Beloved comedic actress Ruth Buzzi, best known for her iconic role as the feisty Gladys Ormphby on the groundbreaking sketch show “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In,” has passed away at the age of 88. Her agent confirmed her death, which occurred Thursday at her Texas home, leaving a void in the world of comedy.
Ms. Buzzi had been bravely battling Alzheimer’s disease and was under hospice care in her final days. Her husband, Kent Perkins, shared her fond sentiments with fans via social media, relaying her belief that “she probably had more fun doing those shows than you had watching them,” a touching reflection of her lifelong passion for performance and the joy she derived from making others laugh.
Her passing marks the end of an era for a performer who left an indelible mark on American television, from groundbreaking variety shows to beloved children’s programming. This retrospective examines the multifaceted career of an actress who, with her distinctive characters and precise comedic timing, secured a lasting place in the annals of entertainment history.
1. **The Iconic Gladys Ormphby: A Weaponized Purse and Social Commentary**
Gladys Ormphby, with her signature drab attire, hairnet, and a handbag ready for action, was Ruth Buzzi’s most unforgettable creation, a character who charmed audiences with her perpetually grumpy yet somehow endearing demeanor. The distinctive way Gladys wielded her handbag as a weapon against anyone who dared to provoke her caught the eye of “Laugh-In” creator George Schlatter, who humorously admitted in his memoir “Still Laughing: A Life in Comedy” that “the hairnet and the rolled-down stockings did light my fire,” highlighting the character’s unique appeal.
On “Laugh-In,” Gladys’s most frequent foil was Arte Johnson’s character, Tyrone F. Horneigh, a lecherous old man who would sidle up to Gladys on a park bench, mumbling suggestive remarks. Invariably, Gladys would respond by delivering a swift, decisive whack with her purse, a recurring gag that became synonymous with the show. Though appearing dangerous, the handbag was, in fact, filled with soft materials like old pantyhose and cotton to ensure no harm was done during the physical comedy.
Beyond the immediate humor, Ms. Buzzi explained that Gladys truly represented something deeper, telling The Connecticut Post in 2018, “Gladys embodies the overlooked, the downtrodden, the taken for granted, the struggler.” She further elaborated on Gladys’s cathartic retaliation, stating, “she speaks for everyone who’s been marginalized, reduced to a sex object or otherwise abused. And that’s almost everyone at some time or other,” a sentiment that resonated with a wide audience and led to her character’s iconic status, even inspiring requests from Elton John and an appearance in a “Weird Al” Yankovic music video.
2. **Early Life and Artistic Foundations: From Rhode Island to Pasadena Playhouse**
Born Ruth Ann Buzzi on July 24, 1936, in Westerly, Rhode Island, her early life was rooted in a family with a strong artistic and vocational tradition. Her father, Angelo Buzzi, was a nationally recognized stone sculptor, and both he and her brother later operated Buzzi Memorials, a gravestone and monument-making business situated in Stonington, Connecticut. This background provided a unique blend of artistry and grounded practicality for her formative years.
During her high school years in Stonington, Ms. Buzzi’s natural charisma shone as head cheerleader, a role that seemed to foreshadow her future as a captivating performer. Her comedic talent first blossomed in a dance class where, after struggling with traditional ballet, her instructor suggested a “funny ballet,” and her delightfully quirky performance was a “big hit,” setting her on a path of embracing “funny dances and funny this and funny that through high school.”
At the tender age of 17, Ms. Buzzi demonstrated her ambitious spirit by enrolling in the prestigious Pasadena Playhouse College of Theatre Arts, a significant move across the country. There, she honed her theatrical skills alongside future luminaries such as Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman. Two years later, during a summer break, she toured with singer Rudy Vallee in a musical and comedy act, an experience that earned her an Actors’ Equity union card even before her graduation from the playhouse.
