Comedy legend Ruth Buzzi, recognized for her portrayal of Gladys Ormphby on “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In,” passed away on May 1 at her Texas home at the age of 88.
According to her agent, Mike Eisenstadt, Buzzi’s death was due to complications from Alzheimer’s disease. She had been in hospice care for several years following her diagnosis and had experienced a series of strokes in 2022 that rendered her bedridden.
Prior to her passing, Buzzi’s husband, Kent Perkins, expressed gratitude to her fans on her Facebook page, quoting her as saying, “She wants you to know she probably had more fun doing those shows than you had watching them.”
Ruth Buzzi was born on July 24, 1936, in Westerly, Rhode Island. Her father, Angelo Buzzi, was a noted stone sculptor. Buzzi grew up in Stonington, Connecticut, where her father managed Buzzi Memorials, a business focused on gravestones and monuments. During high school, she was the head cheerleader.
At 17, Buzzi joined the Pasadena Playhouse, and two years later, she toured with singer Rudy Vallee in a musical comedy act, gaining valuable experience. This tour led to her obtaining an Actors’ Equity union card before graduating from the playhouse’s College of Theater Arts.
After relocating to New York, Buzzi quickly found roles in off-Broadway musical revues and television commercials. Her first national television appearance was on “The Garry Moore Show” in 1964, after Carol Burnett’s departure from the series.
Her career took a pivotal turn when “Laugh-In” creator George Schlatter noticed her performing on “The Steve Allen Comedy Hour.” Schlatter, who was casting for “Laugh-In,” received a picture of Buzzi in her Gladys Ormphby costume, sitting in a wire mesh trash barrel.
Buzzi was the only regular cast member to appear in all six seasons of “Laugh-In,” including the pilot. The NBC show aired from 1968 to 1973, earning her a Golden Globe and two Emmy nominations.
Her character, Gladys Ormphby, known for her hairnet and weaponized purse, became a staple of television comedy. On “Laugh-In,” her frequent target was Arte Johnson’s character Tyrone F. Horneigh.
In a 2018 interview with The Connecticut Post, Buzzi explained that Gladys represented those overlooked in society, stating that her character’s actions spoke for those who had been mistreated.
Beyond “Laugh-In,” Buzzi appeared in over 200 television shows during her 45-year career. She was a semi-regular on “That Girl” and co-starred with Jim Nabors on “The Lost Saucer.”
Buzzi’s television appearances included roles on variety shows hosted by Carol Burnett, Flip Wilson, Glen Campbell, Tony Orlando, Donny and Marie Osmond, and Leslie Uggams. She also appeared on “Life With Lucy.”
She extended her Gladys character to the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts in Las Vegas, where she humorously struck celebrities like Frank Sinatra and Lucille Ball with her purse.
Buzzi also had a successful voice acting career, contributing to animated series such as “Pound Puppies,” “Berenstain Bears,” “The Smurfs,” and “The Angry Beavers.” She earned an Emmy nomination for her role as Ruthie on “Sesame Street.”
Her film credits included “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 until shortly before her death, sharing humorous one-liners with her followers, including, “I have never faked a sarcasm” and “Scientists say the universe is made up entirely of neurons, protons and electrons. They seem to have missed morons.”
In 1978, she married actor Kent Perkins, with whom she spent over 45 years. The couple relocated from California to Texas in 2003, where they purchased a 640-acre ranch near Stephenville. Buzzi retired from acting in 2021.
Journey Gunderson, executive director of the National Comedy Center, remarked on Buzzi’s impact, noting that her characters encapsulated the era’s whimsical nature and that she would be remembered for her contributions to entertainment.
Buzzi is survived by her husband, Kent Perkins. The couple did not have children, which she humorously addressed in a 2015 social media post: “I would have probably had kids, but my cat’s allergic.”
