LOS ANGELES (AP) – Ruth Buzzi became well-known for her portrayal of the irritable and sharp-tongued Gladys Ormpby on the pioneering sketch comedy show Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In. She passed away on Thursday after a prolific career that spanned over 200 television appearances in 45 years. Buzzi was 88.
Her death occurred at her Texas residence, as confirmed by her agent, Mike Eisenstadt. She had been battling Alzheimer’s and was under hospice care during her final days. Just before she died, her husband, Kent Perkins, shared a heartfelt message on her Facebook page, expressing gratitude for her loyal fans and noting that she truly enjoyed her time on those shows.
Buzzi won a Golden Globe and received Emmy nominations for her work on the NBC show, which aired from 1968 to 1973, and she was the only cast member present throughout all six seasons, including the pilot episode.
“Ruth Buzzi was a comedy genius,” Nancy Sinatra tweeted.
Singer Deena Martin remarked, “Her laughter and warmth left an everlasting impact on us all.”
Buzzi’s characters brought joy and laughter
Ruth was discovered by George Schlatter, the creator and producer of “Laugh-In,” during auditions for his earlier project, “The Steve Allen Comedy Hour.”
Remarkably, Schlatter recounted how he sat in a wire mesh garbage container when he received a photo of Buzzi in her Ormpby attire. The look featured drab browns and pans held together with hairnets.
“I think I hired her out of my own admiration for Gladys Olmhuby,” he reflected in his 2023 memoir, “I’m Laughing at My Life in Comedy.” He humorously added that the hairnets and rolling stockings intrigued him. One of his favorite lines from Gladys was how her office Christmas party day led to her being sent home early.
Gladys famously wielded her wallet as a weapon, using it against those who annoyed her, often shocking them with it. On “Laugh-In,” her prime target was Arte Johnson’s sleazy old man character, Tyrone F. Horneigh.
“Gladys embodies the often ignored, oppressed, and fighting spirit,” Buzzi said in a 2018 interview with the Connecticut Post.
Buzzi also performed at the Dean Martin Celebrity Roast in Las Vegas, humorously slapping her wallet against the heads of Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Lucille Ball.
“Ruth Buzzi infused unparalleled energy and charm into her comedic roles, leaving a mark with both ‘Laugh-In’ and the Dean Martin roasts,” stated one of her colleagues.
Other recurring roles on “Laugh-In” included characters like Flicker Farkle, Busy-Buzzi, and Doris Swisler, who was often inebriated alongside her husband Leonard, portrayed by Dick Martin. She was also known as a caring flight attendant.
“I never took my job for granted; I didn’t think I deserved special treatment or more recognition than others,” Buzzi told the Connecticut Post. “I was always thrilled to drive to NBC every day as a hired actor with a job.”
Buzzi maintained friendships with her “Laugh-In” co-stars Lil Tomlin and Jo Anne Worley for many years.
From cheerleading to the stage
Born in Westerly, Rhode Island, on July 24, 1936, Ruth Anne Buzzi was the daughter of Angelo Buzzi, who was a well-known stone sculptor. Her family operated Buzzi Memorials, a gravestone manufacturing business in Stonington, Connecticut, where she excelled as a high school cheerleader.
At 17, Buzzi began her training at the Pasadena Playhouse. Two years later, she toured with singer Rudy Vallee in a music and comedy act during summer breaks. Before completing her studies at Playhouse’s College of Theatre and Arts, she earned her Equity Union Card for Actors.
She then moved to New York, quickly landing leading roles in Off-Broadway musicals.
Buzzi got her big break on national television with “The Garry Moore Show” in 1964, shortly after Carol Burnett was succeeded by Dorothy Loudon in that series. In that comedy, she played Shakundara the Silent, serving as an assistant to the magician character played by Dom DeLuiz.
She was a regular on CBS’s variety show “The Entertainers,” which featured hosts like Burnett and Bob Newhart.
In 1966, she participated in the original Broadway cast alongside Gwen Verdon.
Buzzi toured the nation with various nightclub acts, and she also appeared in Las Vegas.
She was a recurring character on “That Girl,” where she played a friend to Marlo Thomas, and starred alongside Jim Nabors in “The Lost Saucer,” a time-traveling series in the mid-1970s.
Her guest appearances spanned a wide range of shows hosted by personalities like Burnett, Flip Wilson, Glenn Campbell, Tony Orlando, and Marie Osmond.
She also had a role in Lucille Ball’s last sitcom, “Life With Lucy.”
Buzzi appeared in music videos alongside performers like “Weird Al” Yankovic and the B-52s, even making an appearance with the President of the United States.
Over her career, she lent her voice to numerous animated series such as “Pound Puppies,” “The Berenstain Bears,” “The Smurfs,” and “Angry Beavers.”
She earned nominations during her six-year stint as shopkeeper Lucy on “Sesame Street.”
Her film credits encompass titles like “Freaky Friday,” “Chu Chu and the Philly Flash,” “The North Avenue Irregulars,” and “The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again.”
Buzzi was active on social media, often stating that she had never pretended to be ironic and commented on how everything is essentially made up of neurons, protons, and electrons.
She married actor Perkins in 1978.
The couple relocated from California to Texas in 2003, acquiring a 640-acre ranch near Stephenville.
Buzzi stepped back from acting in 2021, but later dealt with a series of strokes in 2022. Her husband informed the Dallas Morning News in 2023 that she was suffering from dementia.
