Always in their hearts. celebrities incl Jason Alexander and Kathy Griffin mourned comedian Gilbert Gottfried after his death on Tuesday April 12.
The beloved stand-up, who voiced Iago in 1992’s Aladdin and the 1994-95 animated series of the same name, was 67 when he passed away.
“We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved Gilbert Gottfried after a long illness,” the late star’s family said in a social media statement on Tuesday. “In addition to being the most iconic voice in comedy, Gilbert was a wonderful husband, brother, friend and father to his two young children.”
The statement concluded: “Although today is a sad day for all of us, please laugh as loudly as you can in Gilbert’s honor.” Gottfried leaves behind his wife, Dara Kravitzand their two children, Lily, 14, and Max, 12.
The New York native’s rep confirmed Gottfried’s death in a statement to Us Weekly on Tuesday, revealing that the Hassle at the Castle actor died of recurrent ventricular tachycardia due to Myotonic Dystrophy Type II.
The genetic disease is rare, according to the National Center for Advancing Translational Sciences. It affects the muscles and other body systems with symptoms such as muscle weakness, pain and stiffness.
“Gilbert’s brand of humor was cheeky, shocking, and frequently offensive, but the man behind the jokes was anything but,” Gottfried’s Friend and “Gilbert Gottfried’s Amazing Colossal Podcast!” cohost Frank Santopadre said in a statement. “Those who loved him and were fortunate enough to share his orbit knew a person who was sweet, sensitive, surprisingly shy, and filled with a childish sense of playfulness and wonder.” He will be greatly missed by family, friends, fans and comedy lovers around the world. To quote Gilbert himself: ‘Too soon!’”
Gottfried entered the entertainment industry as a teenager and became a household name with the help of his voice work for the Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles series and Cyberchase.
Throughout his career, Gottfried’s humor touched many, including Alexander, 62, who paid tribute to the late actor on Tuesday.
“Gilbert Gottfried sometimes made me laugh when laughing didn’t come easily. What a gift,” the Seinfeld graduate wrote on social media. “I didn’t know him well, but I loved what he shared with me.
For her part, Griffin was stunned by the news of Gottfried’s death, sharing three heartbroken emojis alongside her Twitter tribute to the Problem Child actor.
Scroll down to see what other celebrities are honoring the late comedian:
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