Gilbert Gottfried, comedian and actor, has died

And young too...............well, compared to me

LTC Eugene Chu
"Gilbert Gottfried, the veteran comedian and voice of the parrot Iago in "Aladdin," has died after a long battle with an illness. He was 67.

“We are heartbroken to announce the passing of our beloved Gilbert Gottfried after a long illness," the performer's family wrote in a statement shared Tuesday on social media.

"In addition to being the most iconic voice in comedy, Gilbert was a wonderful husband, brother, friend and father to his two young children. Although today is a sad day for all of us, please keep laughing as loud as possible in Gilbert’s honor."

Gottfried was revered for his brash, irreverent style of stand-up comedy. The renowned voice actor was also known for lending his piercing, squawky vocals to Jafar's avian minion in the Disney animated classic "Aladdin," as well as the instantly recognizable Aflac duck.

“I saw Gilbert perform in 1985, and when he entered to applause he said, ‘Thank you, thank you very much.’ He then continued to say ‘thank you’ repeatedly for 10 full minutes," tweeted late-night TV host Conan O'Brien on Tuesday.

"It was the nerviest, funniest thing I had seen. So sorry to lose this sweet and delightfully funny man.”

Gottfried began performing comedy at open-mic nights in New York City at 15, according to an Internet Movie Database biography written by his one-time publicist, Steve Honig. By 1980, New Yorkers referred to the entertainer as "the comedian's comedian," and NBC hired him as a cast member on "Saturday Night Live."...