Comedy legend Gilbert Gottfried dead at 67 after long term heart condition

US comedian Gilbert Gottfried, who was most famous for lending his voice in Aladdin, is being mourned by the industry after his sudden death.

Comedian Gilbert Gottfried has died at the age of 67 after suffering a long term heart condition, his family has confirmed in a statement on social media.

“We are heartbroken to announce the passing of out 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 honour. Love, the Gottfried family.”

Gilbert Gottfried loved to laugh. (Photo by Rick Kern/WireImage)

Gottfried’s representative, Glenn Schwartz, shared that the actor succumbed to a heart abnormality called recurrent ventricular tachycardia, an arrhythmia caused by myotonic dystrophy Type 2, theNew York Post reports.

Myotonic dystrophy (DM) is a genetic disorder marked by progressive muscle wasting and weakness which predominantly affects the limbs and face but can create increasingly dire complications for respiratory, skeletal and cardiac muscles.

People with DM are at a higher risk of irregular heartbeat, including ventricular tachycardia, an arrhythmia in the lower chambers of the heart (ventricles) that causes the heart to beat faster. A sustained sped-up rhythm can cause a fatal drop in blood pressure.

Gottfried’s heart condition has been publicly known for some time.

On the cusp of the COVID-19 pandemic in 2020, he canceled a series of live appearances in Montana as his doctors reportedly advised that he refrain from flying during a viral outbreak due to his weakened heart.

Gottfried with his daughter Lily, son Max and wife Dara. (Photo by Roy Rochlin/Getty Images)

Gottfried, who voiced Iago in Disney animation Aladdin, had recently opened up about the death of fellow comic, Bob Saget.

“Whenever I hear about somebody’s death I always think well okay, okay, were they on drugs? Were they drinking? Were they way overweight? Out of shape? Or something and then you find out no, no, none of those are true,” Gottfried said at the time.

When asked what Saget would want for his celebration of life, Gottfried said he wouldn’t want anything too serious.

“I think he would want it not too sensitive,” he said of Saget’s funeral. “I think he would have wanted stuff kept at a lighter level and maybe a little sick.

Bob Saget and Gilbert Gottfried. Picture: Monica Schipper/Getty Images for Scleroderma Research Foundation

Gottfried voiced the character of Iago in Aladdin.

Seinfeld star Jason Alexander led tributes for the comedian on social media:

“Gilbert Gottfried made me laugh at times when laughter did not come easily. What a gift,” the actor wrote.

“I did not know him well but I loved what he shared with me. My best wishes and sympathy to his family. RIP Gilbert Gottfried.”

Gilbert Gottfried posted this picture only three months ago. What a photo.

RIP https://t.co/LyOAWXpu0M

— Mike Beauvais (@MikeBeauvais) April 12, 2022

GILBERT GOTTFRIED YOU MAKE ME LAUGH EVERYTIME I SEE YOU. THE COMEDY WORLD BROKEN BECAUSE YOU CARE SO MUCH. I LOVE YOU FOREVER BUBBA pic.twitter.com/841H0pTB3I

— The Iron Sheik (@the_ironsheik) April 12, 2022

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

He was a unique voice in comedy on so many levels. Unpredictable, one-of-a-kind, hilarious & irreplaceable! Thank you for the lifetime of laughs, sir.#RIP_GilbertGottfried 💔 https://t.co/5tUbQBdnn6

— Mark Hamill (@MarkHamill) April 12, 2022

RIP Gilbert Gottfried, no one ever made being obnoxious, abrasive and irritating more hysterical. Cursed with a voice made of sandpaper run through a medieval torture rack, he never failed to steal a scene. An absurd comedian, flagrantly weird, one of a kind. pic.twitter.com/txNBlHfHk6

— Otto Von Biz Markie (@Passionweiss) April 12, 2022

Gilbert Jeremy Gottfried was born on February 28, 1955, in Brooklyn, New York.

Gottfried was an actor and legendary stand-up comedian.

He had appeared on shows like Saturday Night Live, USA Up All Night, Beverly Hills Cop II and more.

— New York Post with The Sun