Gilbert Gottfried Dies: Stars Pay Tribute to the Late Comedian & Actor
Stars from across Hollywood are paying their respects to Gilbert Gottfried, the legendary comedian and actor who died Tuesday following a long illness. He was 67.
“He was a unique voice in comedy on so many levels,” wrote Star Wars actor Mark Hamill.”Unpredictable, one-of-a-kind, hilarious & irreplaceable! Thank you for the lifetime of laughs, sir.”
He was a unique voice in comedy on so many levels. Unpredictable, one-of-a-kind, hilarious & irreplaceable! Thank you for the lifetime of laughs, sir.#RIP_GilbertGottfried 💔 https://t.co/5tUbQBdnn6
— Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill) April 12, 2022
Gottfried was an iconic voice in comedy, perhaps best known for voicing the cocky, wise-talking macaw Iago in Disney’s 1992 animated film Aladdin. He also appeared in films such as Problem Child, Look Who’s Talking Too, Beverly Hills Cop II, and The Aristocrats.
His family confirmed the passing on Tuesday, with Gottfried’s representative Glenn Schwartz later sharing that the actor died due to a heart abnormality called recurrent ventricular tachycardia — an arrhythmia caused by the muscle-wasting disease myotonic dystrophy.
“Nobody was funnier than @RealGilbert on a roll. He could put you into convulsive hysterics,” said director Judd Apatow. “He was also the sweetest man. His podcast is a comedy treasure. What a terrible loss. Sending my condolences and love to Dara and his family.”
Nobody was funnier than @RealGilbert on a roll. He could put you into convulsive hysterics. He was also the sweetest man. His podcast is a comedy treasure. What a terrible loss. Sending my condolences and love to Dara and his family. https://t.co/qdZQV1A6sC
— Judd Apatow (@JuddApatow) April 12, 2022
Academy Award-winner Marlee Matlin shared her memories of Gottfried, writing, “I am so sad to read about the passing of Gilbert Gottfried. Funny, politically incorrect but a softie on the inside.” She added, “We met many times; he even pranked me on a plane, replacing my interpreter Jack Jason (they’re like twins).”
Seinfeld star Jason Alexander noted that Gottfried had the ability to “make me laugh at times when laughter did not come easily.” Meanwhile, actress Jennifer Tilly described the late comic as “a brilliant comedian and just the sweetest guy,” adding, “We worked together on “Goosed.” Everybody adored him.”
I am so sad to read about the passing of Gilbert Gottfried. Funny, politically incorrect but a softie on the inside. We met many times; he even pranked me on a plane, replacing my intepreter @655jack(they’re like twins). Sending love to Dara & his children. RIP #gilbertgottfried pic.twitter.com/R4mxWBRsNo
— Marlee Matlin (@MarleeMatlin) April 12, 2022
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. #ripGilbertGottfried
— jason alexander (@IJasonAlexander) April 12, 2022
Rip Gilbert Gottfried, a brilliant comedian and just the sweetest guy. We worked together on “Goosed.” Everybody adored him. https://t.co/r37FeFjxjo
— Jennifer Tilly (@JenniferTilly) April 12, 2022
New York Times journalist Dave Itzkoff shared a story of meeting Gottfried, writing, “In person he was an unexpectedly gentle guy who loved old showbiz and movie monsters – almost too shy to sit at a table and listen to his wife tell me the story of how they first met.”
Years ago, Gilbert Gottfried let me visit him at home in NYC. In person he was an unexpectedly gentle guy who loved old showbiz and movie monsters – almost too shy to sit at a table and listen to his wife tell me the story of how they first met. #rip https://t.co/IdlZZDUUjX
— Dave Itzkoff (@ditzkoff) April 12, 2022
Check out more tributes below.
It was my honor to have met and interviewed and done bits with one of the greats. Rest In Peace, Gilbert Gottfried. #hardblackwax pic.twitter.com/6rgFQnt8aO
— Stephen Colbert (@StephenAtHome) April 13, 2022
I’m so sad to hear Gilbert Gottfried left us. What a wonderful human and brilliant man he was .he loved film and artists and knew how to connect deeply to us. gratitude Gilbert Rest In Peace my friend
— ✌🏼rosanna arquette (@RoArquette) April 12, 2022
rest in peace to Gilbert Gottfried who has probably the best sequence in game show history on Hollywood Squares. if you’re not an old hag like me who remembers the rules, both contestants needed his square to secure the 5-square win, but he decided to troll both of them pic.twitter.com/Egzyzygudd
— manny (@mannyfidel) April 12, 2022
So sorry to hear about Gilbert Gottfried’s passing. Truly a funny, funny guy. So unique. He will be sorely missed.
— Mel Brooks (@MelBrooks) April 12, 2022
The section of The Aristocrats documentary where other comics rave about Gilbert Gottfried’s performance of the joke — and how he told it only as a response to bombing with a 9/11 joke only weeks later — at the Hugh Hefner roast is remarkable. RIP. https://t.co/RHQaorhwI8
— Alan Sepinwall (@sepinwall) April 12, 2022
RIP Gilbert. Opening for Gilbert Gottfried at Carolines and Princeton Catch was one of the great thrills of my early stand up life. He could leave you gasping for breath…just indescribably unusually hilarious…Damn.
— Jon Stewart (@jonstewart) April 12, 2022
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. https://t.co/93cKB6KEg8
— Seth MacFarlane (@SethMacFarlane) April 12, 2022
This is a sad day. https://t.co/Ed7VbNPOTX
— Tiffany Haddish (@TiffanyHaddish) April 12, 2022
Heartbroken to read about the passing of Gilbert Gottfried
A legendary voice of my childhood
Thank you @RealGilbert ❤️
Ive watched Aladdin 1,000,000 times pic.twitter.com/WT5yHsswQh— “All Ego” Ethan Page (@OfficialEGO) April 12, 2022
