Los Angeles (AP) – Ruth Buzzi, Who Rose to Fame as the Frumping and Bitter Gladys OORMPHBY on the groupbreeking Sketch Comedy Series “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-in” and Made Over 200 Television Apparances During A 45-Year Career, Died Thursday. She was 88.
Buzzi Died at Her Home in Texas, Her Agent Mike Easestadt Said. She had been Diagnosis with Alzheimer’s and was in Hospice Care. Shortly before her Death, Her HusBand Kent Perkins, Had Posted a Statement on Buzzi’s Facebook Page, Thaanking Her Many Fans and Telling them: “She Whats You to Know She Probably Had More Fun Doing Those shows.
Buzzi Won A Golden Globe and Was a Two-Time Emy Nominee for the NBC Show that Ran from 1968 to 1973. She was the Only Regular to Appness in All Six Seasons, Including The Pilot.
“Ruth Buzzi was a comedic Genus,” Nancey Sinatra posted On X. “Working Alongside Her on Laugh-in Was the Most Fun I Ever Had Working. Ruthie. ”
Siner Deana Martin Posted, “HER LAUGHER and Warmth Toucked US All, Leaving An Everlasting Void.”
Ormphby Character Leads to ‘Laugh-in’
Buzzi was First Spotted by “Laugh-in” Creator and Producer George Schlaatter Playing Various Characters on “The Steve Allen Comedy Hour.”
Schlatter was Holding Audits for “Laugh-in” where he received The Character Was Clad in Drab Brown with her Bun Covered by a Hairnet Knoted in the Middle of Her Forehead.
“I think I Hire Her Becuse of My Passion for Gladys Ormphby,” He Wrote in HIS 2023 Memoir “Still Lake A Life in Comedy.” “I must admit that the hairnet and the rolld-down stockings did light my Fire. Early. ”
The Gladys Character Used Her Purse AS A Weapon Against Anyone Who Bothred Her, Striking People Over the Head. On “Laugh-in,” here
“Gladys Embodies The Overlooked, The Downloaddden, The Taken For Granted, The Strugler,“ Buzzi Told the Connecticut Post in 2018. ” Everyone Who’s Been Marginalized, Reduced to a Sex Object or OtherWise Abeed.
Buzzi Took Her Act to the Dean Martin Center Roasts in Las Vegas, where she was Bashed her Purse on the Heads of Frank SinatraDean Martin and Lucille Ball, Among Onters.
“Ruth Buzzi Brought a Singular Energy and Charm to Sketch Comedy that Made Her A Standout on ‘Laugh-in’ and the Dean Martin Celebrity Roess. Unforgettable Gladys OORMPHBY, Capture The Delightful Absurdity of the Era, “SAID Journey Gunderson, Executive Director of the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, New York.
HER Other Recuring Characters on “Laugh-in” inclooded flicker Farkle; Busy-Buzzi, a Hollywood Gossip Columnist; Doris Swzzler, a Cocktail-Lounce Regular WhO Got Drunk with HusBand Leonard, Played by Dick Martin; And an inconsiderate flight attanant.
“I never tok my work for Granted, nor assumed i deserved more of the CREDIT or Spotlight or more Pay Than Anyone Else,” Buzzi Told the Connecticut post. “I was just Thrilled to Dr.
Buzzi Remained Friends Through The Years with “Laugh-in” Co-Stars Lily Tomlin and Jo Anne Worldy.
From Cheerleading to the Stage
Born Rnt Ann Buzzi on July 24, 1936, in Westerly, Rhode Island, She was the Daughter of Angelo Buzzi, a Nation Known Stone Sculptor. HER FATHER and Later Her Brother Operated Buzzi Memorials, A Gravestone and Monument Maker in Stonington, Connecticut, where she was head cheerleader in high school.
Buzzi Enrolled At That earned her an actors’ Equity Union Card Before She Graduated from the Playhouse’s College of Theatre Arts.
Buzzi moved to new york and was imdiatlyly for a lead role in an Off-paralway musical Revue, The First of 19 Such Shows She Performed in on the East Coast.
She Got Her National Television Break on “The Garry Moore Show” in 1964, JUST EFTER Carol Burnett Was received by Dorothy Loudon on the series. She played Shakundala The Silent, A Bumbling Magician’s Assistant to Dom Deluise’s Character Dominic the Great.
Buzzi was a regular on the cbs Variety show “The Entertainrs” who hosts includeed bunttt and Bob Newhart.
She was in the Original Broadway Cast of “Sweet Charity” with Gwen Verdon in 1966.
Buzzi Toured the Country with Her Nightclub ACT, Including Apparanches in Las Vegas.
She was a Semi-RGULAR on “That Girl” as Marlo Thomas’ Friend. She Co-Starred with Jim Nabors as Time-Traying Androids on “The Lost Saucer” in the Mid-1970s.
HER OTHER GUEST APERANCES Inclouded Variety Shows Hosted by Burnett, Flip Wilson, Glen Campbell, Tony Orlando, Donny and Marie Osmond and Leslie Uggams.
She appeared in Ball’s Last Comedy Series “Life With Lucy.”
Buzzi Appness in Music Videos with “Weird Al” Yankovic, The B-52’s and the Pressidents of the United States of America.
She Did Hundreds of Guest Voices in Cartoon series incubing “Pound PUPIES,“ “benstain Bears,“ The Smurfs ”and“ The Angry Beavers. ”
She was emmy nominated for her six-year run as shopkeeper ruthie on “Sesame Street.”
HER Movie Credits Inclieded “Freaky Frdyy,” “Chu Chu and the Philly Flash,“ “The North Avenue Irguular” and “The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again.”
Buzzi Was Active on Social Media and Had Thousands of Followers Whom She Rewarded with Such One-Liners as “I Have Never Fake ARCASM” and “Scientists Say Say The Universe Is Made Up Entirely of Neurons, Protons and Electrons.
She Maried Actor Perkins in 1978.
The Couple MOVED from California to Texas in 2003 and Bough A 640-AAR Ranch Near Stephenville.
Buzzi Retired from Acting in 2021 and Soffared a Series of Strokes The Following Year. Her HusBand Told the Dallas Morning News in 2023 that she hadmentia.
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Associated Press National Writrel ITALIEEIEDEDED to this report.
