Gailard Sartain, Hee Haw And Mississippi Burning Actor, Dies At 81
Last Updated:
Gailard Sartain, known for his roles in Hee Haw, Ernest films, The Buddy Holly Story, and Mississippi Burning, has died at 81.
Veteran actor Gailard Sartain, whose career spanned decades of television, stage, and film, including a 20‑year run on Hee Haw and memorable roles in Spider‑Man and Mississippi Burning, has passed away at the age of 81. His wife of 36 years, Mary Jo Sartain, shared the news with The Hollywood Reporter, saying he died peacefully in his sleep at his home in Tulsa, Oklahoma. 'Actually, he died of silliness," she added.
His friendship with Everybody Loves Raymond star Doris Roberts stood out as one of his most long‑lasting bonds; they lived together until Roberts's death in 2016. She even directed his play Screen Test: Take One, based on his love for soap operas.
Sartain first captured attention on local Tulsa television as Dr. Mazeppa Pompazoidi, he hosted the spooky The Uncanny Film Festival and Camp Meeting—before finding fame on Hee Haw in 1972. He stayed on the show for nearly two decades, playing everything from Orville the cook to rambling clerks.
His film résumé is vast and varied: he debuted in Nashville (1975), portrayed Jerry 'The Big Bopper" Richardson in The Buddy Holly Story (1978), and dabbled in spaghetti Westerns. On TV, audiences loved his cameos on shows like Seinfeld, Frasier, and Friends.
A key turning point came with his chilling depiction of a racist sheriff in Mississippi Burning (1988), a role he felt broke his comedy mold. 'Nobody likes to be typecast as a barefooted hillbilly… that kind of turned things around," he told the Tulsa World in 2017.
Sartain's film career included nine collaborations with director Alan Rudolph (Choose Me, Songwriter, Love at Large, and more), as well as roles under Carl Reiner in The Jerk and All of Me, Francis Ford Coppola in The Outsiders, Stephen Frears in The Grifters, and Michael Mann in Ali.
In the 1980s, he teamed up with Bill Byrge to play Chuck in Hey, Vern, It's Ernest!—a role born from local commercials and later featured in Ernest films like Ernest Goes to Camp, Ernest Saves Christmas, and Ernest Goes to Jail.
He even took on Broadway, starring in Dracula beginning in 1977, and lent his voice to creating Leon Russell's album art in 1975. But by 2005, with Elizabethtown, Sartain quietly stepped away from acting.
Survived by his wife Mary Jo, their three children – Sarah, Esther, and Ben- along with granddaughter Chloe and great‑grandson Teddy, Sartain leaves behind a legacy. The Beverly Hills Playhouse paid tribute to his memory on Instagram, writing: 'There was only ever one like this, and we are the richer for having his presence in our theatre. Rest in peace, Jack."
May his soul rest in peace!
First Published:
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Mint
21 minutes ago
- Mint
Seth Rogen eyes Vin Diesel for The Studio season 2
Washington [US], June 22 (ANI): Seth Rogen, the co-creator and star of the hit Apple TV plus series 'The Studio,' has expressed his desire to have Vin Diesel join the show's second season. In a recent appearance on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Rogen discussed the show's renewal and his enthusiasm for potential guest stars. 'The Studio' has already made a significant impact with its first season, featuring many celebrity cameos, including Charlize Theron, Martin Scorsese, and Zac Efron. The show revolves around Matt Remick, a studio head, and Rogen's character plays a central role in the series. When asked about potential guest stars for season two, Rogen mentioned Vin Diesel as one of the actors he would love to work with. "I think Vin Diesel would be very funny and fun to work with, mostly because if you think about it, he's only in those Fast & Furious movies," Rogen said, as quoted by The Hollywood Reporter. He added that seeing Diesel outside of his iconic role as Dominic Toretto would be exciting, given his strong association with the franchise. Rogen took the opportunity to extend an invitation to Diesel directly during the interview, joking about Diesel's alleged habit of watching Jimmy Kimmel Live! regularly. "I assume you're watching this as you do every night. I assume you're watching it while driving like a 65 Pontiac. If you would please consider, maybe we can organise a Zoom -- and I'll capture your baldness on a hard drive," Rogen said, as quoted by The Hollywood Reporter. With the show's renewal for a second season, fans can expect more celebrity cameos and engaging storylines. (ANI)
Mint
4 hours ago
- Mint
Jennifer Aniston shares surprising career goal, one character she wants to revisit
