# Gilbert Gottfried has passed away {April 12, 2022} **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** celebrity-death\ **Created:** [April 12, 2022, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-has-passed-away-april-12-2022/962736 "2022-04-12T20:06:29Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 8:06pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-has-passed-away-april-12-2022/962736/1 "2022-04-12T20:06:29Z")
Gottfried was 67 years old. His family has released that Gottfried had been battling an illness for some time. > ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-has-passed-away-april-12-2022/962736/2 "2022-04-12T20:12:13Z")
A favorite scene of his … this is the first film I can remember Gilbert Gottfried being in. He improvised this scene with Eddie Murphy. [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/wXf_eaQcSdM/maxresdefault.jpg "Beverly Hills Cop 2 (6/10) Movie CLIP - Conning Sidney Bernstein (1987) HD") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=wXf_eaQcSdM) ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 8:12pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-has-passed-away-april-12-2022/962736/3 "2022-04-12T20:12:45Z")
The illness he had been battling was apparently a form of Muscular Dystrophy. He was great as the voice of the conniving, ultimately redeemed parrot Iago in Disney’s _Aladdin_ trilogy of films, and he told the absolute most hilarious, filthy “Aristocrats” joke ever. **NOT SAFE FOR WORK.** [![](https://img.youtube.com/vi/aGA0dIz9-Wk/hqdefault.jpg "Gilbert Gottfried: The Aristocrats") ](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=aGA0dIz9-Wk) ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 8:14pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-has-passed-away-april-12-2022/962736/4 "2022-04-12T20:14:14Z")
I’m going to have to stop being saddened and surprised by news like this. It’s only going to happen more and more frequently as time goes by. ---
**Author:** ![bordelond](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/bordelond/32/150_2.png) [@bordelond](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/bordelond)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 8:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-has-passed-away-april-12-2022/962736/5 "2022-04-12T20:16:31Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > I’m going to have to stop being saddened and surprised by news like this. It’s only going to happen more and more frequently as time goes by . On top of that sentiment: Coming to terms with the idea that “_they weren’t that old_”. “Ashes to ashes”, “it’s a part of life”, and all that 🙁 ---
**Author:** ![ZipperJJ](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/zipperjj/32/211_2.png) [@ZipperJJ](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ZipperJJ)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 8:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-has-passed-away-april-12-2022/962736/6 "2022-04-12T20:23:47Z")
Gottfried was one of those guys who was friends with EVERYONE, like Norm MacDonald and Bob Saget. He also never took himself seriously and would do anything for a laugh. He showed up everywhere! He definitely will be missed and his absence will be noticeable ☹ ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 8:32pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-has-passed-away-april-12-2022/962736/7 "2022-04-12T20:32:39Z")
He played a mean bird – Iago, the bird from Cyber Chase, and the Aflac duck. Do you remember why he got fired from the Aflac gig? ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 8:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-has-passed-away-april-12-2022/962736/8 "2022-04-12T20:34:27Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > Do you remember why he got fired from the Aflac gig? I didn’t, offhand, so I looked it up. He made a few insensitive jokes after the Japan tsunami. > **[Gilbert Gottfried Fired as Aflac Duck After Japan Tweets](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/gilbert-gottfried-fired-as-aflac-167382/)** > > The insurer blasts the comic for a series of earthquake and tsunami jokes that are “lacking in humor.” > Gottfried has yet to apologize for the jokes, which included: “I just split up with my girlfriend, but like the Japanese say, ‘They’ll be another one floating by any minute now.’” ---
**Author:** ![Llama\_Llogophile](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/l/49beb7/32.png) [@Llama\_Llogophile](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Llama_Llogophile)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 8:36pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-has-passed-away-april-12-2022/962736/9 "2022-04-12T20:36:51Z")
> [@ZipperJJ](#): > > Gottfried was one of those guys who was friends with EVERYONE, like Norm MacDonald and Bob Saget. Penn Jillette is going to be inconsolable. He thought the world of Gilbert. ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 8:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-has-passed-away-april-12-2022/962736/10 "2022-04-12T20:38:50Z")
Three months ago, all three of these guys were alive. They took this picture then. The world is less funny now. [[Album] Three Months, Three Lives ![](https://i.imgur.com/QXfR1Za.jpeg?fb "Three Months, Three Lives") ](https://imgur.com/gallery/MzrVeBj) ---
