Alan Park — the Canadian comedian and satirist recognized for his decade-long run on CBC series Royal Canadian Air Farce — has died. Park's publicist confirmed the artist passed away yesterday (November 10) following a years-long battle with cancer. He was 60.
Born Alan John Park on November 5, 1962, in Scarborough, ON, the comedian's 10 years with Air Farce saw him portray domestic and foreign political figures including former Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe, former Health Minister Tony Clement, former Liberal leaders Stéphane Dion and Michael Ignatieff, US president Barack Obama and Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Park's portrayals were not limited to politics, having also done impressions of Gordon Lightfoot, Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger, Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney, Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst and more.
Park also was a credited writer for the Winnipeg Comedy Festival and the television adaptation of CBC's The Debaters, and also appeared on MuchMusic's Video on Trial. He was also the host of podcast Conspiracy Queries, which aired on Sirius XM radio, and voiced commercial advertisements for brands like Chevrolet.
A press release announcing Park's passing notes he was first diagnosed with cancer in 2014, "but in typical Alan Park style, lived through his terminal illness for an additional eight years."
Following his diagnosis, Park became an advocate for treatment involving medical cannabis via website and podcast Green Crush with Alan Park from 2016 to 2019, and was a speaker at cannabis and hemp expos.
Park is survived by his two daughters, Ava and Fiona, sister Pauline, countless friends, family, and his beloved pup Floyd.
Toronto's comedy community will hold an informal gathering on November 14 at 4:30 p.m. PT at the Duke Live in Leslieville to celebrate his life.
Revisit Park's work on Air Farce with the clips below.
Born Alan John Park on November 5, 1962, in Scarborough, ON, the comedian's 10 years with Air Farce saw him portray domestic and foreign political figures including former Bloc Québécois leader Gilles Duceppe, former Health Minister Tony Clement, former Liberal leaders Stéphane Dion and Michael Ignatieff, US president Barack Obama and Iranian leader Mahmoud Ahmadinejad
Park's portrayals were not limited to politics, having also done impressions of Gordon Lightfoot, Nickelback frontman Chad Kroeger, Mick Jagger, Paul McCartney, Limp Bizkit's Fred Durst and more.
Park also was a credited writer for the Winnipeg Comedy Festival and the television adaptation of CBC's The Debaters, and also appeared on MuchMusic's Video on Trial. He was also the host of podcast Conspiracy Queries, which aired on Sirius XM radio, and voiced commercial advertisements for brands like Chevrolet.
A press release announcing Park's passing notes he was first diagnosed with cancer in 2014, "but in typical Alan Park style, lived through his terminal illness for an additional eight years."
Following his diagnosis, Park became an advocate for treatment involving medical cannabis via website and podcast Green Crush with Alan Park from 2016 to 2019, and was a speaker at cannabis and hemp expos.
Park is survived by his two daughters, Ava and Fiona, sister Pauline, countless friends, family, and his beloved pup Floyd.
Toronto's comedy community will hold an informal gathering on November 14 at 4:30 p.m. PT at the Duke Live in Leslieville to celebrate his life.
Revisit Park's work on Air Farce with the clips below.