Comedian Gilbert Gottfried known for his recognisable voice behind popular characters, has passed away at the age of 67. According to reports, he died after suffering an illness for a long time. Gilbert faced frequent ventricular tachycardia, a form of abnormal heart rhythm, due to a genetic condition known as myotonic dystrophy type II.
Fans might know him from the characters he played, such as Mister Mxyzptlk from DC Comic’s Superman animated series, Mr Peabody from 1990 classic comedy Problem Child, and Iago, the parrot from Disney’s Aladdin. Several artists, comedians, and actors have paid tribute to the legend by sharing some of his memorable moments.
Gilbert Gottfried Receives Tributes
One of the first celebrities to react to the sad news was the Seinfeld star, Jason Alexander. He said that he did not know Gilbert Gottfried that well but loved their moments together. The actor described how Gilbert made him laugh when it was not easy for him to laugh.
Academy award winner mute actress Marlee Matlin shared a picture with Gilbert and expressed her grief. She described him as funny, politically incorrect, and a softie on the inside. The actress remembered how Gilbert pulled a prank on her by replacing her interpreter, Jack Jason. Both were slightly lookalikes, and it was easy to mistake one for the other. Marlee sends condolences to Gilbert’s wife, Dara and children Lily Aster and Max Aaron.
Actor Seth MacFarlane shared a scene from his movie ‘A Million Ways to Die in the West’ in which Gilbert played a cameo. He appeared as a hilarious version of Abraham Lincoln that viewers loved the most. For many, it was their favourite scene from the movie.
Funny Book Reading
Voice actor Jakob Dillon shared one of the most memorable moments of Gilbert Gottfried, where he was narrating a passage from the famous explicit novel 50 Shades of Grey.
What is Myotonic Dystrophy Type II?
Gilbert Gottfried suffered from an inherited condition, myotonic dystrophy type II, a form of muscular dystrophy, a group of progressive diseases that cause muscles to lose mass over time. It is also difficult to relax a muscle after it tensed. Typically, its symptoms come up during the age of 20s and 30s.
The disease is reportedly caused by cellular nucleic acid-binding protein (CNBP) gene mutations. CNBP builds a protein that binds to DNA and RNA. This protein usually is inside the heart and skeletal muscle. After mutating, it causes the cells to construct dysfunctional molecules in a cluster, interfere with other protein production and eventually weaken muscle cell function, leading to muscular dystrophy symptoms.
