Actor and comedian Henry Gibson died of cancer on September 14, age 73.
Henry played 'Charlie Horse,' the hippie Indian, in the Three Stooges' feature film
THE OUTLAWS IS COMING! (1965). He'll be most remembered for his three seasons on ROWAN & MARTIN'S LAUGH-IN (1968 - 1971). Other prominent roles include NASHVILLE and THE BLUES BROTHERS. The past few years, he had a recurring role on BOSTON LEGAL.
In addition to OUTLAWS, Henry had a recurring role on the 2nd season of THE JOEY BISHOP SHOW (1962 - 1963), and appeared in a couple episodes with Joe Besser.
Before his illness, Mr. Gibson had been invited to the April 2010 Three Stooges Fan Club Meeting, and he was considering the proposal sent to him.
The L.A. Times...
Henry Gibson, original 'Laugh-In' cast member, dies at 73
The veteran actor found fame four decades ago as a meek poet on the landmark comedy show and most recently had a recurring role on 'Boston Legal.' He died after a short battle with cancer.
By Dennis McLellan
2:05 PM PDT, September 16, 2009
Henry Gibson, the veteran character actor who came to fame in the late 1960s as the flower-holding poet on TV's landmark satirical comedy show "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In," has died. He was 73. Gibson died late Monday night after a short battle with cancer at his home in Malibu, said his son, Jon.
Gibson, who more recently played a recurring role as cantankerous Judge Clark Brown on "Boston Legal," was part of the original ensemble cast of "Laugh In," which ran on NBC from 1968 to 1973. The hour-long show, whose original cast included Goldie Hawn, Judy Carne, Ruth Buzzi, Arte Johnson, Jo Anne Worley and others, was an immediate hit. "Henry was an integral part of 'Laugh-In' for a long time, and he was brilliant," said Gary Owens, the show's announcer, who remained close to Gibson over the years. "He was a very funny man."
George Schlatter, the executive producer and creator of "Laugh-In," recalled that when Gibson auditioned for the show, "He came in and did a poem and a full back flip. He said, 'Is that anything?' I said, 'Be here Monday.' " Gibson, Schlatter said, "brought a wonderful warmth and whimsy and a charm to 'Laugh-In.' That went a long way to balance some of the political, satirical and bawdy humor we featured. "Henry was a sweet, gentle man. Any piece we gave to Henry took on a different shape when he read it because he infused his own whimsy and his own gentle intelligence and wit to it."
In the show's famous cocktail party scenes, when the music would stop and each cast member would deliver a funny line, Gibson was a religious figure holding a teacup and saucer. "My congregation supports all denominations," he said on one show, "but our favorites are 20s and 50s." But Gibson was best known as the poet, holding a giant flower and beginning his brief recitations with his signature catchphrase, "A poem, by Henry Gibson." "He wrote all those himself," said Jon Gibson. "It was a point of pride that he only read poems that he himself wrote."
During one of his frequent guest appearances on the show, John Wayne spoofed Gibson by coming around the wall holding a flower and delivering "A poem, by John Wayne." "Roses are red, violets are green," Wayne said, "Get off your butt and join the Marines." Gibson's poems led to two comedy albums, "The Alligator" and "The Grass Menagerie" and the book "Flower Child's Garden of Verses." Looking back on his time on "Laugh-In" in a 1993 interview with The Times, Gibson said, "It was an oasis of laughter and escape."
As an actor, Gibson went on to appear in four films directed by Robert Altman, most notably “Nashville" (1975), in which he played country singer Haven Hamilton, for which he wrote most of his character's songs. Gibson also played an Illinois Nazi in "The Blues Brothers," a menacing neighbor in "The 'Burbs," and a priest in "The Wedding Crashers." He also was the voice of Wilbur the Pig in the animated "Charlotte's Web."
He was born James Bateman on Sept. 21, 1935, in Germantown, Pa., and began acting professionally at age 8 as a touring performer for nine years with the Mae Desmond Theatre. He earned a bachelor's degree in drama from Catholic University. After serving in the Air Force as an intelligence officer with the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing in France from 1957 to '60, he studied at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Art in London.
He was living in New York when he developed his poet character, Henry Gibson, a pun on the name of playwright Heinrick Ibsen. The character led to appearances on "The Tonight Show." He made his feature film debut playing a college student in Jerry Lewis' 1963 comedy "The Nutty Professor."
Gibson also had a small role in Billy Wilder's 1964 comedy "Kiss Me, Stupid." And he made guest appearances on 1960s TV shows such as "The Beverly Hillbillies," "The Dick Van Dyke Show," “My Favorite Martian," "F-Troop" and "Bewitched."
Gibson's wife of more than 40 years, Lois, died in 2007. In addition to his son Jon, he is survived by two other sons, Charles and James; his three sisters, Elizabeth Malloy, Adele Donahue and Mary Lee; and two grandchildren.
A memorial service is pending. Instead of flowers, donations may be made to the Screen Actors Guild Foundation and Friends of the Malibu Public Library.
