Back in 1990, an aspiring comic named Norm Macdonald appeared on "Star Search" ... and LOST to a Liberian comic named "The Bushman" ... who sorta fell off the radar ... until last night!

Here's the story -- one of our photogs called up an L.A. cleaning service to work on his apartment (lazy bastard) ... but he kinda sorta recognized the guy who showed up to carry out the job.

Turns out ... the guy doing the cleaning is The Bushman -- real name Lahai Fahnbulleh ... and cleaning is now his part-time job.

Bushman told us he still does comedy ... along with his cleaning biz ... and he also takes nanny jobs.