The comedy world remembered Gilbert Gottfried like this
Comedy legends paid tribute
Gilbert’s widow, Henry Winkler, Whoopi Goldberg, Penn Jillette, Jeff Ross, Sarah Silverman, Weird Al Yankovic, Lewis Black, Howie Mandel, Richard Kind and many other comedy legends paid tribute to this unique comedian.
The comedy world lost a precious star
Three years ago, the comedy world lost a true original artist. Gilbert Gottfried was known for voicing the parrot Iago in Aladdin and for his daft, dirty jokes, but his comedy style was completely unique.
Unique start to stand-up career
Gilbert started stand-up at the age of 15. His material was quirky, dark and full of pop-culture. His jokes often referenced aliens, Nazis and the absurd.
From Movies and TV to Animation
After a year on Saturday Night Live, Gilbert went on to appear in films like Problem Child and Beverly Hills Cop II. He lent his memorable voice to hundreds of cartoons and never stopped doing stand-up.
Fearless and Unrivaled Comedian
Gilbert was a staple of the Friars Club and Comedy Central Roasts. A few weeks after the 9/11 attacks in 2001, he joked about terrorism at the Hugh Hefner Roast and began reciting “The Aristocrats”. It became one of the most daring and memorable moments in comedy history.
Gilbert Gottfried: A unique voice that will continue to resonate
Gottfried was praised for his boundary-crossing comedy, but it came at a cost. When he made a tsunami of jokes on Twitter, Affleck terminated their contract with him.
However, Gottfried’s last career turn was successful. He showed his real side for the first time in the documentary “Gilbert” and began hosting Gilbert Gottfried’s Amazing Colossal Podcast. It was a top-rated show that ran for eight years until his death from myotonic dystrophy type 2.
Even nearly three years after his death at the age of 67, his friends, family and fans are still unable to accept the fact that Gottfried’s shrill voice is no more. His wife Dara Gottfried released her first comedy album “Still Screaming”, the profits from which go to the Gilbert Gottfried Myotonic Dystrophy Type 2 Research Fund.
Now, on Gottfried’s 70th birthday, those closest to him—Dara, his podcast co-host Frank Santopadre, and comedy legends Penn Jillette, Henry Winkler, Whoopi Goldberg, Lewis Black—have paid tribute to him.
Gilbert’s Unique Acting
Richard Kind, Actor:
When I was just out of college, I used to go to the Comedy Club. The first time I saw Gilbert was at Improv at midnight. He was doing Ubangi Lips with round serving trays and doing Mickey Mouse stuff with two trays on his head. He would tell jokes where he was trying to make the audience stop laughing. That was his unique mark of humor. He would start on something and just keep going. Years later, he did that on the podcast.
My favorite thing was when Gilbert would act like a total bad boy and people would say “Enough! Stop it!” but Gilbert wouldn’t stop. If you didn’t know the name Lionel Atwill, he didn’t care! He would just go on telling Lionel Atwill jokes. That night, when I first saw him, people slowly left. There were only seven people left, and I was dying laughing. He was a rebel.
Gilbert’s unique story
Frank Santopadre, comedy writer and podcast co-host:
My favorite part of Gilbert is when he would tell a long, drawn-out story about how he was driving through the country, and a strange alien ship landed in the field in front of him.
Gilbert’s acting was beautiful and dramatic—as if it were a one-act play. He would describe the ship, talk about the latch opening, and then green-brown creatures would come out. They would surround Gilbert, and then one of the aliens would open his mouth and say, “Ben Gazzara is a good actor, why can’t he get a series?”
The Impact of My First Meeting With Gilbert
Gilbert’s style was beyond my imagination. I was sitting with friends who were unfamiliar with what he was saying, but I couldn’t help myself—I was totally mesmerized.
I’ve always been interested in old TV shows, their credits, and character actors. That day, Gilbert on stage brought this interest to life.
At the same time, I was beginning to think about comedy, and Gilbert’s style became an inspiration. I followed him to every club, and cheered his performances with the same fervor as someone who would ask Elton John to sing “Bennie and the Jets.”
Gilbert’s Great Performances
Before I became a comedian, I would often go to Catch a Rising Star and watch Gilbert perform. This was around 1983.
