Ruth Buzzi, Gladys brandishing “laughter” baths, died at 88

Ruth Buzzi, whose singles grinding a vicious wallet to repel male advances that are both real and imaginary were among the most memorable characters of “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-in”, the television comedy bag of a program of the psychedelic era, died Thursday in its ranch near Fort Worth. She was 88 years old.

His agent, Michael Eisenstadt, said that the cause was complications from Alzheimer’s disease, which was diagnosed 10 years ago.

With an elastic and expressive face and a gift, both vocal and physical, for caricature, Ms. Buzzi has had a long performance career. She played a myriad of roles on stage in the summer stock; appeared on Broadway once, with a tripartite credit (like the good fairy / woman with a hat / receptionist) in the 1966 musical “Sweet Charity”; played in television varieties programs; appeared as a star guest in a multitude of sitcoms; And had minor pieces in films, including “Freaky Friday”, the 1976 television comedy, and “The Apple Dumpling Gang wrinkles again”, Loopy 1979 Disney Western.

Nothing in his career, however, has had the lasting attraction of his character “laughing” decisively determining Gladys Ormphby, a school combination, a delicate cochete and a battle axis dressed in a dull brown cardigan, a long skirt, low flasks and a hairstyle network with a knot in the middle of her before.

The regular appearances of Gladys on the series – a NBC match during prime time from 1968 to 1973 – were generally in sketch involving Tyrone, the old dirty quintesses (Arte Johnson), who would be a little too close, would breathe a little too strong and make a comment too suggestive, provoking Gladys for the Wallop with his scholarship.