Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In star Ruth Buzzi died on Thursday (May 1). She was 88.
According to a May 2 post on her Facebook page, Buzzi passed away “peacefully in her sleep at home in Texas,” and “was in hospice care for several years with Alzheimer’s disease.” Per TheWrap, she was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s in 2012.
Her husband, Kent Perkins, had taken to her Facebook account in 2022 to share that she had suffered “devastating strokes” that had “left her bedridden and incapacitated” at the time, per The Hollywood Reporter.
Buzzi was best known for her work on Laugh-In, appearing in every episode of the series across its six seasons, per Deadline. The sketch comedy series saw Buzzi take on various roles, including Gladys Ormphby, Doris Swizzle, and Busy Buzzi. She even performed as Gladys in two episodes of The Dean Martin Show in the 70s. Her work on Laugh-In earned her a Golden Globe and two Emmy nominations, per the Associated Press. According to the outlet, she also boasted her comedic chops on the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts.
Prior to this gig, she appeared on TV in The Garry Moore Show and The Entertainers, as well as in Sweet Charity on Broadway, per The Hollywood Reporter.
She also found work on Sesame Street, appearing in 86 episodes in addition to series specials. Among Buzzi’s long list of TV cameos were Alice, Days of Our Lives, The Love Boat, Saved by the Bell, 7th Heaven, and Passions.
In addition to appearing on-screen, she also earned a slew of voice credits over the course of her career in both TV and film, including Linus the Lionhearted, The Rescuers (1977), Paw Paws, The Beranstain Bears, Pound Puppies, The Smurfs, The Addams Family, and The Pink Panther.
Buzzi, earned her most recent acting credit in John Schneider‘s 2021 drama One Month Out, grew up in Connecticut, but was born on July 24, 1932 in Westerly, RI.
Nancy Sinatra, daughter of the late Frank Sinatra, praised Buzzi as a “comedic genius” in a tribute on X on Friday.
“Working alongside her on Laugh-In was the most fun I ever had working,” she wrote. “I treasured her friendship and I am heartbroken to wake up to the news that she is gone. I love you, Ruthie. Godspeed, old friend. Sending condolences to her husband Kent and to all who loved her. Remembering happy times with Ruthie, as well as @goldiehawn, Teresa Graves, and Joanne Worley on Laugh-In.”
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