Gilbert Gottfried, Iconic Comedy Legend, Dead At 67 Due To Complications From Muscular Dystrophy

Gilbert Gottfried, the actor and comedian whose signature voice and perpetual exasperation defined him, has died at the age of 67. The Gottfried family confirmed his passing in a statement that read, “We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our 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 honor.”

The Washington Post reported that Gottfried “died Tuesday in Manhattan due to complications from muscular dystrophy, according to his friend and publicist Glenn Schwartz.”

The Brooklyn-born Gottfried got his start as a stand-up comedian in New York City before getting cast in 1980 on Saturday Night Live. Though his tenure there only lasted one season, he made an impression with his comedic style and unforgettable voice. One of his most high-profile roles was playing the wise-cracking parrot Iago in Disney’s 1992 animated film Aladdin, but Gottfried lent his voice to hundreds of other characters over the years, including Kraang in Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, and Mr. Mxyzptlk in Justice League Action.

Gottfried was also an early adopter to podcasting, launching Gilbert Gottfried’s Amazing Colossal Podcast in 2014. The weekly podcast featured celebrity guests and a range of topics including film history, music, and sports. His final guest on the show was You Must Remember This podcast host Karina Longworth, on April 4.

Gottfried was considered a “comedian’s comedian,” beloved by his peers, and a frequent guest on talk shows. He appeared frequently on The Tonight Show, The Howard Stern Show, and The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, and was a mainstay at televised comedy roasts. His career was not without controversy, though it did not seem to deter Gottfried. Weeks after the September 11 attacks, during a roast of Hugh Hefner, he quipped that he needed to catch a plane, but couldn’t get a direct flight because “they said they have to stop at the Empire State Building first.” After an initial public outcry, Gottfried and his career moved on, though a similarly-timed joke about the Japanese tsunami led to his dismissal voicing the AFLAC duck.

In 2017, a documentary film about the life of Gilbert Gottfried, appropriately titled Gilbert, was released. (The movie is currently available to stream on Peacock, Pluto TV, and Kanopy, in addition to being available for rent or purchase on a number of VOD services.)

Gottfried leaves behind his wife, Dara Kravitz, and their two children.