Norm Macdonald died this week at age 61 following a long battle with cancer. The world feels less witty, less mischievous, and less playful for it.

The beloved comedian and Saturday Night Live cast member was born in Quebec City in 1959 to a family of teachers. Kicking off his career in Canada, Macdonald began performing stand-up in local Ottawa and Toronto clubs. It wasn’t until his signature deadpan delivery was picked up by the Montreal Gazette, which lauded him as “one of this country’s hottest comics,” that Macdonald took his talents to America. There he began writing for the hit sitcom Roseanne before going on to join SNL.