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On Tuesday, upon learning of the comedic great Norm MacDonald's untimely passing at the age of 61, Gambling911.com reported on how the former SNL star was known to be a high stakes sports bettor. Poker News was quick to point out that MacDonald was also among the celebrity regulars who took part in the World Series of Poker events.
The Canadian comic made annual trips to Vegas to take part in the WSOP. He even replaced Gabe Kaplan as host of "High Stakes Poker" when the show aired on the Game Show Network.
MacDonald's long-time friend and producing partner Lori Jo Hoekstra revealed that the comedian wanted his years long battle with cancer to stay private.
“He was most proud of his comedy,” Hoekstra told Deadline. “He never wanted the diagnosis to affect the way the audience or any of his loved ones saw him. Norm was a pure comic. He once wrote that ‘a joke should catch someone by surprise, it should never pander.’ He certainly never pandered. Norm will be missed terribly.”
Podcaster Lance Bradley paid tribute to MacDonald via Twitter .
"Like a lot of my colleagues, I first met Norm Macdonald at a poker tournament when I asked him for an interview. He was one of my favorite celeb interviews because he wasn’t interested in just promoting something. He just wanted to talk poker with me. RIP Norm."
Like a lot of my colleagues, I first met Norm Macdonald at a poker tournament when I asked him for an interview. He was one of my favorite celeb interviews because he wasn’t interested in just promoting something. He just wanted to talk poker with me. RIP Norm.
— Lance Bradley (@Lance_Bradley) September 14, 2021
Poker pro Jennifer Leigh (AKA @Jennicide) also chimed in on Twitter.
What feels like a lifetime ago, I had the privilege of playing poker with Norm Macdonald. He truly was a legendary comic. It’s sad to see that both in this photo are no longer here. RIP. pic.twitter.com/VXZgBuvV6R
— @Jennicide) September 14, 2021
Jonathan "Shecky Green" Shecter, co-founder of the music and culture magazine The Source, mentioned how he had played poker MacDonald during the late 90's.
I had the honor to play poker alongside the legendary @normmacdonald at NYC's Mayfair Club in the late 90s. No secret that Norm loved to gamble, loved the action, he brushed away questions with his deadpan style, never showing a drop of ego or entitlement. Rest peacefully sir! pic.twitter.com/WoPQT64OHX
— Jonathan Shecter (@SheckyGreen) September 15, 2021
And then there were the Americas Cardroom pros. ACR paid tribute via its Twitter page late Tuesday, and below you can watch Norm MacDonald being interviewed in his Americas Cardroom jacket. He was truly a legend in both the comedic world and the poker community.
The comedy and poker world just lost a great one with the passing of Norm Macdonald. Let’s pay tribute by watching this special video between Norm and our ACR Pros as they share invaluable moments.https://t.co/sCqGQcm7NR pic.twitter.com/uhqoZNSYE1
— Americas Cardroom (@ACR_POKER) September 14, 2021
- Ace King, Gambling911.com
