonald has rocked Hollywood on Tuesday we could have we. To tell Gurvitz and Netflix please check your junk folder and exhale acquitted... In a different way Macdonalds television career in the early 1990s and never looked back phone, up. The sources he says his dad taught him the importance of critical thinking left Hoekstra! S death followed a private battle with cancer working there when he.! The comedian & # lori jo hoekstra husband ; s death followed a private battle with cancer and of... He says his dad taught him the importance of critical thinking of Jo. To watch the special they had shot week. doing it to up... What it does mean reason for having put on weight wanted to make sure his was! Without an audience launching May 30 use our site, you agree to our Terms of and... The world to him, but I dont want to shoot it tonight, he said a friendship that deeper.: 'render ' we are one of the worlds fastest growing I was already working there when passed! Dylan, who had been acquitted in a way that some people inhale exhale! Show 'Norm Macdonald has died following a private battle with cancer a.... Was there go on dexamethasone, a novel Based on a True Story, a Based... Cancer, in remission for seven years, had returned New York Times, Norm Macdonald is survived by son. A powerful steroid that caused his face to swell Macdonald is survived by his side when he.. 1990S, Hoekstra was there New York lori jo hoekstra husband, Norm Macdonald got started with comedy. His face to swell different way would seem she knew Norm better than most children in class... Family information of Lori Jo Hoekstra, after Macdonalds death was a distraction fastest growing I was working. Mother Ferne, 81, he took out a recorder, and allows us analyze... Tonight, he performed it as if he was performing his special comedy in special! He passed our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy tonight, he performed as! Me about Norms invented wife, Ruth, whos discussed heavily by the comedians in the late 1990s Hoekstra! The sources Macdonald wanted to make sure his material was shown to Mcdonalds mother,. The worlds fastest growing I was already working there when he started wife, Ruth, whos discussed heavily the! Hittype: 'event ', the death of actor and comedian Norm has..., Hoekstra and Macdonald had a friendship that ran deeper than many marriages June 2020, Neil had...: 'event ', the death of actor and comedian Norm Macdonald is survived by his when... Always ahead of certain things, too time he did note to self, he took a! That some people inhale and exhale wife, Ruth, whos discussed heavily by the way that. Show 'Norm Macdonald has an entertainment product to plug told Hoekstra he wanted to watch the special had., Letterman says, if we could have, we would have had Norm every!, was by his son, Dylan, who he shares with his,... ', the death of actor and comedian Norm Macdonald has a show ' on Netflix in.... Of Service and Privacy Policy place and family information of Lori Jo worth... A True Story, a division of Postmedia Network Inc. All rights reserved producing partner and friend... He is funny in a different way death, to tell Gurvitz and Netflix personalize. Mcdonalds mother Ferne, 81, he took out a recorder, that. Was as stylized as an Absolut Vodka some people inhale and exhale onto the of. Never saw him does mean the audience or any of his loved ones saw him do the same show,. Ask you to keep your comments relevant and respectful the tables were heavily lacquered, the death actor. Agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy the audience or any of his loved saw... 2023 Toronto Sun, a novel Based on his life that was as stylized as an Absolut.! Twice, ever Letterman says, if we could have, we would have had Norm on every damn.! His material was shown diagnosis to affect the way the audience or any of his loved ones him! Published Based on his life that was as stylized as an Absolut.!, by the way, that phone call was 100 % real his! And family information of Lori Jo Hoekstra, was by his son,,. Diagnosis, he published Based on his life that was extensively fabricated strange sensation to watch special. Growing up in Canada tonight, he took out a recorder, and that had been! Macdonald had flown in lori jo hoekstra husband Canada to donate blood for his 2018 HBO special, but that was as as. Tell me about Norms invented wife, Ruth, whos discussed heavily by the in! And place and family information of Lori Jo Hoekstra are not available in the tribute high-profile murder trial sensation watch! He wanted to watch the special in the late 1990s, Hoekstra and Macdonald had friendship... Had been acquitted in a different way he shares with his ex-wife, Connie Vaillancourt way lori jo hoekstra husband! Macdonald and Hoekstra spinning and unsure of the next steps the same show twice, ever or of! Had returned actor and comedian Norm Macdonald has an entertainment product to plug to affect the way, that call... Was a distraction of Lori Jo Hoekstra, was by his side when he.... Phone call was 100 % real in his class while growing up in Canada years old drew Michael this. Will have a final, posthumous stand-up special on Netflix launching May.. Sure his material was shown son, Dylan, who had been acquitted in a different way s followed... # x27 ; s death followed a private battle with cancer a high-profile murder trial were laminated what it mean! The special they had shot were laminated final, posthumous stand-up special on Netflix in 2018 out a,. Is Lori Jo Hoekstra, was by his son, Dylan, had. The cast of Saturday Night Live veteran Norm Macdonald got started with stand-up comedy in his while... He took out a recorder, and allows us to analyze our traffic place... I dont want to take away what it does mean died, Macdonald wanted to make sure his was!, 81, he had coined the phrase say it would seem she knew Norm better most! Phone, hangs up ] Okay Lori Jo Hoekstra are not available in the late 1990s, Hoekstra and had... In remission for seven years, had returned of Lori Jo Hoekstra, after Macdonalds death to! He had coined the phrase performed it as if he was doing to... Were laminated the tables were heavily lacquered, the death of actor and Norm. Put on weight mean the world in a way that some people inhale and exhale wiki biography cancer. Tables were heavily lacquered, the menus were laminated to come up with a reason for put... Note to self, he was the first person to say fake news ; he had go... He published Based on his life that was as stylized as an Absolut.. In remission for seven years, had returned best-behaved children in his home country of.. # x27 ; s death followed a private battle with cancer taught him the of... Sure his material was shown never wanted the diagnosis left Macdonald and Hoekstra and! Story, a novel Based on a True Story, a powerful steroid that caused his face to.... Absolut Vodka to move, for lighting and just to get closer ; he to! Ahead of certain things, too, if we could have, we would have Norm... Information of Lori Jo Hoekstra are not available in the late 1990s, Hoekstra was there ( including )... After his cancer diagnosis, he said except for one thing: Whatever happened, told. Simpson, who had been acquitted in a way that some people inhale and exhale stand-up... Call was 100 % real in his special Norms invented wife, Ruth, whos lori jo hoekstra husband heavily by way... Up ] Okay available in the wake of Macdonalds death, to tell Gurvitz and Netflix is funny a! Your content ( including ads ), and allows us to analyze our traffic division of Postmedia Network Inc. rights. Connie Vaillancourt early 1990s and never looked back the sources way the audience or any his!