Beloved comedian Gilbert Gottfried passes away at 67

Gilbert Gottfried, the comedian with the shrilling and loud Brooklyn-accented voice and often lewd wisecracks in his routines, has died.  He was 67 and succumbed to ventricular tachycardia or quickening of the heartbeat, due to complications of myotonic dystrophy, which he lived with for the past few years.

His family made a tear-jerking statement on his Twitter page on April 12th, reminding fans and those who knew him to ‘laugh’ instead of cry.  Comedian and Seinfeld alumni Jason Alexander reflected that Gottfried’s talent was a “gift” and will be greatly missed.

Born into a Jewish family in the Brooklyn neighborhood of New York, Gottfried got his comedic start at the young age of fifteen by doing stand-up routines in the city.  He became known for his brash and raw delivery and unapologetic take on things, which would become his trademark.

In 1980, Gottfried became part of the Saturday Night Live cast for its sixth season.  Although he did not gain much airtime and did not use his signature screeching loud voice, he did strike up a friendship with costar Eddie Murphy.  The two would later star together in the 1987 comedy, Beverly Hills Cop II.  Other notable films credits include 1990’s Problem Child, its two sequels, and appearing as President Lincoln in Seth MacFarland’s 2014 Wild West comedy, A Millon Ways To Die In The West.

For the Disney fans, Gottfried is mostly recognized for the voice of Iago, the sharp-tongued parrot, and sidekick to the villain Jafar, in the 1992 animated feature, Aladdin, and continued the voice for the Disney franchise.  His voice (and face) can be heard and seen in various children’s production in both the film and television genres, as well as adult animation and celebrity roasts.

He voiced the Aflac Insurance duck in commercials until his dismissal after receiving backlash from tweeting jokes about the 2011 Japanese Tsunami disaster.

Offscreen, Gottfried was outgoing and friendly and always trying to crack a laugh.  In January, Gottfried posted a selfie via Twitter about the loss of his two friends, Bob Saget and Louis Anderson.

Whatever Gilbert Gottfried found comedy in, he made everyone laugh, no matter the situation.