Ruth Buzzi, the beloved comic and actress greatest recognized for her function because the purse-wielding spinster Gladys Ormphby on Rowan & Martin’s Snicker-In, handed away on Could 1, 2025, at her house close to Fort Price, Texas. She was 88. Her dying was attributed to problems from Alzheimer’s illness, which she had been battling for over a decade, with extra well being challenges following a sequence of strokes in 2022 that left her bedridden. Her household introduced her passing on her official Fb web page, noting she died peacefully in her sleep whereas in hospice care.
Profession Highlights
Born on July 24, 1936, in Westerly, Rhode Island, Buzzi started her profession in comedy and musical revues, learning on the Pasadena Playhouse at age 17 alongside future stars like Dustin Hoffman and Gene Hackman. She gained early recognition on The Garry Moore Present (1964) and appeared within the unique Broadway manufacturing of Candy Charity (1966). Her breakout got here with Snicker-In (1968–1973), the place she was the one solid member to seem in all six seasons, together with the pilot.
Buzzi’s iconic Gladys Ormphby, a frumpy, hairnet-wearing character who fended off advances from Arte Johnson’s “soiled outdated man” Tyrone F. Horneigh together with her purse, turned a cultural touchstone, incomes her a Golden Globe in 1973 and three of her 5 profession Emmy nominations. She described Gladys as an emblem of the “neglected” and “downtrodden,” resonating with audiences as a comedic but empowering determine. Different Snicker-In characters included gossip columnist Busy-Buzzi, cocktail-lounge common Doris Swizzler, and Flicker Farkle.
Past Snicker-In, Buzzi was a prolific performer:
- Tv: She appeared in over 200 TV reveals, together with That Woman, The Monkees, The Carol Burnett Present, CHiPs, The Love Boat, and seventh Heaven. She was an everyday on Sesame Avenue (1993–2008) as shopkeeper Ruthie and voiced Suzie Kabloozie, incomes two Daytime Emmy nominations.
- Voice Appearing: Buzzi lent her voice to cartoons like Pound Puppies, The Smurfs, Berenstain Bears, and The Indignant Beavers.
- Movie: She had roles in Disney movies like Freaky Friday (1976) and The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Once more (1979), plus Chu Chu and the Philly Flash (1981).
- Different Work: Buzzi was a staple on Dean Martin Superstar Roasts, the place Gladys humorously “attacked” stars like Frank Sinatra and Lucille Ball. She additionally appeared in music movies with “Bizarre Al” Yankovic and carried out in Las Vegas nightclubs.
Legacy and Tributes
Buzzi’s sharp wit and bodily comedy made her a standout in an period when feminine comedians have been uncommon. Her Snicker-In co-stars, together with Goldie Hawn, who referred to as her “my coronary heart by means of life’s ups and downs,” and Nancy Sinatra, who described her as a “comedic genius,” paid heartfelt tributes. Journey Gunderson of the Nationwide Comedy Heart praised her “singular vitality and attraction,” noting Gladys Ormphby’s “pleasant absurdity.”
Buzzi remained energetic on social media, sharing quips like “I’ve by no means faked a sarcasm” till her well being declined. Her husband, Kent Perkins, whom she married in 1978, shared updates on her situation, emphasizing her gratitude for followers. In a ultimate Fb publish earlier than her dying, Perkins conveyed Buzzi’s message that she “most likely had extra enjoyable doing these reveals than you had watching them.”
Private Life and Ultimate Years
Raised in Stonington, Connecticut, Buzzi was the daughter of a stone sculptor and a highschool cheerleader. She married actor Basil Keko from 1965 to 1975 earlier than marrying Perkins. The couple relocated to a 640-acre ranch in Texas in 2003, the place she retired in 2021. Her Alzheimer’s analysis in 2012 and strokes in 2022 restricted her exercise, however she remained engaged with followers by means of Perkins’ updates.
Important Perspective
Buzzi’s enduring enchantment lay in her potential to mix bodily comedy with sharp character work, making Gladys a satirical counterpoint to the Sixties sexual revolution. Whereas some view her as a feminist image for portraying a girl who fought again, others be aware the character leaned on stereotypes of spinsters, reflecting the period’s comedic norms. Her versatility throughout genres—sketch comedy, voice performing, and movie—underscored her expertise, although Snicker-In outlined her legacy. The “curse” of such iconic roles is that they’ll overshadow a performer’s broader contributions, however Buzzi’s in depth résumé and fan adoration show she was excess of Gladys.
Conclusion
Ruth Buzzi’s dying marks the lack of a comedy pioneer whose work on Snicker-In and past introduced laughter to generations. Her household requests donations to Alzheimer’s analysis (https://www.alz.org) in lieu of flowers. For extra on her profession, go to https://www.imdb.com or https://www.nationalcomedycenter.org. In case you’d like particular Snicker-In sketches or particulars about her roles, let me know