Gilbert would often come on at the end of the show and I always thought he was incredible. He would pick up two carry trays and act with them for a full 10 minutes.
Sometimes he would hold them under his arms and pretend to be in a wheelchair, and sometimes he would do something else. Today some of the things would probably fall into the “you can’t do that anymore” category, but at the time—it was really too much fun.
Gilbert’s Unique Style
Gilbert never forced his material—that was his hallmark.
He didn’t care if the joke worked or not, but he wouldn’t stop until he finished it. He would insist, “This is important! Pay attention!” and then tell the joke:
“A bear and a rabbit were pooping in the woods. The bear asked, ‘Does poop stick to your fur?’ The rabbit said, ‘No.’ So the bear wiped his ass with the rabbit!”
If the audience didn’t laugh, he would retort, “Do you have a grudge against rabbits?”
That was the real magic of his comedy—he would finish his act no matter what!
Gilbert’s comedic approach
Gilbert’s acting style was always different and unique. He presented ideas that found humor in the most ordinary of things.
He once said on stage, “I wonder if people in the Middle Ages walked around thinking, ‘Wow, that was a really long time ago.'”
He had a specialty of combining timing, logic and humor to say things that made the listeners think.
Gilbert Gottfried’s Unique Humor: Billy West’s Memories
Famous voice actor Billy West always adored Gilbert Gottfried’s stand-up act. He says, “I knew right away that it was my kind of humor. I like things that are offbeat, and Gilbert’s humor was exactly that—surreal, sometimes horrific, but very funny. That’s true art, evoking emotion.”
Billy West shared a joke he heard in Gilbert’s stand-up. Gilbert said he was sitting next to Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis at a party. She looked at him and said,
“You know, it’s funny, no matter who you are, you always remember when, where you were…”
Then he went silent. That was the beauty of his humor—simple, shocking, and incredibly funny.
According to Billy West, “It was the funniest thing I’ve ever heard.”
The Unabashed Humor of Gilbert Gottfried: Memories of Jackie Martling
Comedian Jackie Martling recalls a funny moment with Gilbert Gottfried when they were at a cancer charity event. It was a golf outing followed by dinner where they both cracked jokes—both of which were completely wild and shameless.
Gilbert told a joke that was typical of his style—bold, unexpected and extremely offbeat. It told the story of a producer who invited a beautiful young actress to dinner, but things took a turn for the worse. Things got weird, complicated and funny, with expectations and reality clashing in a way that would surprise anyone.
It was Gilbert’s style that set him apart—a humor that didn’t care about boundaries, that could make you uncomfortable, but impossible to stop laughing. Jackie Martling took it in the same candid manner and said that Gilbert’s style was never limited to any limits.
Gilbert Gottfried’s Unique Humor: A Master of Surrealism
Frank Santopadre recalls the unique aspect of Gilbert Gottfried’s comedic talent, saying that Gilbert had a knack for connecting unrelated things. He once joked, “If Nostradamus was such a great predictor, why didn’t he predict Henry Winkler’s stardom? At the time, Nostradamus was saying, ‘I could see that, but Winkler?'”
This is what made Gilbert so special—connecting ideas that would not normally come to one’s mind. His humor was surreal, presenting familiar things in an unexpected way. Frank Santopadre always believed that Gilbert was not just a comedian, but a unique artist in his own way.
9-Gilbert Gottfried: The comedian comedians flocked to see
According to comedian Judy Gold, Gilbert Gottfried had such magic on stage that comedians flocked to his shows just to see him, without having to do their own set. His style was unique—wherever his mind went, people were just willing to go on that journey with him.
But one thing was clear—nobody wanted to go on stage after Gilbert. Every joke of his was a surprise, and it was impossible to compete with his level. Judy believes there will never be another like him—his passing is an irreparable loss to the world of comedy.
10-Gilbert Gottfried: From Shy Artist to Incredible Comedian
Drew Friedman first met Gilbert Gottfried at National Lampoon in the early 1980s, when the magazine was trying to reinvent itself. There were many new writers, editors, and artists joining, including Gilbert and Drew. Gilbert was initially very shy and quiet, but when he saw Drew’s artwork using the stippling technique, he immediately liked him.