3. **Formative Years in New York: Off-Broadway and Early Television Successes**
Following her graduation from the Pasadena Playhouse, Ruth Buzzi made the decisive move to New York City, where her talents were immediately recognized. She was swiftly cast in a lead role in an off-Broadway musical revue, marking the beginning of a prolific period where she performed in 19 such shows across the East Coast. During this time, she also cultivated a comedy act with Dom DeLuise, with Mr. DeLuise playing the incompetent magician Dominic the Great and Ms. Buzzi his assistant, Shakuntala.
Her national television breakthrough arrived in 1964 with an appearance on “The Garry Moore Show,” a significant opportunity that came shortly after Carol Burnett was succeeded by Dorothy Loudon on the series. On this platform, Ms. Buzzi showcased her knack for physical comedy and character work as Shakundala the Silent, the bumbling assistant to Mr. DeLuise’s character. Her abilities quickly led to further television engagements, including a regular role on the CBS variety show “The Entertainers,” which featured hosts such as Ms. Burnett and Bob Newhart.
During her early career, Ms. Buzzi also had a notable role playing the secretary Agnes Gooch in a Pennsylvania production of “Auntie Mame.” In this portrayal, she deliberately emphasized the character’s “schlumpiness,” a comedic choice that would later serve as a foundational template for the distinctive demeanor and appearance of her most famous character, Gladys Ormphby, demonstrating her early grasp of character development and physical humor.
4. **A Star on Broadway: The Original Cast of “Sweet Charity”**
In 1966, Ruth Buzzi achieved a significant milestone in her career by joining the original Broadway cast of the Bob Fosse and Neil Simon musical comedy “Sweet Charity.” This production, starring the acclaimed Gwen Verdon, marked Ms. Buzzi’s sole turn on the Main Stem, where she held roles as “Woman With Hat” and “Receptionist.” Her participation in this highly anticipated and critically successful show placed her firmly within the elite circle of Broadway performers of the era.
Ms. Buzzi often spoke of her early career with great fondness, recalling in an archival interview shared on the “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In” YouTube page, “I thought I had made it to the top. I was just so happy in that show.” However, her contentment with her Broadway role was soon to be challenged by an exciting offer from the burgeoning field of television, leading to a pivotal career shift.
This call presented a pivotal choice: remain with her beloved Broadway production or seize a potentially career-defining television role. The “Steve Allen Comedy Hour” was intended as a summer replacement for “The Smothers Brothers” and sought someone to perform opposite Jayne Meadows. Ms. Buzzi consulted with Bob Fosse and Gwen Verdon, who, recognizing the significance of the television series opportunity, encouraged her, saying, “Do you think you should go? That sounds fabulous, a series, a 10-week series!” She ultimately accepted the offer, but only after securing a promise from Fosse and Verdon that she could return to “Sweet Charity” upon completing her commitment in California.
5. **Discovery and Genesis of “Laugh-In”: George Schlatter’s Vision**
Ruth Buzzi’s pathway to the groundbreaking “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In” began during her engagement on “The Steve Allen Comedy Hour.” While working on that summer replacement program in 1967, she was approached by producers looking to cast for the new sketch comedy series. Intriguingly, her recommendation for the role came from an agent whom she had previously dismissed while she was working in New York, highlighting the unexpected turns her career sometimes took.
Her audition for “Laugh-In” co-creator and executive producer George Schlatter was anything but conventional. Instead of presenting typical glossy 8-by-10 headshots, Ms. Buzzi famously showed him photographs of herself in her Gladys Ormphby costume, notably sitting in a wire mesh trash barrel. This unusual and visually striking introduction immediately captured Mr. Schlatter’s attention, demonstrating her unique approach to comedic presentation.
Mr. Schlatter, in his memoir, vividly recalled his strong reaction to this initial encounter, stating, “I think I hired her because of my passion for Gladys Ormphby.” He further elaborated on the character’s allure, mentioning that “the hairnet and the rolled-down stockings did light my fire.” Ms. Buzzi herself recognized the synergy between her style and the show’s format, noting that she felt she was a “good fit” for “Laugh-In” due to her extensive experience with the revue-style performances from her years in New York.
