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Norm Crosby

Norm Crosby (1927–2020), legendary old school comic

by Kirk Fox

Norm Crosby was a legendary old school comic known as the “The Master of Malaprop.”

  • Died: Saturday, November 7, 2020 (Who else died on November 7?)
  • Details of death: Died in Los Angeles of heart failure at the age of 93.
  • We invite you to share condolences for Norm Crosby in our Guest Book.

“The Master of Malaprop”

Crosby was known for his use of malaprops, the humorous use of words that sound correct but are wrong. An example from the Los Angeles Times: “When he goes to a tailor, it’s because his pants need an altercation.” Crosby started out as a stand-up comic in the resorts of New York’s Catskill Mountains, known as the Borscht Belt. He was a popular guest on TV talk shows, especially “The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson,” appearing more than 50 times. Crosby was a regular on the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts in the 1970s and appeared on television shows including “The Larry Sanders Show” and “The Love Boat.” Most recently, he was in the Adam Sandler movie “Grown Ups 2.”

Tributes to Norm Crosby

Full Obituary: Variety

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