Wondering whether Norm Macdonald died of cancer? The iconic comedian with his humor and distinctive flair passed on in September 2021 following a struggle with cancer that lasted nine years. Norm chose to keep his battle with cancer secret, from his circle of friends to prevent it from impacting how he was perceived. The element of secrecy surrounding his passing brought a mix of emotions to his fans and peers as they pondered his bravery and commitment, to bringing joy to others despite the hardships he faced personally. Let’s delve deeper into the life of Norm Macdonald; his struggle, against cancer and the enduring impact he has had on those he left behind.
When Did Norm MacDonald Die?
While the world was still reeling from the COVID-19 pandemic, right through the lockdown, Norm MacDonald was fighting for his life. He checked into the City of Hope Medical Center in July 2021 and stayed in there until he died in September 2021.
The announcement of Norm’s death on 14 September 2021 surprised the world. As you would expect of someone of his caliber, news of his death made headlines, and many people took to social media to share tributes.
Tributes came from Jim Carrey, Seth Rogen, Seth MacFarlane, with whom Norm had worked on The Orville. Even Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau joined in with condolences, calling Norm a comedic genius and a great Canadian.
What Was Norm MacDonald’s Age at The Time of His Death?
Norm MacDonald was a few weeks shy of his 62nd birthday when he passed. He was born on the 17th of October 1959 and died on 14 September 2021, making him 61 years old at the time of his death.
How Did Norm Macdonald Die?
Although there are no public accounts of his last days on earth, the assumption is that Norm MacDonald died peacefully, having come to terms with his condition. The comedian died in hospital after complications arising from blood cancer in September 2021. His battle with the disease started in 2013 when he was first diagnosed with multiple myeloma.
Though shaken up by the diagnosis, Norm remained calm and developed a treatment plan working with his doctors. He had a transplant of stem cells and started chemotherapy that gave him constant pain in the leg. He also gained weight during the process because of the drug he was using.
Fortunately for Norm, the cancer went into remission after his treatments. It remained in remission for some time before returning with vengeance in 2020. The comic was heartbroken when he got the diagnosis, but he chose to carry on with his work by filming his Netflix special.
After a series of successful stem cell transplants, Norm MacDonald regained his strength and began to make plans for his regular shows and activities. Most of them, though, never materialized. In July 2021, he went to the hospital for what should have been a routine chemotherapy session. It was supposed to be an outpatient procedure, but the doctors told him he had to stay back. Norm ended up picking up an infection that would keep him at the hospital for the next six weeks. He never recovered from it.
The Cause of Norm MacDonald’s Death
There was no talk of foul play or any other thing other than the cancer Norm MacDonald had battled for years as his cause of death. When the cause of a person’s death is in question, an autopsy is usually ordered by family members, but none appears to have been done to determine or question the belief that the comedian died of cancer.
What Kind of Cancer Did Norm MacDonald Have?
Norman MacDonald was suffering from a type of cancer that affected the blood. Having been first diagnosed in 2013 with a very rare kind of blood cancer called Multiple Myeloma, the disease further deteriorated in 2020 to Myelodysplastic Syndrome, another type of rare blood cancer.
Norm never shared his diagnosis with the general public; he only did so with his loved ones. The comic never wanted the diagnosis to cloud the mindset of audiences or even his loved ones as far as perception of him was concerned. He wanted to go on living and working as normally as possible. He even joked that he had been eating too much chicken when it was the medication that he was taking that made him put on weight.
It has been pointed out that Norm MacDonald could have made lots of money and publicity from announcing his health issue, which would have fetched him some sympathy as well, but he never did that.
Norm MacDonald’s Net Worth at the Time of His Death
Norm MacDonald was believed to be worth around $2.5 million when he passed away. He clearly didn’t lack for funds to treat himself as he got the best medical treatment available but did not survive.
Norm made his money from a decorated career in Hollywood. He hosted his own comedy shows and featured in movies and TV shows. His last Netflix special – Nothing Special, came out after his demise and was hugely successful.
Norm MacDonald’s Last Photo
One of Norm MacDonald’s last photos, at least one that is in the public domain, is the photos he took with his brother, Neil, and his production partner, Lori Jo Hoekstra, in California in January 2021 when he was preparing to undergo his 3rd stem cell transplant.
In his last photos, Norm MacDonald visibly looked like he had lost weight, but he still made for a healthy figure with his impressive height as well as his dignified gray-haired looks.
