“In addition to being the most iconic voice in comedy, Gilbert was a wonderful husband, brother, friend and father to his two young children,” his family wrote in a prepared statement shared widely on social media.
Gottfried died at 2:35 p.m. EDT Tuesday from recurrent ventricular tachycardia due to myotonic dystrophy type II, Glenn Schwartz, Gottfried’s longtime friend and publicist Glenn Schwartz confirmed to NBC News.
Known for his shrill voice and often bawdy humor, Gottfried carved a niche as a voice actor for a number of iconic animated characters, including Iago the parrot in Disney’s “Aladdin,” the Aflac duck in commercials for the insurance company and as the robotic bird Digit in PBS Kids’ “Cyberchase,” Variety reported.
According to NBC News, Gottfried became known as “the comedian’s comedian” because his live performances “put aside political correctness while he delivers jokes that know no boundaries,” Schwartz said in a prepared statement.
Born in Brooklyn, New York, on Feb. 28, 1955, Gottfried performed his first stand-up comedy act at 15. He earned a 12-episode stint on “Saturday Night Live” in 1980, and reunited with “SNL” castmate Eddie Murphy for 1987′s “Beverly Hills Cop II,” the entertainment news outlet reported.
Gottfried’s other film credits included “Problem Child,” “Look Who’s Talking II” and “The Aristocrats.” He was also the subject of the 2017 documentary “Gilbert” and co-hosted “Gilbert Gottfried’s Amazing Colossal Podcast!,” a podcast in which he and Frank Santopadre interviewed Hollywood icons and legends, NBC News reported.
“Although today is a sad day for us all, please keep laughing as possible in Gilbert’s honor,” his family wrote.
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Through the years SATURDAY NIGHT LIVE -- Season 6 -- Pictured: Gilbert Gottfried -- Photo by: NBC/NBCU Photo Bank (NBC/NBCUniversal via Getty Images)
Through the years Gilbert Gottfried & Carol Channing during 1988 American Comedy Awards in Los Angeles, California, United States. (Photo by Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc) (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic, Inc)
Through the years Comedian Gilbert Gottfried performs during "COMEDY CENTRAL PRESENTS" at the Hudson Theater in New York City. 2/4/02 Photo by Scott Gries/Getty Images (Scott Gries/Getty Images)
Through the years Actor Gilbert Gottfried attends the "Night of Too Many Stars", a gala event to benefit The Autism Coalition, at the Roseland Ballroom on February 27, 2003 in New York City. (Photo by Mark Mainz/Getty Images) (Mark Mainz/Getty Images)
Through the years Actor Gilbert Gottfried attends TV Guide's Launch of New Magazine at Home & Guest House on October 11, 2005 in New York City. (Photo by Thos Robinson/Getty Images) (Thos Robinson/Getty Images)
Through the years Comedian Gilbert Gottfriend attends "Cool Comedy - Hot Cuisine" presented by the New York Comedy Festival at Carolines on Broadway on October 06, 2007 in New York City. (Photo by Scott Wintrow/Getty Images) (Scott Wintrow/Getty Images)
Through the years Actor Gilbert Gottfried attends the 14th Annual Webby Awards at Cipriani, Wall Street on June 14, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images) (Stephen Lovekin/Getty Images)
Through the years Actor Gilbert Gottfried attends a special screening of "Cyberchase" at Tribeca Cinemas on June 19, 2010 in New York City. (Photo by Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images) (Andrew H. Walker/Getty Images)
Through the years (L-R) Comedians Seth Green, Gilbert Gottfried and Wayne Brady speak onstage during the Comedy Central Roast of Roseanne Barr at Hollywood Palladium on August 4, 2012 in Hollywood, California. (Photo by Kevin Winter/Getty Images) (Kevin Winter/Getty Images)
Through the years Comedian Gilbert Gottfried attends the 2014 Laugh For Sight Benefit at Gotham Comedy Club on October 27, 2014 in New York City. (Photo by Neilson Barnard/Getty Images) (Neilson Barnard/Getty Images)
Through the years Gilbert Gottfried attends the world premiere of documentary: 'Roseanne For President!' during the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival at SVA Theatre on April 18, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Grant Lamos IV/Getty Images for the 2015 Tribeca Film Festival) (Grant Lamos IV)
Through the years THE VIEW - Reunion with the cast of Disney's "Aladdin," including Alan Menken, Scott Weinger, Linda Larkin, Gilbert Gottfried and Jonathan Freeman today, Tuesday, October 13, 2015 on Walt Disney Television via Getty Images's "The View." "The View" airs Monday-Friday (11:00 am-12:00 pm, ET) on the Walt Disney Television via Getty Images Television Network.
(Photo by Lou Rocco/Disney General Entertainment Content via Getty Images) (Lou Rocco/Disney General Entertainment Con)
Through the years Comedian Gilbert Gottfried performs onstage during the 10th Annual Laugh For Sight NYC All-Star Comedy Benefit at Gotham Comedy Club on November 16, 2015 in New York City. (Photo by Paul Zimmerman/Getty Images) (Paul Zimmerman/Getty Images)
Through the years Gilbert Gottfried attends the "Beauty And The Beast" New York Screening at Alice Tully Hall at Lincoln Center on March 13, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Mike Coppola/Getty Images) (Mike Coppola/Getty Images)
Through the years Comedian Gilbert Gottfried attends the Disneynature With The Cinema Society Host The Premiere Of "Born In China" at Landmark Sunshine Cinema on April 8, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images) (Nicholas Hunt/Getty Images)
Through the years Gilbert Gottfried attends the Filmmaker Welcome Party at The Bowery Hotel on April 21, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Monica Schipper/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Festival) (Monica Schipper/Getty Images for Tribeca Film Fe)
Through the years Gilbert Gottfried speaks onstage at the 33rd Annual IDA Documentary Awards at Paramount Theatre on December 9, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for International Documentary Association ) (Rebecca Sapp/Getty Images for International D)
Through the years Gilbert Gottfried hosts "Amazing Colossal Show" on Comedy Greats at SiriusXM Studios on February 03, 2020 in New York City. (Photo by Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for SiriusXM) (Slaven Vlasic/Getty Images for SiriusXM)