6. **The Enduring Legacy of “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In”: A Cultural Phenomenon**”
“Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In” debuted as a special in 1967 before its official series run from 1968 to 1973, swiftly becoming one of television’s most iconic and culturally significant sketch comedy series. The show, hosted by Dan Rowan and Dick Martin, was a groundbreaking blend of rapid-fire jokes, visual gags, and political satire, aiming to be relevant to the rapidly changing times of the 1960s. Ruth Buzzi was an integral part of this phenomenon, notably being the only regular cast member to appear in all six seasons, including the pilot episode, a testament to her consistent impact and popularity.
“Laugh-In” played a pivotal role in launching the careers of many comedic talents who would go on to achieve widespread fame, including Goldie Hawn, Lily Tomlin, Jo Anne Worley, and Judy Carne. Among this ensemble of burgeoning stars, Ms. Buzzi was an immediate standout. George Schlatter characterized the show as “a moment of utopian TV,” emphasizing that “it was a collection of an enormous group of people who were very talented, dedicated, and outrageous at a time when outrageousness was coming into vogue.”
While a television critic in 2018 noted that the show “seen from today, it looks a little behind its time, a 1950s person’s version of the 1960s,” the cultural impact of “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In” was immense, popularizing iconic catchphrases like “Sock it to me” and pioneering a fast-paced, non-sequitur comedic style that influenced generations of television programming, with Ms. Buzzi and the ensemble cast genuinely “thought funny, and knew how to have a nice time working together.”
7. **Beyond Gladys: Buzzi’s Multifaceted Characters on “Laugh-In”**
Although Gladys Ormphby became Ruth Buzzi’s most recognizable and celebrated character on “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In,” her comedic talents were far more expansive than this single role. Over her six seasons on the show, Ms. Buzzi skillfully portrayed a wide spectrum of characters, each adding a unique flavor to the series’ humor and demonstrating her remarkable versatility as a performer.
Among her other recurring characters, Ms. Buzzi was known for Flicker Farkle, portrayed as the youngest child within the show’s fictional Farkle Family. She also played Busy-Buzzi, a Hollywood gossip columnist, satirizing the often-frenetic and superficial world of celebrity news. Another memorable character was Doris Swizzler, a cocktail-lounge regular who frequently indulged in excessive drinking alongside her on-screen husband, Leonard, who was played by Dick Martin, one of the show’s co-hosts.
Ms. Buzzi also pioneered the role of an inconsiderate flight attendant on “Laugh-In,” a character type that would later become a comedic staple in popular culture, notably years before David Spade’s similar portrayal on “Saturday Night Live.” These various roles, though not as universally known as Gladys Ormphby, collectively demonstrated Ms. Buzzi’s profound talent for character acting and her ability to craft distinct, memorable personas that resonated with audiences.
8. **Extensive Guest Appearances Across Television**
Ruth Buzzi’s career extended far beyond the confines of “Laugh-In,” marked by a remarkable breadth of guest appearances across the television landscape. Her versatility allowed her to seamlessly transition from sketch comedy to a wide array of variety shows, where her distinctive comedic presence was a welcome addition. She graced the stages of programs hosted by some of the biggest names in entertainment, including multiple appearances on “The Carol Burnett Show,” “The Flip Wilson Show,” “The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour,” “The Tony Orlando and Dawn Show,” “Donny & Marie,” and “The Leslie Uggams Show.” This constant demand underscored her reputation as a reliable and engaging performer capable of connecting with diverse audiences.
A notable recurring engagement for Ms. Buzzi was on the “Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts,” where she humorously reprised her famous Gladys Ormphby persona. In these memorable appearances, she delighted audiences by playfully wielding her purse as a weapon, famously delivering comical blows to the heads of entertainment legends such as Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, and Lucille Ball. These guest spots showcased her ability to adapt her iconic character to different comedic formats, demonstrating her enduring appeal and quick wit, often to the uproarious enjoyment of both the celebrity panel and viewers at home.
