Ruth Buzzi, ‘Laugh-In’ comedy sketch player, dies at 88 in Texas

Ruth Buzzi in Photo courtesy of https riheritagehalloffame com ruth-buzzi Ruth Buzzi best known for her portrayal of the frumpy cane-swinging Gladys Ormphby on the iconic sketch comedy series Rowan Martin s Laugh-In has died at age her family stated Friday Buzzi died peacefully in her sleep at her home near Fort Worth Texas from complications related to Alzheimer s malady according to a Facebook post from her family In July her husband actor Kent Perkins shared that she was incapacitated following a series of strokes Shortly before her death Perkins posted a message on her Facebook page thanking fans and saying She wants you to know she seemingly had more fun doing those shows than you had watching them Perkins stated Buzzi was in hospice care for several years She was warm loving and funny a great person who was considered a family member her longtime agent Mike Eisenstadt advised City News Organization Buzzi was one of producer George Schlatter s first hires for Rowan Martin s Laugh-In in and remained with the show throughout its run until March She portrayed a variety of characters including Doris Swizzle gossip columnist Busy Buzzi prostitute Kim Hither and silent film star Laverne Blossom However it was her role as the cane-wielding Ormphby that became her signature The character often sat on a park bench where the character Tyrone F Horneigh played by Arte Johnson would approach with a suggestive comment She would fleetly respond by smacking him with her handbag Buzzi brought her act to the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts in Las Vegas where she famously swung her handbag at stars including Frank Sinatra Dean Martin and Lucille Ball She also reprised her role as Ormphby in Weird Al Yankovic s music video Gump Buzzi won a Golden Globe and received five Emmy nominations during her run on Laugh-In So plenty of people ask me to hit them with my purse Buzzi reported the Post-Journal a Jamestown New York publication in In fact a limited years ago we were at a Beverly Hills party and in walked Elton John He at once made his way over to me and noted For God s sakes Ruth please hit me with your purse That s been on my bucket list for years Buzzi was born on July in Westerly Rhode Island and grew up in Connecticut When she was years old Buzzi began studying at the Pasadena Playhouse Two years later she joined singer Rudy Vallee on tour in a musical- comedy act which led to her earning her Actors Equity card before completing her studies at the Playhouse s College of Theatre Arts Buzzi got her first national TV break in on The Garry Moore Show appearing as a clumsy magician s assistant to Dom DeLuise s character She also appeared regularly on the CBS variety series The Entertainers which featured hosts including Carol Burnett and Bob Newhart In she joined the original Broadway cast of Sweet Charity Buzzi also appeared in several films including Freaky Friday in The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again in The Villain in and Chu Chu and the Philly Flash in In Buzzi joined Sesame Street as shopkeeper Ruthie and later voiced additional characters appearing in various Sesame Street specials and the feature film The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland Buzzi kept working until and stayed functioning in the community eye through her Twitter account where she shared one-liners with more than followers She is survived by her husband whom she married in December The couple moved out of Hollywood years ago to settle on a ranch in Texas Living in the beauty and solitude of this ranch is the perfect way to unwind from a hectic career and the hustle and bustle of Hollywood Buzzi narrated the Post-Journal Perkins wrote on social media in I am living with an attitude of gratitude for years of marriage to my best friend the greatest person I ever met the one and only Ruth Buzzi He added Her love for others knows no bounds and she has spent a lifetime making people smile In lieu of flowers her family requested that donations be made to Alzheimer s research at www alz org Updated at a m May City News Function