It sounds like Ruth Buzzi is getting ready to exit stage left. The 88-year-old comedy legend's husband, Kent Perkins, posted this today on
Facebook, double spaces after each sentence and all:
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. She wants you to know she probably had more fun doing those shows than you had watching them. Because of health issues, she’s must withdraw from writing, but she will still be reading and enjoying your posts.
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.
Ruthie loves you.
I have never met the legendary comedienne, but grew up adoring her in dozens of things. (I'm still miffed that her character on "That Girl" didn't last longer!). But the "Laugh-In" legend and I did share a fun moment on the erstwhile Twitter back in the day when I mentioned how tickled I always was to see her headshot -- and hers alone! -- on the wall at the El Pollo Loco on Sunset Boulevard -- and she wrote me back to tell me she gave it to them because she liked to eat there when she was watching her carbs. (There are two El Pollo Locos a tortilla's throw away from each other so I would always call this one the Ruth Buzzi location when meeting friends back in the day -- yes, I'm loco for El Pollo Loco!)
It’s OK, Ruthie. Your fans -- who never knew entertainment with you -- love you.
UPDATE:
Ruth Buzzi, who rose to fame as the frumpy and bitter Gladys Ormphby on the groundbreaking sketch comedy series “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In” and made over 200 television appearances during a 45-year career, has died at age 88.
Buzzi died Thursday at her home in Texas, says her agent Mike Eisenstadt. She had been diagnosed with Alzheimer’s and was in hospice care. 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.
The Gladys character used her purse as a weapon against anyone who bothered her, striking people over the head. On “Laugh-In,” her most frequent target was Arte Johnson’s dirty old man character, Tyrone F. Horneigh.
“So many people ask me to hit them with my purse,” Buzzi told Nick Thomas in 2016. “In fact, a few years ago we were at a Beverly Hills party and in walked Elton John. He immediately made his way over to me and said, ‘For God’s sakes, Ruth, please hit me with your purse. That’s been on my bucket list for years!'”
RIP, funny lady.
P.S. I thought this was the case but when I tried to go through her social media I couldn't find any evidence so began to doubt myself. It's unfortunate, but as my mother often says, "What are ya gonna do?"
