Actor and Comedian, Gilbert Gottfried’s Passing

[Leah Leilani]

Last week, actor and comedian, Gilbert Gottfried passed away at the age of 67 due to recurrent ventricular tachycardia caused by myotonic dystrophy type 2.

When I heard the news from a Facebook group that he had a form of muscular dystrophy, I was shocked. I knew Gilbert Gottfried as the voice of the parrot in the Disney animated film, Aladdin. I wondered if he’d had a later onset of the disease or had been diagnosed as a child or young adult.

Did you follow Gilbert Gottfried’s comedy?

[Pete Barron]

As far as I know Myotonic Dystrophy type 2 (which I also have) is always adult onset. I do however recognize the cardiac defect, which my father who unknowingly had DM2. My father received a demand pacemaker which kept him alive another 25 years. I assume this was sadly not available to Gottfried. I have been monitored, but as yet do not have this defect.

[Leah Leilani]

Thank you for correcting me in the onset Pete. I also experience a type of tachycardia where my heart rate will rise if I’m particularly tired or sick. Do you have a good cardiologist that you see?

[Author]

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