Who was Ruth Buzzi? Tributes pour in as 'Laugh-In' legend dies at 88

Ruth Buzzi, a trailblazing comedienne best known for her performance as Gladys Ormphby on the NBC sketch comedy program Ryan & Martin's Laugh-In, passed away at the age of 88. She was in care in the comfort of her home in Texas while facing the challenges posed by Alzheimer's disease.

During her four-decade career, she featured on over 200 television programs, won a Golden Globe, was nominated for many Emmys, acted on Broadway, voiced famous animated movies, and had notable on-screen interactions with Dean Martin and Sesame Street.

Ruth Buzzi dies at 88: All we know about her life

Starting in a small New England town, Ruth Buzzi rose to fame as a television comic. As the only actress to appear in all six seasons of Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, she created characters, most notably Gladys Ormphby, the grumpy spinster who smacked would-be suitors with her pocketbook. The character's capacity to resonate across all ages confirmed her legendary place in pop culture's past.

Graduating with honors from the Pasadena Playhouse College of Theatre Arts in 1957, she started her career in summer stock and early television variety shows like The Steve Allen Comedy Hour and The Garry Moore Show. Before she became well-known on television, she displayed her acting ability in 1966 when she joined the original Broadway production of Sweet Charity.

George Schlatter, the creator of Laugh-In, saw Buzzi in a wire-mesh trash can dressed as Gladys Ormphby in an emailed photograph and concluded she had comic ability. He included Ruth Buzzi in the performance; Gladys, who had a hairnet and a purse, became a feminist folk hero by deadpan-flailingly refusing unwanted advances.

Ruth Buzzi was nominated for two Emmys and won a Golden Globe in 1973 with her physicality, timing, and ability to bring humor from suffering. Apart from her Gladys persona, she also played intoxicated nightclub singer Doris Swizzle and gossip writer Busy Buzzi.

Several media sources continued to look for Buzzi after Laugh-In. She worked for some animated series, including The Smurfs, Berenstain Bears, and Pound Puppies. Two Disney movies that used her voice acting skills are Frou-Frou from The Aristocats and German Mouse from The Rescuers. Her latest film part was in the indie film One Month Out (2021); her previous film roles include 1976's Freaky Friday and 1979's The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again. She quit after this.

In addition, she was awarded lifetime accomplishments like the Topaz Award from Women in Film (Dallas) and induction into the Rhode Island Heritage Hall of Fame; she also went on solo nightclub tours and participated in film festival juries.

A succession of strokes in 2022 greatly compromised Buzzi's self-care after her 2012 Alzheimer's disease diagnosis. She looked for hospice care in Stephenville, Texas, at the ranch home where she lived with her actor and rancher husband, Kent Perkins. Her agent, Mike Eisenstadt, and other news outlets said she passed away peacefully in her sleep on May 1, 2025, at the age of 88.

Ruth Buzzi's work linked the counterculture of the 1960s with family entertainment, a turning point in television comedy. Her command of comedy, sarcasm, and a hard middle showed how humor might challenge assumptions. Being the only cast member to stay throughout Laugh-In's whole run, she was vital in creating a road for female comedians in sketch shows and variety programs.

Her passing brings a combination of emotions: nostalgia for a previous era in television history and respect for an actress who remained authentic all through her career. Every tribute emphasizes Ruth Buzzi's genuine generosity, which ensures that even if the enjoyment she created is still felt via reruns and streaming, she will be remembered as a kind mentor and friend as well as a great Laugh-In presenter.

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Divya Burman is a journalist at Primetimer 

She has completed her graduation in English Literature, which fuelled her interest in writing. A curious learner, Divya isn't scared to move out of her comfort zone and reviews her work from a critical point of view.

Divya has multiple years of work experience, including at companies like TechWhoop and Vimana. She also worked as a programme facilitator at MyCaptain.

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