Norm Crosby, comedian nicknamed 'Master of Malaprops,' dies at 93 [View all]
Norm Crosby, the standup comedian who turned malapropism into an art form, has died. He was 93. According to one report, Crosby succumbed to heart failure Saturday at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles.
Perhaps best-known for his appearances on the NBC “Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts” in the 1970s, the Boston-born Crosby turned the English language upside-down with his intentional misuse of words to comedic effect throughout his routines. The shtick earned him the nickname “The Master of Malaprops” — words that sound right but are completely incorrect in their usage.
In addition to his appearances alongside Martin and a dais of comedians, actors and sports notables for the Las Vegas-based roasts, Crosby also co-hosted the Muscular Dystrophy Telethon for 25 years alongside Jerry Lewis. He appeared on numerous television series throughout a career that spanned more than five decades, including “The Ed Sullivan Show,” “The Love Boat,” “Hollywood Squares” “It’s Gary Shandling’s Show” and “The Larry Sanders Show.” In the late 1970s he hosted the series “The Comedy Shop.” He made more than 50 guest appearances on “The Tonight Show” starting in the 1960s.
Crosby is survived by his wife of 54 years, Joan, and two sons.
https://chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment-and-culture/2020/11/7/21554810/norm-crosby-dead-comedian-master-of-malaprops-dies-at-93-dean-martin-celebrity-roasts
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