Gilbert Gottfried
A comedian whose piercing squawk and fearless, boundary-pushing jokes made him an unforgettable and polarizing force in American comedy.
1955–2022 (age 67)·American comedian·Birthday: February 28·Baby Boomers
Biography
Gilbert Gottfried emerged from the New York comedy clubs of the 1970s, a wiry figure with a delivery that could shatter glass. His act was a high-wire walk, built on a persona of deliberate annoyance that often veered into brilliantly offensive territory, daring audiences to be shocked. While his stand-up carved a niche, his distinctive voice became a cultural fixture, most famously as the scheming parrot Iago in Disney's 'Aladdin,' a role that showcased his surprising capacity for character. He navigated a career of constant reinvention, from a brief, controversial stint as the Aflac duck to a later-life embrace on the podcast circuit, where his humor found a new generation. Gottfried's legacy is that of a comic purist who treated no subject as sacred, operating with a unique and unapologetic voice until his death in 2022.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Gilbert was born in 1955, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Gilbert Was Born
The biggest hits of 1955
#1 Movie
Lady and the Tramp
Best Picture
Marty
#1 TV Show
The $64,000 Question
Gilbert's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1955Born
Rosa Parks refuses to give up her bus seat
Gas: $0.29/galHome: $9,550Min wage: $0.75/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Rock Around the Clock" — Bill Haley & His CometsBest Picture: Marty
1960Started school
Kennedy-Nixon debates become first televised presidential debates
Gas: $0.31/galHome: $11,900Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"Theme from A Summer Place" — Percy FaithBest Picture: The Apartment
1968Became a teenager
Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy assassinated
Gas: $0.34/galHome: $14,950Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"Hey Jude" — The BeatlesBest Picture: Oliver!
1971Could drive
Voting age lowered to 18 in the US
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $18,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Joy to the World" — Three Dog NightBest Picture: The French Connection
1973Could vote
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1976Turned 21
Apple Computer founded; US bicentennial
Gas: $0.59/galHome: $29,300Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Silly Love Songs" — WingsBest Picture: Rocky
1985Turned 30
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1995Turned 40
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
2005Turned 50
Hurricane Katrina devastates New Orleans; YouTube launches
Gas: $2.30/galHome: $167,500Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"We Belong Together" — Mariah CareyBest Picture: Crash
2015Turned 60
Paris climate agreement; same-sex marriage legalized in the US
Gas: $2.43/galHome: $171,900Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Uptown Funk" — Mark Ronson ft. Bruno MarsBest Picture: Spotlight
2022Died at 67
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
Key Achievements
- Voiced the character Iago in Disney's 'Aladdin' film and its subsequent franchise for three decades.
- His infamous 2001 performance of 'The Aristocrats' joke at a Hugh Hefner roast is considered a landmark in comedic audacity.
- Served as the voice of the Aflac duck for a decade, until a controversial joke led to his dismissal.
- Portrayed the mischievous imp Mister Mxyzptlk in 'Superman: The Animated Series' and 'Justice League Action'.
- Provided the voice of Digit for the educational PBS Kids series 'Cyberchase' for over 20 years.
Did You Know?
He was the voice of the parrot in the famous 'Problem Child' doll scene, which was improvised.
His real speaking voice was a normal, quiet New York accent, a stark contrast to his stage persona.
He amassed an enormous collection of vintage Disney cartoons and memorabilia.
He was fired from a gig writing for 'Saturday Night Live' after just a few weeks.
He met his wife, Dara, after she wrote him a fan letter about his role in 'Beverly Hills Cop II'.
“A comedian is someone who tells the truth, and the truth is usually offensive.”
