Comedian and actor Norm Macdonald dead at 61

Norm Macdonald, the Canadian-born comedian who became an influential cast member of Saturday Night Live after he joined in 1993, has died. He was 61.

Entertainment news site Deadline first reported the news Tuesday. Macdonald's manager, Marc Gurvitz of Brillstein Entertainment, also confirmed his death to CBC News. 

Macdonald was born in Quebec City on Oct. 17, 1959, the son of two schoolteachers, and spent his early years as a stand-up comedian touring across Canada.

He went on to write for shows like Roseanne and The Dennis Miller Show in the early '90s, before going on to host SNL's iconic segment "Weekend Update" from 1994-97.

After leaving SNL, he created and starred in the comedy The Norm Show for ABC, playing a former NHL player kicked out of the league for gambling and tax evasion and forced into community service as a social worker.

Macdonald was known for his laconic, deadpan voice, and for his impressions — including his take on Burt Reynolds, who famously gave Will Ferrell's Alex Trebek character grief on SNL's recurring "Celebrity Jeopardy" sketch. He also impersonated Bob Dole, Larry King and David Letterman.

"Norm was top rank, top rank of our generation," said Mark Breslin, co-founder of the Yuk Yuk's chain of comedy clubs.