Norm Macdonald, popular comedian and former “Saturday Night Live” star, dies at 61 after a long battle with cancer. Norm had reportedly been sick with an undisclosed form of cancer for nine years but declined to make his illness public.

Born in Quebec City, Canada, in 1959, Macdonald spent several years as a working stand-up comedian before joining the cast of SNL in 1993, where his indelible impressions included Larry King, David Letterman, Bob Dole, and Burt Reynolds.

After just one season in the cast, he replaced Kevin Nealon as “Weekend Update” anchor. He was named the all-time best comedian to sit in that chair by Entertainment Weekly in 2017.

Norman Gene Macdonald was a Canadian stand-up comedian, writer, and actor known for his deadpan style. Early in his career, he wrote for the sitcom Roseanne.