Editor’s Note: We tried to find a respectful way to go about the initial article and didn’t hit the mark. Out of respect to Mr. Gottfried, we’ve altered the headline and shifted the order of the paragraphs around. The words are unchanged, but we believe the simple alterations made improve the message and better honor him which was our intent from the beginning.
Gilbert Gottfried
1955-2022
A true comedy legend. Despite his incredibly foul-mouthed stand-up routines, Disney hired him to voice Jafar’s wise-cracking parrot, Iago, in their 1992 masterpiece, Aladdin. His work is remembered fondly for multiple generations of Disney fans.
There has been a rash of Disney Legends dying in the past 6 or so months. This list includes Tommy Kirk, Tim Considine, Betty White, Bob Saget, and Louie Anderson. We’ve covered heavily how little of their Disney library is available to stream (1, 2, 3). Unfortunately, we must do so once again as losing Gilbert Gottfried led us immediately to YouTube where we played videos of his stand-up while browsing IMDb to list off his Disney resume.
Unlike the other actors we mentioned, a decent amount of his Disney work is available to stream right now. Fans looking to mourn him via Disney+ can see him in Hannah Montana and Adventures in Wonderland as well as hear his voice in Bonkers, Timon & Pumbaa, The Replacements, Hercules: The Animated Series, and the Aladdin film trilogy.
Gilbert Gottfried’s Disney Resume
- Aladdin (1992)
- Bonkers (Episode: “Stand-In Dad”) (1993)
- Aladdin 2: Return of Jafar (1994)
- Adventures in Wonderland (Episode: “Pie Noon”) (1994)
- Aladdin The Series (1994-1995) – MISSING FROM DISNEY+
- Timon & Pumbaa (Episode: “Mozam-Beaked”) (1995)
- Aladdin 3: King of Thieves (1996)
- Beverly Hills Family Robinson (1997) – MISSING FROM DISNEY+
- Muppets Tonight (Episode: “Dennis Quaid”) (1997) – MISSING FROM DISNEY+
- Hercules: The Animated Series (Episode: “Hercules and the Assassin”) (1998)
- Hannah Montana (Episode: “We’re So Sorry (Uncle Earl”) (2008)
- The Replacements (Episode: “A Buzzwork Orange”) (2008) – MISSING FROM DISNEY+ (Season 2 is missing)
Unfortunately, one major title is missing alongside a classic made-for-TV reimaging of a popular franchise.
Gilbert is best known for his role as Iago in the Aladdin trilogy. Gottfried also reprised his role in most episodes of Aladdin’s animated series sequel. Aladdin The Series took place in between the 2nd and 3rd films. In this 86-episode cartoon, Iago is now reformed and becomes a bit of an anti-hero alongside his new pals, Aladdin, Jasmine, and Genie.
This title has been extremely highly requested since launch and our records put it in the top 5 most requested missing series at launch. As of now, we’d place it Top 3 alongside Bear in the Big Blue House and House of Mouse. What will it take to get this series streaming? It’s unfortunate that most of Gilbert’s work with Disney took place in this cartoon which is unavailable legally.
Other performances unavailable via Disney Plus include voice work in Disney’s made-for-TV ABC film, Beverly Hills Family Robinson. He additionally appeared in an episode of Muppets Tonight. Finally, his season 2 appearance in The Replacements is not available since Disney+ only added the first season. Hopefully those titles are on their way, soon.
Hopefully his full Disney legacy will soon be added to the service. Farewell, Gilbert.
Drew Ryan is a film, TV, and Disney geek. He has degrees in English, Student Personnel Administration, and Library & Information Science from Lawrence University, Concordia University-Wisconsin, and University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. Interested in the minutia and licensing of streaming service content, he is always publishing lists, suggestions, and advocating for Disney’s missing library to be added to Disney+. Drew subscribes to Disney+, Hulu, Netflix, HBO Max, and Paramount+. You can find him waxing nostalgic over classic Disney Channel or geeking out over Marvel, CW shows, & Disney on Twitter.
