Latest news with #KentPerkins
Perth Now
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Perth Now
US comedian and entertainer Ruth Buzzi dead at 88
Ruth Buzzi, who rose to fame as the frumpy and bitter Gladys Ormphby on the groundbreaking sketch US comedy series Laugh-In and made more than 200 television appearances during a 45-year career, has died at age 88. Buzzi died on Thursday at her home in Texas, her agent Mike Eisenstad said. She had been diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease and was in hospice care. Shortly before her death, her husband, Kent Perkins, had posted a statement on Buzzi's Facebook page, thanking her many fans and telling them: "She wants you to know she probably had more fun doing those shows than you had watching them." Buzzi won a Golden Globe and was a two-time Emmy nominee for the NBC show that ran from 1968 to 1973. She was the only regular to appear in all six seasons, including the pilot. Born Ruth Ann Buzzi on July 24, 1936, in Westerly, Rhode Island, she was the daughter of Angelo Buzzi, a nationally known stone sculptor. Her father and later her brother operated Buzzi Memorials, a gravestone and monument maker in Stonington, Connecticut, where she was head cheerleader in high school. Buzzi enrolled at the Pasadena Playhouse at age 17. Two years later, she travelled with singer Rudy Vallee in a musical and comedy act during her summer break. That earned her an Actors' Equity union card before she graduated from the playhouse's College of Theatre Arts. Buzzi moved to New York and was immediately hired for a lead role in an off-Broadway musical revue, the first of 19 such shows she performed in on the East Coast. She was a semi-regular on That Girl as Marlo Thomas' friend. She co-starred with Jim Nabors as time-travelling androids on The Lost Saucer in the mid-1970s. Her other guest appearances included variety shows hosted by Burnett, Flip Wilson, Glen Campbell, Tony Orlando, Donny and Marie Osmond and Leslie Uggams. Buzzi guested in music videos with Weird Al Yankovic, the B-52's and the Presidents of the United States of America. She was Emmy nominated for her six-year run as shopkeeper Ruthie on Sesame Street. Buzzi was active on social media and had thousands of followers whom she rewarded with such one-liners as "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." She married actor Kent Perkins in 1978. The couple moved from California to Texas in 2003 and bought a 260-hectare ranch near Stephenville. Buzzi retired from acting in 2021 and suffered a series of strokes the following year. Her husband told The Dallas Morning News in 2023 that she had dementia.
Express Tribune
02-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Express Tribune
Ruth Buzzi, comedy legend and 'Laugh-In' star, dies at 88
Ruth Buzzi, the actress and comedian best known for her iconic role on the NBC sketch comedy series Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, has passed away at 88. The news was shared by her family through a post on her official Facebook page, revealing that Buzzi died peacefully in her sleep at her home in Texas on Thursday. She had been in hospice care for several years after being diagnosed with Alzheimer's disease. Buzzi's passing marks the end of an era for a performer whose career spanned decades. She was nominated for five Emmys and gained national fame for her appearances on Laugh-In, which aired from 1968 to 1973. Known for her role as Gladys, a character famous for hitting people with her purse, Buzzi's humor and unique delivery made her a household name. She continued to be beloved by fans long after the show ended, often recalling her time on Laugh-In with fondness, calling it "pure spontaneous fun." Buzzi's career extended beyond Laugh-In. She appeared on several other television shows, including The Carol Burnett Show, The Dean Martin Show, and The Monkees. She also lent her voice to characters in animated series such as The Berenstain Bears and Alvin and the Chipmunks. Her contributions to television and comedy left an indelible mark on generations of viewers. In 2023, Buzzi was the victim of a death hoax that left her fans concerned. She had to take to her Facebook page to reassure them that she was, in fact, alive, writing that she was "quite alive, but distressed—unnecessarily." She shared a light-hearted post about having enjoyed breakfast and spending time with her husband, Kent Perkins, and their cats, humorously addressing the rumors that falsely claimed her passing. In a bittersweet moment, Buzzi's husband, Kent Perkins, shared a heartfelt message with her fans shortly before her death, expressing gratitude for the support she had received throughout her career. 'She probably had more fun doing those shows than you had watching them,' he said on Buzzi's Facebook page. Buzzi had been in declining health for several years, suffering strokes in 2022, which had forced her into early retirement. Despite her health issues, she continued to engage with her fans online and was remembered for her warmth and humor. In honor of her legacy, her family has requested donations to Alzheimer's research instead of flowers. Ruth Buzzi's passing is a loss to the comedy world, but her laughter and wit will continue to be cherished by those who knew her work. Buzzi is survived by her husband, Kent Perkins, and many friends and fans who fondly remember her humor and contributions to television.
