Since his passing, countless tributes have poured in for Ottawa comedy legend Mike MacDonald, who passed away on March 17 at the age of 63 due to heart complications.
Long-time friend and co-owner of Yuk Yuk’s Ottawa, Howard Wagman, remembers him as an inspiration, a teacher and a ground-breaking comedian.
“Mike was the first original Canadian comedian, even before there was a comedy club in this country,” Wagman said. “He was respected more than any other stand-up comic that’s lived in this country.”
MacDonald was born in France, but moved to Ottawa when he was young. He attended Brookfield High School and got his start in comedy during the 1970s.
His career brought him to L.A., where he performed alongside other comedy greats such as Howie Mandel and Alan Thicke. After 22 years, he moved back to Ottawa to undergo a life-saving liver transplant as part of his treatment for hepatitis C. After a successful surgery, he went back into comedy.
According to Wagman, MacDonald’s material noticeably changed after the surgery.
“It was very introspective and socially relevant,” he said. “He realized he had a new lease on life, and it showed in his comedy.”
Throughout his career, MacDonald also battled mental health issues, but comedian and Absolute Comedy manager Logan Avery-Cooper said that nothing could stop him.
“He kept fighting until the end,” Avery-Cooper said. “He had his ups and downs, but always came back stronger than ever.”
Avery-Cooper said that one of the greatest things he will remember about MacDonald is his comedic mentorship.
“Everyone else has to work material and get it honed and get it tight,” he said. “But seeing him do it on another level was incredible.”
Tributes on social media came in from many big comedians, including Russell Peters.
“Rest In Peace to a Canadian Comedy Legend,” he tweeted. “#MikeMacDonald was brash, moody, offensive, sweet, lovable, hate-able but he was ALWAYS funny!”
Fellow Ottawa legend Tom Green said, “Rest in Peace Mike. Say hello to [George] Carlin and [Richard] Pryor for us. I’m sure you are already making them laugh up there.”
Kathy Griffin, Corner Gas’ Brent Butt, and Letterkenny’s K. Trevor Wilson were among other comedians to express sadness, but also gratitude for MacDonald’s contributions to comedy.
“We’re just glad we had him for so long,” Wagman said. “We got to live something very few people got to live.”
The Mike Stand, a completed documentary about MacDonald’s life, is set to be released later this year.
