Los Angeles (AP) – Ruth Buzzi, who has become famous as Frumpy and Amer Ormphby Gladys on the revolutionary sketch series “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-in” and made more than 200 television appearances During a 45 -year career, died Thursday. She was 88 years old.
Buzzi died at his home in Texas, said his agent Mike Eisenstadt. She had received a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s disease and was in palliative care. Shortly before her death, her husband Kent Perkins had published a statement on the Buzzi Facebook page, thanking her many fans and telling them: “She wants you to know that she was likely to have these shows that you watched it.”
Buzzi won a Golden Globe and was twice nominated for the EMMY for the NBC show, which took place from 1968 to 1973. She was the only one used to appearing during the six seasons, including the pilot.
“Ruth Buzzi was a comic genius,” Nancy Sinatra posted On X. “Working next to her on laughter was the most fun that I have ever worked. I darled her friendship and I have a broken heart to wake up the news that she left. I love you, Ruthie.”
Singer Deana Martin Posted: “His laughter and warmth have touched us all, leaving an eternal void.”
The character Ormphby leads to a “ laughing ” ‘
Buzzi was first spotted by the creator and producer of “laugh” George Schlatter playing various characters on “The Steve Allen Comedy Hour”.
Schlatter held auditions for “Laugh-in” when he received a photo by Buzzi Post in his Ormphby costume, seated in a barrel with counds. The character was dressed in dull brown with his bun covered with a gel tied in the middle of his forehead.
“I think I hired him because of my passion for Gladys Ormphby,” he wrote in his memory in 2023 “always laughing a life in comedy.” “I must admit that the frost and the rolled stockings have turned on my fire. My favorite Gladys line was when she announced that the day of the office of the office of the office, they sent her to their house early. ”
The character of Gladys used his handbag like a weapon against anyone disturbing her, hitting people above his head. On “Laugh-in”, his most frequent target was the character of Dirty Old Man by Arte Johnson, Tyrone F. Horneigh.
“Gladys embodies the neglected, the oppressed, the taken for acquired, the fighter,” said Buzzi to Connecticut Post in 2018. “So when she fights, she speaks for all those who were marginalized, reduced to a sexual or otherwise abused object. And it is almost everyone at one time or at one point.”
Buzzi took her act to the roast of celebrities Dean Martin in Las Vegas, where she struck her handbag on the head of Frank SinatraDean Martin and Lucille Ball, among others.
“Ruth Buzzi brought a singular energy and charm to sketch the comedy that made her a star on` Laugh-in ” and the roasts of the fame of Dean Martin. His characters, in particular the unforgettable Gladys Ormphby, captured the delicious absurdity of the time, “said Journey Gunderson, Executive Director Center in Jamestown, New York.
His other recurring characters on “Laugh-in” included Flicker Farkle; Busy-Buzzi, Hollywood gossip columnist; Doris Swizzler, a regular cocktails who get drunk with her husband Leonard, played by Dick Martin; and an inconsiderate on -board agent.
“I have never taken my work for granted, or supposed that I deserved more credit or projector or more salary than anyone,” Buzzi told Connecticut Post. “I was just delighted to go down the hill to NBC every day as an actor used with work to do.”
Buzzi has remained friends over the years with the co-stars of “Laugh-in” Lily Tomlin and Jo Anne Worley.
From cheerleading to the scene
Born Ruth Ann Buzzi on July 24, 1936, in Westerly, Rhode Island, she was the daughter of Angelo Buzzi, a stone sculptor known on a national scale. Her father and later his brother exploited Buzzi Memorials, a tombstone and a monument to Stonington, Connecticut, where she was the head of Pom-Pom Girl in high school.
Buzzi signed up at the Pasadena Playhouse at the age of 17. Two years later, she traveled with singer Rudy Vallee in a musical and comedy act during her summer vacation. This earned him a Union of Actors’ Actions Card before graduating from the Playhouse College of Theater Arts.
Buzzi moved to New York and was immediately hired for a main role in a Musical Revue Off-Broadway, the first of 19 shows of this type on the East Coast.
She obtained her national television break on “The Garry Moore Show” in 1964, just after Carol Burnett was replaced by Dorothy Loudon on the series. She played Shakundala The Silent, the awkward magician assistant of the character of Dom Deluise Dominic the Great.
Buzzi was a regular on the CBS varieties program “The Entertainters” whose hosts included Burnett and Bob Newhart.
She was in the original Broadway distribution of “Sweet Charity” with Gwen Verdon in 1966.
Buzzi turned the country with its nightclub act, including appearances in Las Vegas.
She was a semi-regulating on “this girl” as Imi de Marlo Thomas. She played with Jim Nabors as time travel androids on “The Lost Saucer” in the mid -1970s.
His other guest appearances included varieties’ shows organized by Burnett, Flip Wilson, Glen Campbell, Tony Orlando, Donny and Marie Osmond and Leslie Uggams.
She appeared in the last series of Ball comedy “Life with Lucy”.
Buzzi appeared in clips with “Weird Al” Yankovic, the B-52 and the Presidents of the United States of America.
She made hundreds of votes invited to series of cartoons, including “Pound Puppies”, “Berenstain Bears”, “The Smurfs” and “The Angry Beavers”.
She was Emmy nominated for her six -year race as a Ruthie trader on “Sesame Street”.
His film credits included “Freaky Friday”, “Chu Chu and the Philly Flash”, “The North Avenue Irregles” and “The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides”.
Buzzi was active on social networks and had thousands of disciples that she rewarded with liners such as “I have never faked a sarcasm” and “scientists say that the universe is entirely made up of neurons, protons and electrons. They seem to have lacked morons. ”
She married actor Perkins in 1978.
The couple moved from California to Texas in 2003 and bought a 640 acres ranch near Stephenville.
Buzzi retired to act in 2021 and underwent a series of strokes the following year. Her husband told Dallas Morning News in 2023 that she had dementia.
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The national writer of Associated Press Hillel Italy contributed to this report.
