'An inspiration to many'

Canadian comedian  Mike MacDonald has died at the age of 63,

He had been suffering ill health for years. He was diagnosed with hepatitis C in 2011 and underwent a liver transplant in 2013. He also had bipolar disorder.

MacDonald made three stand-up specials for  CBC in Canada and for Showtime in the US – and at one time held the record as the only comedian to perform at every Just For Laughs gala show in Montreal.

He also starred in a 1987 film called Mr Nice Guy, as well as making stand-up appearances on the likes of The Late Show with David Letterman and The Arsenio Hall Show

Fellow Canadian stand-up Jeremy Hotz broke the news on Twitter. He said: ‘I  am pained to inform you that my friend and comedy mentor Mike MacDonald has passed away. Mike was a ferociously funny man. We shared so many good times. Thanks for taking me under your wing way back in the day. You were a great comic. You did your country proud.’

Comedy historian and former stand-up Kliph Nesteroff added: ‘Mike MacDonald probably did more to popularize stand-up in Canada than anyone else of his generation. He inspired many comics in the 1980s & 90s to enter comedy. For most of us, sharing the stage with him for the first time was a really big deal.’

And Ed Byrne tweeted: 'Just heard about Mike MacDonald passing. Absolute giant of the Canadian comedy scene. Many is the night I spent in his company at Just for Laughs in Montreal. Look him up on YouTube and treat yourself to a bittersweet laugh.'

Here he is in action in a clip recorded in 1988:

Published: 18 Mar 2018