Gilbert Gottfried, the actor and legendary standup comic known for his raw, scratchy voice and crude jokes, has died.

He was 67.

The star passed from a rare genetic muscle disease that can trigger a dangerously abnormal heartbeat.

Gottfried was a fiercely independent and intentionally bizarre comedian's comedian, as likely to clear a room with anti-comedy as he was to kill it with his jokes.

He first came to national attention with frequent appearances on MTV's in its early days and with a brief stint in the cast of “Saturday Night Live” in the 1980's.

Gottfried also did frequent voice work for children's television and movies.

His family says he was a wonderful husband, brother, friend and father to his two young children.

They urged everyone to keep laughing, despite their loss.