Norm Macdonald shot a secret stand-up special before his death

It’s been revealed that the late comedian Norm Macdonald filmed one final stand-up special before his death last year.

Macdonald, who first made his name as a cast member on Saturday Night Live, shot a set for Netflix which is coming to the platform later this month.

Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special will arrive on Netflix on May 30.

The comedian was diagnosed with cancer in 2012 but kept his condition private. He was working on a new special back in 2020 when he was admitted to hospital.

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He then ensured that the material was filmed “in case things went south”, as his friend and producing partner Lori Jo Hoekstra.

Speaking to The Hollywood Reporter, Hoekstra said: “His test results were not good, so during the heart of the pandemic and literally the night before going in for a procedure, he wanted to get this on tape just in case – as he put it – things went south.”

The comedian died at the age of 61 in 2021Getty images

“It was his intention to have a special to share if something happened.”

It was also revealed that the unseen footage was filmed in Macdonald’s living room in a single take, and that it was initially forgotten about after he was discharged from hospital.

Macdonald died at the age of 61 on September 14, 2021. A statement issued by his management team at the time confirmed that the comedy legend has been suffering from an undisclosed cancer for more than nine years.

The statement read: “He was most proud of his comedy. He never wanted the diagnosis to affect the way the audience or any of his loved ones saw him. Norm was a pure comic.”

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