Gilbert Gottfried’s Myotonic Dystrophy

by Michele R. Berman: For Complete Post, Click Here…

Gilbert Gottfried, a stand-up comedian who liked to push the envelope when it came to political correctness, passed away this week at the age of 67.

Best known for his distinctive voice, both as the Aflac duck and as the wisecracking parrot Iago in the animated Disney film “Aladdin,” Gottfried was a cast member on “Saturday Night Live” for a year and was featured in many films, such as “Beverly Hills Cop II,” “Look Who’s Talking II,” and “The Aristocats.”

His family wrote on Twitter: “We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved Gilbert Gottfried after a long illness … Although today is a sad day for all of us, please keep laughing as loud as possible in Gilbert’s honor.”

Gottfried’s longtime friend and publicist, Glenn Schwartz, later clarified that Gottfried had the rare genetic muscle disorder myotonic dystrophy type 2 for many years and had passed due to recurrent ventricular tachycardia.

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