Norm MacDonald Writes Beautiful And Heartbreaking Tribute To Robin Williams
From the archive: published Aug 12, 2014, 12 years ago. Details may have changed since.
Norm MacDonald idolized Robin Williams, who he saw as the pinnacle of the comedy world, and on Tuesday a heartbroken Norm shared a touching story about the late comic legend.
Norm recalled the memory of the first time he ever did stand-up on David Letterman, and how Robin Williams came into his dressing room beforehand to ease some of the tension.
In a long string of tweets published at 4 am, Norm MacDonald shared:
It was my first stand-up appearance on Letterman and I had to follow the funniest man in the world. #RIPRobinWilliams
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014
I was a punk kid from rural Ontario and I was in my dressing room, terrified. #RIPRobinWilliams
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014
I was on the phone to a friend back home when the funniest man in the world ambled by. #RIPRobinWilliams
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014
There was no one else on the floor. In shock, I told my friend who just walked by. Only the funniest man in the world. #RIPRobinWilliams
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014
I guess he heard me say his name, cause in an instant he was at my side. #RIPRobinWilliams
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014
He was a jewish tailor, taking my measurements. He went down on his knees, asked which way I dressed. #RIPRobinWilliams
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014
I told my friend on the phone that the funniest man in the world was on his knees before me, measuring my inseam. #RIPRobinWilliams
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014
My friend didn’t believe me so I said, “Could you talk to my friend, sir. #RIPRobinWilliams
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014
The funniest man in the world took the phone and for ten minutes took my friend’s chinese food order. #RIPRobinWilliams
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014
I laughed and laughed and it was like I was in a dream because no one else was there. No one. #RIPRobinWilliams
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014
The place was out of Moo Shoo Pork, and there was nothing he could do about it. #RIPRobinWilliams
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014
He angrily hung up on my friend and I was about to thank him when he said I hadn’t even tried the jacket on. #RIPRobinWilliams
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014
Then the funniest man on earth dressed me, a complete stranger, and i remember he ended with a windsor knot. #RIPRobinWilliams
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014
He spoke mostly yiddish, but when he finished he was happy with his job and turned me to a mirror to present myself to me. #RIPRobinWilliams
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014
No one witnessed any of this. No one. #RIPRobinWilliams
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014
The funniest man alive was in my dressing room a good half-hour and was far funnier than the set I had to do soon. #RIPRobinWilliams
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014
When he left my dressing room, I felt alone. As alone as I ever remember feeling. #RIPRobinWilliams
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014
Until today. #RIPRobinWilliams
— Norm Macdonald (@normmacdonald) August 12, 2014
Of all the remembrances — from Conan O’Brien to President Obama to hundreds of people in a park in Boston — Norm MacDonald may have just put together the perfect tribute to Robin Williams.