'Just indescribably unusually hilarious'

Gravel-voiced American comedian and actor Gilbert Gottfried has died at the age of 67.

His family announced his death on social media, saying: ‘We are heartbroken to announce the passing of out beloved Gilbert Gottfried after a long illness.

‘In addition to being the most iconic voice in comedy, Gilbert was a wonderful husband, brother, friend and father to his two young children.

‘Although today is a sad day for all of us, please keep laughing as loud as possible in Gilbert’s honour. Love, the Gottfried family.

According to TMZ, he died of a heart abnormality called ventricular tachycardia due to myotonic dystrophy type 2.

As well as his stand-up, which he started at the age of 15 on the New York open mic circuit, his distinctive voice landed him many animated roles, including Iago in Aladdin, which he said was his ‘all-time favourite job’.

Other credits included Ren and Stimpy, The Marvelous Mrs Maisel and voicing the duck in the Aflac commercials.

He was famously one of the first to make jokes about 9/11. At the roast of Hugh Hefner two weeks after the 2001 terror attacks, he told the crowd: ‘I have to catch a flight to California. I can’t get a direct flight. They said they have to stop at the Empire State Building first’

There were gasps and pockets of laughter, and one person yelled out: ‘Too soon.’

To break the awkward tension he told the filthy comedians’ in-joke The Arisocrats, winning the room over and bringing the notorious gag into the public domain, before it was the subject of a documentary by Paul Provenza and Penn Jillette.

Gottfried once told an interviewer  that ‘when they’ll yell, "Too soon!" I always felt like, "OK, please show me where the office is where there’s a guy behind a desk who has it marked off in a calendar when something goes from bad taste to OK".’

Tributes have been paid online. Seinfeld star Jason Alexander said: ‘Gilbert Gottfried made me laugh at times when laughter did not come easily. What a gift. I did not know him well but I loved what he shared with me. My best wishes and sympathy to his family.’

Jon Stewart said: ‘He could leave you gasping for breath … just indescribably unusually hilarious.’

Richard Lewis added: ‘Gilbert, I don’t want to believe this. I loved him. I’m heartbroken for his beautiful family. Say it ain’t so. For almost 40 years his spectacular comedy blew me away You can’t be funnier. My God, all who experienced him are crushed. Say it ain’t so.’

And Family Guy’s Seth Macfarlne tweeted: ‘Gilbert Gottfried made me laugh so hard that day on set, I could barely do my job. A wholly original comic, and an equally kind and humble guy behind the scenes. He will be missed.’

Published: 13 Apr 2022