The entertainment world mourned the death of Gilbert Gottfried on Tuesday, with many comedians crediting the longtime funny man and actor with both inspiring them and helping them set lofty life goals.
Gottfried, 67, died at 2:35 p.m. EDT Tuesday from a long-term heart condition, his longtime friend and publicist Glenn Schwartz confirmed to NBC News.
>> Related: Legendary comedian Gilbert Gottfried dead at 67
Actor Jason Alexander was among the first to publicly share his condolences on Tuesday.
Gilbert Gottfried made me laugh at times when laughter did not come easily. What a gift. I did not know him well but I loved what he shared with me. My best wishes and sympathy to his family. #ripGilbertGottfried
— jason alexander (@IJasonAlexander) April 12, 2022
“Gilbert Gottfried made me laugh at times when laughter did not come easily. What a gift,” he wrote in a tweet. “I did not know him well, but I loved what he shared with me. My best wishes and sympathy to his family. #ripGilbertGottfried”
Comedian and actor Richard Lewis tweeted that Gottfried’s comedy “blew me away” for almost 40 years, adding, “You can’t be funnier.”
Gilbert, I don’t want to believe this. I loved him. I’m heartbroken for his beautiful family. Say it ain’t so. For almost 40 years his spectacular comedy blew me away.
— Richard Lewis (@TheRichardLewis) April 12, 2022
You can’t be funnier. My God, all who experienced him are crushed. Say it ain’t so.🙏♥️ https://t.co/pO3HW36ta7
Meanwhile, comedian and TV host Jon Stewart called opening for Gottfried “one of the great thrills of my early stand-up life.”
RIP Gilbert. Opening for Gilbert Gottfried at Carolines and Princeton Catch was one of the great thrills of my early stand up life. He could leave you gasping for breath…just indescribably unusually hilarious…Damn.
— Jon Stewart (@jonstewart) April 12, 2022
Actress Marlee Matlin called Gottfried “funny, politically incorrect but a softie on the inside” and recounted in a tweet a particularly bizarre flight she once experienced thanks entirely to one of his pranks.
I am so sad to read about the passing of Gilbert Gottfried. Funny, politically incorrect but a softie on the inside. We met many times; he even pranked me on a plane, replacing my intepreter @655jack(they're like twins). Sending love to Dara & his children. RIP #gilbertgottfried pic.twitter.com/R4mxWBRsNo
— Marlee Matlin (@MarleeMatlin) April 12, 2022
Of course, the tributes flooded social media:
Gilbert Gottfried meant more to me than you probably know. I have talked about this on my podcast and on his, but when I was 14 I got to see him do stand up, and it changed me. His subversiveness and bravery were unparalleled. And he made you fall down laughing. This sucks.
— Brian Koppelman (@briankoppelman) April 12, 2022
Sending love to @RealGilbert’s wife Dara, his family & fans. Gilbert Gottfried was never not funny. He was a lovely guy, always friendly & made many people happy.
— Dane Cook (@DaneCook) April 12, 2022
the funniest person I've ever known. There will never be another like him. RIP Gilbert Gottfried pic.twitter.com/pEAL8QR5pH
— Matt Oswalt (@MattOswaltVA) April 12, 2022
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