Canadian comedian Norm MacDonald was famous for his deadpan humor—so much so that it may have gotten him fired from Saturday Night Live . However, that didn’t derail his career. Instead, MacDonald, who got his start as a writer on Roseanne , went on to star in his own sitcom, host his own podcast and talk shows, and work in nightclub comedy.

Netflix’s Norm: The Tale of Norm MacDonald is the latest documentary about the comedian and will explore his enduring career through archival footage, home videos, and commentary from his fellow comedians.

Here’s everything to know about MacDonald, his comedy career, and his controversial firing from SNL .

Who Was Norm MacDonald?

Norman Gene MacDonald was born on October 17, 1959, in Quebec City, Canada. His father, Percy Macdonald, was a vice principal and his mother, Ferne (Mains) MacDonald was a teacher. He had an older brother, Neil, and a younger brother, Leslie.

When MacDonald was young, he loved writing jokes and stories, but he was shy.…