Ruth Buzzi, the comedic actress best known for her role as Gladys Ormphby on “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In,” passed away on May 1, 2025. She was 88. Buzzi’s longtime representative, Mike Eisenstadt, confirmed her death, stating she passed away peacefully at her home near Fort Worth, Texas.
According to her family and her representatives, Buzzi died of complications related to Alzheimer’s disease. She had been in hospice care for several years. The news was also shared in a post on her official Facebook page. Hours before her passing, her husband, Kent Perkins, posted a message on her Facebook page.
It read, “This is Ruth Buzzi’s husband writing on her page. She asked me to thank all of you for being so good to her for so many years. […] Because of health issues, she’s [sic] must withdraw from writing, but she will still be reading and enjoying your posts.”
Fans were encouraged to post their memories and photos in the comments. “If you’ve met Ruthie and had a picture taken with her, please post it below. If you have a great memory from her career that you enjoyed — a special comedy sketch, or a moment that made you laugh — share that with us,” the post continued. “Ruthie loves you.”
Later that day, another update confirmed her death, noting that Buzzi had passed away in her sleep. Lacy Funeral Home in Stephenville, Texas would handle funeral arrangements. Her family requested donations to the Alzheimer’s Association in lieu of flowers.
In July 2022, Perkins had revealed that Buzzi was “bedridden and incapacitated” after suffering a series of strokes. Following her passing, tributes poured in from fans and former colleagues. The “Sesame Street” remembered her warmly, saying she had brought joy, wit, and warmth to the program and beyond, and would always be considered a special part of their “neighborhood.”
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Goldie Hawn, her co-star on “Laugh-In,” posted a black-and-white photo of herself with Buzzi and expressed deep sadness over her passing. She described their friendship as one that had spanned years of daily conversations and shared laughter, recalling how Buzzi could make her laugh like no one else.
Hawn called her a “one of a kind [sic] soul” and said those joyful laughs they shared during the filming of “Laugh-In” would always stay with her. She ended the post with a heartfelt message: “I love you. Wishing you peace and beautiful travels in the arms of the angels. ❤️”
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Journey Gunderson, executive director of the National Comedy Center, also mourned the loss. He said Buzzi’s charm and energy had made her a standout in sketch comedy. Gunderson highlighted Ormphby as a character who perfectly captured the absurdity of the era and praised the enduring joy Buzzi brought to generations of fans.
Buzzi joined “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In” in 1967 and remained on the show through its conclusion in 1973. Among her many comedic personas, Ormphby stood out. The character often appeared on a park bench fending off the lecherous advances of Tyrone F. Horneigh, played by Arte Johnson, with a swift swing of her handbag.
Though the strikes appeared forceful, the purse was padded with pantyhose and cotton. Ormphby wore brown from head to toe and kept her hair in a bun under a hairnet. The role earned Buzzi three Emmy nominations, one of which came from her appearance on a “Dean Martin Celebrity Roast” in 1974.
She also revived the character in “Weird Al” Yankovic’s 1995 music video for “Gump.” In a 2016 interview, Buzzi shared that her fans often asked to be hit with her purse. She recalled one party in Beverly Hills where Elton John approached her and told her it had been on his bucket list for years to receive a handbag swing from Ormphby.
Buzzi’s career began in regional theater and as part of a comedy duo with Dom DeLuise, where she played Shakuntala, a mute assistant to his bumbling magician act. Buzzi then transitioned to television, appearing on “The Garry Moore Show,” “The Entertainers,” and “Your Show of Shows.”
She later starred in the Broadway musical “Sweet Charity” in 1966, under the direction of Bob Fosse, before being cast on “Laugh-In.” She continued her television work through the 1970s and 1980s. Buzzi co-starred with Jim Nabors in the children’s sci-fi show “The Lost Saucer,” and later portrayed Ruthie, the owner of the Finders Keepers store, on “Sesame Street” in the 1990s.
She voiced the character Suzie Kabloozie and reprised Ruthie in “The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland.” Her additional television appearances included roles in “That Girl,” “Saved by the Bell,” and the Italian Western comedy “Lucky Luke.” Her film credits include “Freaky Friday,” “The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again,” “The Villain,” and “Chu Chu and the Philly Flash.”
Born on July 24, 1936, in Westerly, Rhode Island, Ruth Ann Buzzi was raised in Wequetequock, Connecticut. Her father, Angelo Buzzi, was a nationally recognized stone sculptor. After graduating from Stonington High School, she enrolled at the Pasadena Playhouse at the age of 17, where her classmates included Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman.
She graduated with honors and went on to perform in revues throughout New England before making her way to national television. Buzzi married Perkins, an actor, in December 1978. About 15 years ago, the couple moved to a 600-acre cattle and horse ranch in Erath County, Texas, leaving Hollywood behind.
In a 2016 interview, Buzzi said that Ormphby was “retired, waiting to go to the Smithsonian Museum in a box!” In 2011, voice actor Nancy Cartwright reflected on Buzzi’s influence, sharing in a recorded interview how she used to reenact Ormphby sketches with her brother for family gatherings, even mimicking the voice.
Cartwright credited Buzzi as one of her early inspirations. As tributes continue to pour in and memories are shared by fans and friends alike, Buzzi is remembered not just for her talent but for the characters and laughter she gave to so many. Her legacy left a lasting impression.
Source: news.amomama.com
