By Mark Gray
8:12pm PDT, Apr 16, 2022
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Comedian Gilbert Gottfried, who had one of the most recognizable voices in entertainment, died after battling a long illness, his family announced on April 12. He was 67. "We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved Gilbert Gottfried after a long illness. In addition to being the most iconic voice in comedy, Gilbert was a wonderful husband, brother, friend and father to his two young children. Although today is a sad day for all of us, please keep laughing as loud as possible in Gilbert's honor," his family wrote on Twitter. Gilbert's longtime friend and publicist Glenn Schwartz further shared that the star died of complications from muscular dystrophy. As news of Gilbert's death emerged, many in Hollywood publicly paid tribute to the "Aladdin" voice actor…
Click through to see how the late, great comedian is being honored by his peers…
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"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
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"I don't think I ever laughed as hard as I did sitting on a flight to LA across from Gilbert once in the early 90's. He would do something funny and not stop till you stopped laughing. God he was funny. So funny. Sending love to his family. #RipGilbertGottfreid" –Ben Stiller
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"Gilbert was so sweet. Genuinely kind and a legend" –Amy Schumer
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"[What] started on the old Disney Lot, in Studio B, at the corner of Dopey Drive and Goofy Lane, turned into a 31 year marriage between two of Disney's most delicious villains. Losing a partner is never easy. It breaks my heart. Gilbert will be greatly missed. Jafar said it best… 'I love the way your fowl little mind works!' My condolences. And much love to his wife Dara, and his terrific kids, Lily and Max." –Jonathan Freeman, who voiced the villain Jafar alongside Gilbert's parrot Iago in Disney's "Aladdin," in a statement to People magazine
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"Oh!! What a unique and awesome comedian, actor you were! Always captured my attention. Rest well!" –Viola Davis
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"This is sad day" –Tiffany Haddish
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"I saw Gilbert perform in 1985 and when he entered to applause he said, 'Thank you, thank you very much.' He then continued to say 'thank you' repeatedly for ten full minutes. It was the nerviest, funniest thing I had seen. So sorry to lose this sweet and delightfully funny man." –Conan O'Brien
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"Gilbert would be the first one to make a joke about this picture today. The first. And he would not hold back," Kathy Griffin wrote alongside an image of Gilbert Gottfried, Bob Saget and Louie Anderson, all of whom recently passed.
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"One of a million crazy-funny Gilbert memories is when he made a deranged caller to the @HowardStern show repeat a LONG story 15 times, each time pretending he couldn't hear what he said." —Jimmy Kimmel
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"I lost a friend today. @RealGilbert. The sweetest ,and most hysterically funny person .I can honestly say no one else made me laughed harder. Great friend, husband and father. My heart goes out to Dara and the kids. Science needs to put some focus on tinea pedis." –Howie Mandel
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"I really love Gilbert Gottfried's comedy and documentary on his life and – I really wish God would stop taking all the people who make us laugh and happy. Way too young, way too soon. Love and light to his family and loved ones." — Meghan McCain
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"Nobody was funnier than @RealGilbert on a roll. He could put you into convulsive hysterics. He was also the sweetest man. His podcast is a comedy treasure. What a terrible loss. Sending my condolences and love to Dara and his family." –Judd Apatow
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"Gilbert Gottfried made me laugh so hard that day on set, I could barely do my job. A wholly original comic, and an equally kind and humble guy behind the scenes. He will be missed." –Seth MacFarlane
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"Gilbert — the funniest person of our lifetime is gone. It was an honor to have been near that level of genius. So goddamn f****** funny. Completely original. Goodbye you f****** genius. Goodbye to my friend." –Penn Jillette
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"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" –Marlee Matlin
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"Gilbert Gottfried was never not funny. He was a lovely guy, always friendly & made many people happy." –Dane Cook
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"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
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"Another huge loss in the world of comedy. Ugh, this world makes me tired." –Josh Gad
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"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. You can't be funnier. My God, all who experienced him are crushed. Say it ain't so." –Richard Lewis
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"Rip Gilbert Gottfried, a brilliant comedian and just the sweetest guy. We worked together on 'Goosed.' Everybody adored him." –Jennifer Tilly
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"I'm so sad to hear Gilbert Gottfried left us. What a wonderful human and brilliant man he was. He loved film and artists and knew how to connect deeply to us. gratitude Gilbert Rest In Peace my friend" –Rosanna Arquette
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"Absolutely gutted to hear about my friend Gilbert. One of the funniest guys ever. An enormous loss to the world of comedy. Much love to his friends and family." –Al Yankovic
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"Over the years, whenever anyone asked me who was my favorite guest during the years I hosted Hollywood Squares, the answer was always the same; @RealGilbert" –Tom Bergeron
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"Rest In Peace Gilbert Gottfried! First time I saw him live he did his Jackie Kennedy bit: 'Jackie do you remember where you were…' in front of drunk Bruins fans at Nicks. #RIPGilbertGottfried" –Bill Burr
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"Sad to hear of the passing of the groundbreaking and legendary Gilbert Gottfried… My condolences to the family and friends of this genius comic, artist, and provocateur. Comedy mourns tonight." –Tom Green
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"Big loss to the world of comedy. Gilbert Gottfried has left us. Fearless and hilarious!!! A truly lovely man, loved by all in comedy. May his memory be a blessing to his family, his friends & all he made laugh!" –Al Franken
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"Gilbert , You were one of the greats. You were my friend and champion. The last 7 years @RealGilbertACP you made Christmas so special and it will never be the same again. In fact The world of comedy will never be the same. I love you Gil. I will miss you terribly." –Mario Cantone
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"So sorry to hear this. Gilbert was a great guy and a comedic genius. R.I.P." –Donald Trump Jr.
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"Very sorry to hear of the passing of Gilbert. A great comic and a wonderful guy RIP" –Diedrich Bader
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"RIP Gilbert Gottfried. A completely unique comedian and classic voice. Our contemporary connection to Comedy's Old School. Forever a '50s and '60s guy. Not too many of us left. Seems like I just did his Sirius/Podcast. Will always be the legendary example of making miserable fun." –Steven Van Zandt
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"@RealGilbert passed away. He was without a doubt one of the funniest human beings on earth. Sometimes listening to him on @howardstern show I would literally be crying I was laughing so hard. The world is a sadder place without him. RIP Gilbert." –Dee Snider
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"I shall miss you, my friend, my sometimes foil, my always pain in my side, usually from the belly laughs. The heavens are a great deal louder with you out there now, I'm sure. Keep 'em shaking their heads and smiling, Gilbert." –George Takei
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"Rest n Peace @RealGilbert what a funny, sweet guy" –David Alan Grier