**Author:** ![Mahaloth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/mahaloth/32/1079_2.png) [@Mahaloth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Mahaloth)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-has-passed-away-april-12-2022/962736/11 "2022-04-12T20:40:35Z")
> [@Biggirl](#): > > I’m going to have to stop being saddened and surprised by news like this. It’s only going to happen more and more frequently as time goes by. I just realized that in a couple of months, George Carlin will have been dead 14(!!!) years. Can not believe it. ---
**Author:** ![RitterSport](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rittersport/32/6326_2.png) [@RitterSport](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RitterSport)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 8:40pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-has-passed-away-april-12-2022/962736/12 "2022-04-12T20:40:52Z")
I feel bad for the women in the background, assuming they’re still alive. That picture was death! How long could they possibly have? ETA: Thanks, **ekedolphin**! ---
**Author:** ![Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/s/13edae/32.png) [@Stranger\_On\_A\_Train](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Stranger_On_A_Train)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 8:47pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-has-passed-away-april-12-2022/962736/13 "2022-04-12T20:47:41Z")
> [@RitterSport](#): > > I feel bad for the women in the background, assuming they’re still alive. That picture was death! How long could they possibly have? Or she’s a reaper who just popped their souls. Is that a Post-It in her hand? Stranger ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 8:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-has-passed-away-april-12-2022/962736/14 "2022-04-12T20:48:38Z")
Let us never forget his seminal reading of “Fifty Shades of Grey” (not audibly safe for work) [Gilbert Gottfried Reads 50 Shades of Grey - YouTube](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XkLqAlIETkA) ---
**Author:** ![Johnny\_L.A](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/johnny_l.a/32/1084_2.png) [@Johnny\_L.A](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Johnny_L.A)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 8:49pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-has-passed-away-april-12-2022/962736/15 "2022-04-12T20:49:51Z")
I wish I could see his ‘It’s your fault!’ bit again. It was a ‘Jewish guilt’ thing where his mother blames him for whatever he’d just done, to WWII, to the extinction of the dinosaurs. ---
**Author:** ![ekedolphin](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/ekedolphin/32/10003_2.png) [@ekedolphin](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/ekedolphin)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 8:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-has-passed-away-april-12-2022/962736/16 "2022-04-12T20:54:04Z")
In the Will Smith/Chris Rock thread, there was a video with Bill Maher talking about how comedians are constantly asked to apologize. Here’s Gilbert Gottfried’s take on the situation after the Japan tsunami thing. > **[Gilbert Gottfried's Amazing Colossal Podcast](https://www.gilbertpodcast.com/769-2/)** > > Comedian and actor Gilbert Gottfried, a man Stephen King once called “a national treasure,” talks with the show business legends, icons and behind-the-scenes talents who shaped his childhood and influenced his comedy. Along with co-host and fellow... ---
**Author:** ![iiandyiiii](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/iiandyiiii/32/7924_2.png) [@iiandyiiii](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/iiandyiiii)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 8:57pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-has-passed-away-april-12-2022/962736/17 "2022-04-12T20:57:26Z")
Wow! What a shocking tragedy. RIP. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/779978/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats2](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats2)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 9:01pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-has-passed-away-april-12-2022/962736/18 "2022-04-12T21:01:04Z")
This one I did not see coming. And I am well and truly bummed at this news. ---
**Author:** ![hogarth](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/hogarth/32/1773_2.png) [@hogarth](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/hogarth)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 9:35pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-has-passed-away-april-12-2022/962736/19 "2022-04-12T21:35:21Z")
> [@ekedolphin](#): > > Here’s Gilbert Gottfried’s take on the situation after the Japan tsunami thing. I’m amazed to find out that Shecky Greene is still alive. ---
**Author:** ![Quimby](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/q/22d042/32.png) [@Quimby](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Quimby)\ **Post date:** [April 12, 2022, 9:38pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-has-passed-away-april-12-2022/962736/20 "2022-04-12T21:38:30Z")
I loved that he was fearless as a comedian and would do _anything_ for a laugh. RIP. [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/gilbert-gottfried-has-passed-away-april-12-2022/962736.md?page=2)