Cecily Strong on SNL sketch music producer Hal Willner: "He was cooler than any of us"

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The SNL star posted a lengthy tribute to Willner, who died Tuesday from complications from coronavirus at age 64. She even posted a screenshot of email he sent her last month. "I emailed with Hal three weeks ago about taking part in a fundraiser he was doing in New York," wrote Strong of Willner, who's been a fixture at Saturday Night Live since 1980. "I thought i couldn’t go because I was going to spend my hiatus in LA. But then I cancelled my trip last minute because I was too nervous that I 'touch my face' absentmindedly too often. He had to cancel anyway because of covid. These were the pictures he was obsessed with. He was way too nice to me right away when I started. He was bizarre and friendly and I couldn’t understand 30% of what he said to me in a sort of quiet voice in a sometimes very loud environment. He was cooler than any of us. He wore hats. He always seemed to be smiling to himself about something secret. He sat in front of the cut sketches on the board between dress and air that we all DESPERATELY WANT TO AND NEED TO SEE and I would think 'Oh Hal'. There was not a single person on earth like him and now there is truly no one. Muchlovetoyou, c"

ALSO:

• A somber Jimmy Fallon remembered "creative genius" Hal Willner on Tuesday's Tonight Show: "I think at this point everyone either knows someone who knows someone who has COVID-19," Fallon said. "Or knows someone who has had it and beat it. Or knows someone who's had it and passed away. Sadly, today was my first passing."
• Willner posted a brief scene from The Three Stooges on the day before he died
• Willner accomplished something singular in his lengthy career: He made the tribute album cool -- and weird
• Julia Louis-Dreyfus said she's "absolutely devastated to get this news about my weird and lovely pal, Hal"
• Adam Sandler described Willner as "An incredible person who so many of us will miss. Love u pal"
• The Lonely Island's Jorma Taccone calls Willner "one of the most amazing, hilarious, bizarre, creative men I have ever met"
• Ben Stiller tweeted of Willner: "Hal was a part of so much of the music and pop culture comedy we have all enjoyed for years. He was kind and extremely cool"
• SNL alum Taran Killam called Willner "a mad genius": "He loved everything weird. He always made me feel good in an environment where it was sometimes hard to feel good about yourself. I really love him. I love you Hal."