Beyond variety shows, Ms. Buzzi also held a semi-regular role on the popular 1960s sitcom “That Girl,” where she appeared as Margie “Pete” Peterson, a friend to Marlo Thomas’s lead character. Her dramatic and comedic range also saw her make guest appearances on other beloved series, including “The Love Boat.” Notably, she also featured in Lucille Ball’s final comedy series, “Life With Lucy,” marking a poignant collaboration between two comedic titans. In later years, she introduced herself to new generations of viewers with roles such as Screech Powers’ mom, Roberta, in “Saved By The Bell,” and even reunited with “Laugh-In” costars Jo Anne Worley and Gary Owens for an episode of “Sabrina the Teenage Witch,” showcasing her enduring presence in popular culture across several decades.
9. **Ventures into Educational Television: “Sesame Street”**
Ruth Buzzi’s commitment to entertainment transcended pure comedy, extending significantly into the realm of educational television, most notably through her impactful tenure on “Sesame Street.” From 1993 to 2008, Ms. Buzzi became a beloved figure to millions of young viewers as Ruthie, the friendly and engaging proprietor of the Finders Keepers store. Her character offered a warm, welcoming presence on the acclaimed children’s series, embodying the show’s core values of learning and community. This role was a testament to her versatile acting skills, allowing her to convey warmth and gentle humor suitable for a younger audience, a distinct departure from her more boisterous comedic roles.
Her dedication and talent in this capacity did not go unnoticed, earning her an Emmy nomination for her six-year run as the shopkeeper Ruthie. This recognition underscored the quality of her performance and her significant contribution to the educational landscape of children’s programming. The character of Ruthie resonated deeply with families, providing both entertainment and gentle lessons, solidifying Ms. Buzzi’s place as an influential figure in children’s media.
In addition to her groundbreaking television work, Ms. Buzzi also enriched the beloved children’s program “Sesame Street” by lending her distinctive voice to the character of Suzie Kabloozie, bringing joy and imagination to young viewers. She further extended her beloved presence within the “Sesame Street” universe by reprising her role as Ruthie in the 1999 film “The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland,” connecting with a new generation of fans on the big screen.
10. **A Prolific Voice Actress: Animation Credits**
Beyond her on-screen presence, Ruth Buzzi was a remarkably prolific and versatile voice actress, lending her distinctive vocal talents to a myriad of animated series. Her ability to craft unique voices brought countless characters to life, making her a sought-after talent in the animation industry for decades. She contributed to hundreds of guest voices across various cartoon series, a testament to her boundless creativity and adaptability. Her voice work allowed her to explore an entirely different dimension of character development, creating personas solely through sound.
Throughout the 1980s, Ms. Buzzi became a familiar voice in beloved animated classics. She played significant roles in “Pound Puppies,” “Berenstain Bears,” and “The Smurfs,” becoming an integral part of the Saturday morning cartoon landscape. Her contributions helped shape the childhoods of many, providing the vocal foundations for characters that were both entertaining and often imparting subtle moral lessons, aligning with the quality standards of children’s programming.
As her career continued into the 1990s, her voice acting portfolio expanded further to include shows such as “The Pink Panther” and “Cro,” along with “The Angry Beavers.” Earlier in her career, she also voiced Granny Goodwitch on the cartoon “Linus! The Lion Hearted,” showcasing her long-standing involvement in the animated world. These roles demonstrated her extensive range, from sweet and nurturing to comical and eccentric, ensuring her legacy as a significant figure in voice acting.
Ruth Buzzi’s remarkable career, from her early theatrical success and iconic sketch comedy to her impactful voice work and contributions to children’s television, truly showcases a singular talent whose comedic genius left an indelible mark on American entertainment. Her unwavering dedication to her craft and her ability to evoke both hearty laughter and heartfelt connection created a legacy that will be cherished for years to come, reminding us that she was so much more than just Gladys Ormphby; she was a performer dedicated to brightening the world through laughter and entertainment.