The two began with their shared obsession with old horror movies, and the topic dominated every meeting. But Gilbert’s humor shone through everywhere—one day, when Drew went to drop off some work at the office, Gilbert suddenly noticed him and yelled, “Hey look! It’s Jew Dots!” It was his go-to joke, and he repeated it at every opportunity, giving Drew a unique nickname. That was Gilbert’s specialty—making every moment memorable with his inimitable humor.
Gilbert Gottfried: No name in the memory, but the laughter forever
Frank Santopadre’s wife was a part of Gilbert Gottfried’s life for seven years—they celebrated birthdays together, had dinners, shared cabs, and attended every live podcast show. But her name never entered Gilbert’s memory. Finally, one day his wife Genevieve simply asked, “Do you know my name?” Gilbert confidently replied, “Of course! I do!” When asked for his name, he hesitatingly replied, “Uh… Toodles?” That’s Gilbert—making every moment unexpected and fun!
Gilbert Gottfried: The Master of Unfiltered Comedy
In the 1990s, Mike Reiss would invite a celebrity guest among the unknown faces at his annual Christmas party. One time, Gilbert Gottfried walked in and pounced straight into the food he was sitting in a corner like a hungry traveler who had found food after years. Mike warmly said, “Gilbert, I’m a huge fan of yours. It’s an honor to have you in my house.” But Gilbert responded with the usual unexpected response—“You look like that gay guy!” Mike was shocked, “What?” Gilbert blew away the food and said, “That guy who always plays gay characters in the movies!”
Over time, Gilbert and Mike became friends. Mike loved his family, but lunch with Gilbert always came with a condition—if Mike paid the bill! One time, he even ordered a cake at Mike’s expense.
As for the actor Mike looked like, they will probably never know. Was it Franklin Pangborn? Or Tom Cruise? That question will always remain a mystery!
Gilbert Gottfried: The epitome of frugality
How frugal was Gilbert Gottfried? In the 1990s, when the Problem Child franchise was being made—movies, TV movies, even a crappy cartoon show—everyone wised up and moved on. But Gilbert? He stuck to the character of Mr. Peabody, as if running on an endless treadmill while collecting a check.
Twenty years later, Gilbert, now a father of two children, approached writer Scott Alexander. He wanted his kids to watch the same Problem Child cartoons. Scott was puzzled as to why Gilbert wanted to torture his kids with such a crappy show! But the problem was, Scott didn’t own any copies of the cartoons.
When he told Gilbert that the episodes were still available on Amazon for a mere three dollars, did Gilbert buy them? Probably not! Because if there was anything that went against Gilbert’s nature, it was this—buying something with his own money!
Gilbert’s Weird Night
Once, I went to a brothel in East St. Louis with Gilbert and some prostitutes. Gilbert innocently asked me, “Do you think they’ll sleep with me?” I laughed and said, “Gilbert, it’s kind of their profession’s Hippocratic oath. No matter how weird you look, they still have to be with you.”
Then he fired another question, “Do I have to pay them?” I replied, “Yeah, of course!”
What happened next was even more hilarious. We all went to bed, but stayed up all night watching The Honeymooners, still clothed—until five in the morning!
Gilbert’s Miserliness and Tony Curtis’ Voice
When Tony Curtis’ autobiography came out, Gilbert adopted a unique method instead of buying it. He would go to the bookstore every day, call me from there and read an entire chapter in Tony Curtis’ voice. This went on for five days—a new chapter every day, but there was no question of buying the book!
Gilbert’s unique taxi condition
Gilbert would get into the taxi with me only if I was not only willing to pay the fare, but had also paid him in advance.
Gilbert’s Sweet Loot
While recording at Nutmeg Studios, every room had jars filled with candy bars, peanut-butter pretzels, and bags of chips. Gilbert would load these into his bag whenever he came in—under the pretense of carrying a little treat for his kids!
Insistence on a Bus Transfer
On the day of the recording of George Takei’s podcast episode, everyone was present at The Friars Club—George, her husband Brad, Dara, and the engineer—except Gilbert! When I asked Dara, “Where is Gilbert?” she replied with a laugh, “I came by taxi, but Gilbert didn’t come because he wanted to use his bus transfer!”
Gilbert’s Peculiar Fun
Friends and fans attended Gilbert’s birthday party in droves, but he himself was hesitant to accept the love and attention. He told me he had never had a birthday party of his own before! I suggested he have fun, and he said, confused, “What do you think?”
