Gilbert Gottfried

Very few stand-up comedians came close to Gilbert Gottfried's rapid-fire deliveries. The raspy-voiced performer first gained attention on the New York comedy scene before making the leap into television and film. Starting with his improvised scene as a kooky accountant in the smash comedy "Beverly Hills Cop II" (1987), Gottfried became a favorite to play annoying, wisecracking characters on television shows and in feature films like "Problem Child" (1990) or the animated classic Disney's "Aladdin" (1992), in which he stole scenes left and right as an obnoxious parrot. While some viewers remembered him for his family-friendly projects, Gottfried never abandoned the risqué, over-the-top stand-up comedy that made him a star, especially when he assailed celebrities during infamous New York Friar's Club roasts. It was the same unflinchingly funny, uncensored jokes that served as a reminder of the unpredictability that can only emerge from truly original performers. Gilbert Gottfried was born on Feb. 28, 1955, in Brooklyn, NY. He started doing stand-up comedy at age 15, doing open mike nights and making the rounds at New York City clubs where, after only a few short years, he became known as "the comedian's comedian." When he performed his stand-up, Gottfried kept his eyes squinted out of nervousness, a trait he never outgrew and which would become his trademark. In 1980, Gottfried joined the cast of "Saturday Night Live" (NBC, 1975- ), which gave him exposer and led to guest appearances on popular shows such as "The Cosby Show" (NBC, 1984-1992) and a featured role in the hit sequel "Beverly Hills Cop II." In Disney's comedy "Aladdin" (1992). Gottfried portrayed Lago, a mocking, foul-mouthed parrot with squinted eyes and bared teeth, who even managed to steal scenes from the improvisational kind, Robin Williams as the Genie. Aside from his TV and film work, Gottfried's distinctively high-pitched drone also landed him numerous voiceover commercial projects, including for Pop Tart as the Toaster, Microsoft as the office assistant Clippy, and the insurance company AFLAC as the in-your-face duck mascot. Following a series of offensive Twitter jokes seemingly mocking an entire race of people Gottfried was fired as the voice of AFLAC's iconic duck. Gilbert Gottfried died on April 12, 2022 at the age of 67.