Norm Macdonald
Macdonald in 2004, photo by Prphotos
Birth Name: Norman Gene Macdonald
Date of Birth: October 17, 1959
Place of Birth: Québec City, Québec, Canada
Date of Death: September 14, 2021
Place of Death: Pasadena, California, U.S.
Ethnicity: Irish, Northern Irish, Scottish, English, distant German and Dutch, remote French
Norm Macdonald was a Canadian stand-up comedian, writer, actor, and podcaster. He is known for his work on Saturday Night Live and many film and other television roles, including Dirty Work, the Dr. Dolittle franchise, NewsRadio, and The Norm Show. He was the host of the podcast Norm Macdonald Live from 2013 to 2017, and the show Norm Macdonald Has a Show in 2018.
He was the son of Ferne (Mains) and Percy Lloyd Macdonald, who were teachers. His brother was journalist Neil Macdonald, who is married to journalist Joyce Napier. Norm had a son with his former wife Connie Vaillancourt.
Norm had deep roots in Ontario, going back to the early 1800s. He also had Colonial American ancestry through a few lines.
Norm’s paternal grandfather was Alexander MacDonald/McDonald (the son of Donald McDonald and Emily McMillan). Alexander was born in Roxborough, Stormont, Ontario.
Norm’s paternal grandmother was Myrtle Eliza Eamer (the daughter of William C. Eamer and Mary Ann Duff). Myrtle was born in Osnabruck, Stormont, Ontario. William was the son of Michael Eamer, who was of German and Dutch descent, and of Catherine Ann Burton. Norm’s great-grandmother Mary Ann was the daughter of Robert Duff, whose parents were from Ireland, and of Eliza Stephenson, who was born in Co Armagh, Ireland.
Norm’s maternal grandfather was William James Mains (the son of William James Mains and Annie/Anne Lizzie/Liza Hill). Norm’s grandfather William was born in Kenmore, Ottawa, Ottawa Division, Ontario. Norm’s great-grandfather William was the son of James Mains and Jane Brownlee, who were born in Ireland. Annie was the daughter of William Hill, who was born in Ireland, and of Mary Baker/Bape.
Norm’s maternal grandmother was Vanessa Graham (the daughter of James Graham and Sarah Diadama Gray). James was the son of Solomon Graham and Jane Matthews, who were born in Ireland. Sarah was the daughter of James Charles Gray, whose parents were from Vermont, U.S., and of Letitia Ashe/Ash, whose parents were Irish.
Sources: Genealogy of Norm Macdonald – https://www.geni.com
Obituary of Norm’s maternal aunt – http://www.legacy.com
His Irish relatives all seem to have Scottish, or at least British surnames, so his family was probably more Scottish than anything.
To anyone who questions that viewpoint, if an actor was born in America to parents who came from England, but both parents were from Indian families, you wouldn’t say the actor was of English descent, would you?
Legend
Rest in peace genius. He looked like a genuine great guy, f cancer what a terrible disease. And sure he was not welsh too?