Similarly, at the Carnegie Deli with Howie Mandel, Gilbert would shock everyone with his peculiar antics. When strangers were seated nearby, he would say seriously, “I don’t know, maybe it’s an anal fissure,” and then proceed to discuss his “leak and pus” in great detail. People throughout the restaurant would be uncomfortable, but I—I kept laughing out loud! Gilbert found a peculiar pleasure in shocking and making people uncomfortable—and in this regard, he was a real master!
Gilbert’s Miserliness, Silence and Unexpected Questions
When filmmaker Neil Berkeley first thought of making a documentary on Gilbert, he was treated like a piece of furniture! When he wanted to travel with Gilbert, his wife Dara instructed him to buy a Megabus ticket—because Gilbert didn’t fly to save money. Dara also suggested getting him a VIP seat in the front, but Gilbert didn’t know, or he’d be upset at the extra $10!
During the bus ride, Gilbert was completely silent while Neil was busy talking to a beautiful girl the whole way. Usually Gilbert would ignore him as soon as the ride was over, but this time he asked for her number! And then… a few minutes later, the phone rang—Gilbert suddenly started talking to him, asked about lunch plans, fixed a time to go to the club, and then after a long silence, he asked for the most unexpected question—”So, are you going to fuck the girl on the bus?”
Uninvited Guests: Gilbert and His Horror Movies
Drew Friedman lived peacefully in his East Sixth Street apartment when suddenly, one day, the buzzer rang—without warning! He opened the door to find Gilbert standing outside. He asked, “Can I watch some of your horror movies?” as he didn’t have a VCR!
Drew invited him in, offered him a glass of milk, and Gilbert settled down to watch old horror movies. But it didn’t end there—he would come over and over again, unannounced, unphoned! He would watch movies in silence, then get up and leave. Sometimes Drew would sit with him, sometimes he would go back to work, and sometimes his wife would come home wondering who the man was watching horror movies on their couch. Drew would simply say, “It’s Gilbert Gottfried. He just wanted to watch Plan 9 from Outer Space!”
Gilbert: The Unexpected Magician of Hollywood Squares
The greatest moment for Gilbert came when Gino Salomone told him that Henry Winkler said, “Gilbert wants to take me down roads I would rather not walk.” Gilbert was thrilled to hear this—it was like an award to him.
Henry Winkler, who was also the co-producer of Hollywood Squares, believed that the smartest decision made with Gilbert was to put him on the bottom of the show. The show was scripted in advance, but Gilbert? He said everything on the spot—fast, unpredictable, and completely original! His voice, his way of thinking, and his style were all unique, and that’s why the audience loved him. His presence on Hollywood Squares was not just a comedy act, but magic!
Gilbert’s Incredible Prank on Hollywood Squares
In one particular episode of Hollywood Squares, a contestant kept getting Gilbert’s answer wrong. The game was tic-tac-toe, where you had to agree or disagree with what the celebrity said. But this woman had better luck—getting Gilbert’s answer wrong every time became a habit for her!
The second time she got it wrong, Gilbert yelled out, “You’re an idiot!” and it led to a hilarious romp. Over and over, Gilbert kept teasing her, until she finally got the answer right. It got so funny that eventually all nine people on the panel started teasing her—”You’re an idiot!” This scene became one of Hollywood Squares’ most memorable moments!
Gilbert: The King of Boundless Humor and Unfiltered Banter
Gilbert Gottfried was always a great stand-up comedian, but Weird Al Yankovic never invited him to open his show—and there was a good reason for that! Al’s show was family-oriented, while Gilbert…? If you told him to “watch out” he’d run in the opposite direction! Belinda Carlisle is proof of that.
However, Gilbert did make a memorable cameo on the Weird Al Show in the late 1990s. He became Al’s “imaginary friend” on the show, but the twist was that Al would refuse to see him. Gilbert would angrily yell out over and over again— “I’m here! Right in front of you!!!”—and it was a sight to behold!
Likewise, according to Sarah Silverman, Gilbert and his wife Dara had such a blast with Alan Thicke and his wife on the show ‘Wife Swap’ that it made for one of the funniest episodes of television ever!
