US actor Gilbert Gottfried, the shrill-voiced comedian best known for his role as Mr. Igor Peabody in “Little Plague” (1990) and the 1991 and 1995 sequels, has died in New York at the age of 67. “We are heartbroken to announce the passing away of our beloved Gilbert Gottfried after a long illness,” his family said in a statement. “In addition to being one of the most iconic voices in the comedy, Gilbert was a wonderful husband, brother, friend and father of his two young children. Even though today is a sad day for us, please keep laughing as hard as you can in honor by Gilbert “.
Publicist Glenn Schwartz explained that the actor passed away from recurrent ventricular tachycardia due to myotonic dystrophy type II, a rare disease that can result in a dangerously abnormal heartbeat. The actor was also known as a voice actor, known, for example, for having hilariously voiced the character of the witty parrot Iago in the animated film “Aladdin” by Disney and then in the homonymous TV series.
On the big screen, Gottfried demonstrated impressive improvisation as business manager Sidney Bernstein in “Beverly Hills Cop II – A Cop in Beverly Hills” (1987). The actor then played comic roles in films such as “A Cop in Beverly Hills II” (1987), “Don, a Horse for a Friend” (1988), “The Adventures of Ford Fairlane” (1990), “Look Who’s Talking 2 “(1990).
Born in New York, in the borough of Brooklyn, on February 28, 1955, to a Jewish family, at the age of fifteen Gottfried began to be a stand-up comedian in New York. In 1980 he joined the comedy team of the popular “Saturday Night Live” TV show, where he was a guest for twelve episodes. On TV he lent his voice to the crazy dentist “Dr. Bender” and his son Wendell in the animated series “Fairly Oddparents”.