American comedian Gilbert Gottfried is known for his vulgar jokes. His powerful, raspy voice has landed him numerous voice jobs – from Digit in Cyberchase to Iago in Disney’s Aladdin and every other Disney movie that features the character.
Gottfried acts occasionally and is the host of his podcast, titled Gilbert Gottfried’s Amazing Colossal Podcast. “Gilbert” (2017), the documentary detailing his real life, revealed a lot about Gottfried, including the fact that he wasn’t as callous as he seemed in his many jokes. Here is an overview of his career and personal life.
Gilbert Gottfried Bio (Age and Other General Information)
Gottfried was born on February 28, 1955 in Brooklyn, New York City, New York. He was born into a Jewish family but revealed his family weren’t as serious about religion and he never had a bar mitzvah. Gottfried has always been a funny man. At the age of 15, he decided to play jokes by performing in bars and shows in New York.
A decade later, Gottfried began appearing on television, making his debut as a new cast member on the 6th season of Saturday Night Live in 1980. Around the same time, he was picked up by the newly created channel, MTV, to perform improvisations which were used to promote the channel. Cartoon makers quickly recognized Gottfried’s unique raspy voice, and voice-over gigs began to pour in. It also led to comedy gigs. Some of Gottfried’s early films include: Beverly Hills Cop II (1987), Problem Child (1990) and its sequel.
As a comedian, he performed the role of Iago the Parrot in Disney’s Aladdin (1992). He has since voiced the character in subsequent Disney films, television series, and video games. He has been identified as one of the most successful actors in children’s entertainment.
While remaining active in Hollywood, Gottfried continued to stand tall across the country and became known for his cruel jokes. His jokes have made him a subject of controversy on several occasions, including during Hugh Hefner’s infamous roast when he joked about the 9/11 attacks. Although the joke was not well received by the public, Gottfried staged an immediate comeback by telling a joke to the aristocrats.
His next controversial joke about a natural disaster wasn’t so bad, because it cost him a publicity job. Gilbert joked about the earthquake in Japan in March 2011, and as a result, the American insurance company Aflac fired him from his voice role in the movie Aflac. Gilbert had voiced the duck mascot since 2000. Aflac did about 75% of its business in Japan.
His wife and children
Gilbert Gottfried is a married man and has been since 2007 when he hooked up with a certain Dara Kravitz. The couple first met in the late 1990s at a Grammys party. At the time, Kravitz was in the music industry.
Wondering what Gottfried was up to at a Grammy party? No, he wasn’t there to tell jokes, he just went there because he knew there would be free food, a fact he revealed in a phone interview with JTA. The interview also brought to light another fact that Gottfried was a very thrifty man.
Gottfried and Kravitz started talking and quickly bonded. The rest is history.
In his eponymous documentary, he said that the relationship between Gottfried and his wife earned him helping to transform Gottfried into the likeable guy he is today.
The couple shares two children together, including daughter Lily Aster Gottfried (born June 12, 2007) and son Max born May 18, 2009. The family lives a middle-class life in Manhattan’s Chelsea neighborhood.
Height and other facts to know
Standing at 1.65m, Gilbert Gottfried can be described as a man of average height.
Gilbert’s voice in real life is very even unlike the raspy voice that made him popular.
He lost his sister Arlene Gottfried to cancer in August 2017. She was a famous street photographer.
Gottfried took his big dive now as a trademark during his first days on his feet to get over his nervousness.