Washington [US], June 22 (ANI): After nearly four decades in Hollywood, Jennifer Aniston is not slowing down. The 56-year-old actress recently revealed that despite her extensive career, she still hopes to achieve one major goal, making her Broadway debut. In an interview with People magazine, the 'Friends' star shared, "I definitely want to do a Broadway play. That's on my bucket list." The actress, who has garnered numerous accolades including an Emmy, Golden Globe, and SAG Award, elaborated on the challenge: "It's finding the time and the right material, but I absolutely have to do a play on Broadway." For Aniston, who grew up surrounded by the world of entertainment, her father, John Aniston, was an actor, and her mother, Nancy Dow, was also involved in the industry, the aspiration to perform on the stage has been long-standing. She recalled her early experiences, which included performing in Off-Broadway productions before her big break in Hollywood. Despite her massive success on the small and big screens, with iconic roles in shows like 'Friends' and films such as 'Marley & Me' and 'We're the Millers', Aniston is eager to step outside her comfort zone. "The idea of performing in front of a live audience is something I've always wanted to experience," she said, as quoted by People magazine. The actress' latest project is 'The Morning Show', an Apple TV plus series where she stars alongside Reese Witherspoon and Billy Crudup. As a producer on the show, Aniston is also gearing up for the release of its fourth season, scheduled for later this year. In addition to her role on 'The Morning Show', Aniston has several upcoming projects, including the films 'Hail Mary' and a currently untitled project directed by Sophie Goodhart. Looking back at her extensive career, Aniston also expressed interest in revisiting a fan-favourite role. The actress revealed that she would be open to reprising her role in the 'Horrible Bosses' films. The 2011 comedy and its 2014 sequel featured Aniston as the flirtatious dentist, Dr Julia Harris. "I was just talking about this the other day," Aniston said, referring to a recent conversation with co-stars Jason Bateman and Charlie Day. "We all think it would be super fun to revisit those characters. The characters are hilarious, and we need comedy," she said, adding, "I personally think comedy is a necessity, and I think it would be so much fun to see where those crazy cats are today." Fans of the 'Horrible Bosses' franchise have long speculated about a potential third instalment, and with Aniston's enthusiasm about the idea, it seems there may still be hope for the beloved comedic trio's return. Meanwhile, Aniston is awaiting the release of 'The Morning Show' season 4, which is set to debut on Apple TV plus on September 17. (ANI)
Hindustan Times
4 hours ago
- Hindustan Times
Spider-Man vs. antihero Punisher? Marvel's newest crossover might be its most intense yet; everything to know
No matter how much superhero fatigue is out there, Spider-Man always seems to swing above the noise. Tom Holland's take on the web-slinger remains a fan favourite, and now with Spider-Man: Brand New Day officially on the horizon, Marvel and Sony have dropped a major update. There's a new villain in town, and he's a familiar face. Spider-Man and the Punisher Enter: Jon Bernthal. Best known for playing Frank Castle, aka The Punisher, Bernthal has officially joined the upcoming Spider-Man movie, which begins shooting in England this summer and is set to release on July 31, 2026. Destin Daniel Cretton (Shang-Chi and the Legend of the Ten Rings) is directing, and the film will see the return of Zendaya as MJ as well as Jacob Batalon as Ned. Also joining the mix is Stranger Things breakout Sadie Sink. Having Bernthal's Punisher in the mix immediately hints at a grittier tone for the film. Known for his brutal, no-nonsense vigilante justice — fists, knives, and guns over gadgets and spells — the Punisher brings a raw intensity that could challenge Peter Parker in ways we haven't seen on screen before. As one fan said on X, 'There is so much they could do with this! Love to see a fight with Frank combating Peter's superhuman abilities with his tactical knowledge and planning.' Bernthal's Frank Castle first appeared in Netflix's Daredevil before headlining his own two-season series. He recently reprised the role in Daredevil: Born Again, and this new casting puts him squarely back in the MCU spotlight. The internet, of course, has lost it. 'I literally screamed. Best news I've heard in a while,' one fan wrote. Another added, 'Can't believe we're finally going to see the Punisher on screen alongside Spider-Man. It's been a long time coming.' So far, Brand New Day is shaping up to be anything but business as usual. The two stars will also be seen together in Christopher Nolan's upcoming movie adaptation of The Odyssey, which is due to release in July, 2026.
