Mike Stunson
The Charlotte Observer
Comedian Gilbert Gottfried, known for his stand-up work and his shrill voice, has died after a long illness, his family announced on Tuesday, April 12. He was 67.
“In addition to being the most iconic voice in comedy, Gilbert was a wonderful husband, brother, friend and father to his two young children,” his family said. “Although today is a sad day for all of us, please keep laughing as loud as possible in Gilbert’s honor.”
He died from “Recurrent Ventricular Tachycardia due to Myotonic Dystrophy type II,” his publicist told PEOPLE.
His iconic voice was used in “Aladdin,” in which he voiced Iago the parrot. He was also the voice of the Aflac duck until 2011 and appeared in many Comedy Central roasts.
Gottfried was also a fixture on “The Howard Stern Show” and made regular appearances on “Hollywood Squares.”
More recently, he hosted Gilbert Gottfried’s Amazing Colossal Podcast.
“You don’t just laugh at the punchline when Gilbert Gottfried tells a joke,” the Dallas Observer once said about Gottfried. “You laugh at the setup. You laugh at his comments about the joke. You even laugh at the segues between his jokes.”
In January, Gottfried shared a photo of himself with fellow comics Bob Saget and Louie Anderson. All three have died in 2022.
This photo is very sad now. RIP Bob Saget and RIP Louie Anderson. Both good friends that will be missed. pic.twitter.com/DLJ8Ntt7LN
— Gilbert Gottfried (@RealGilbert) January 21, 2022
Many people mourned the death of Gottfried, including Jason Alexander of “Seinfeld.”
“Gilbert Gottfried made me laugh at times when laughter did not come easily. What a gift,” Alexander said. “I did not know him well but I loved what he shared with me. My best wishes and sympathy to his family.”
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