Actress and Comedy Legend Ruth Buzzi Dies at 88

Ruth Buzzi, the Emmy-nominated actress and beloved comedian best known for her role on Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, has died at the age of 88. Her family announced her passing in a Facebook post, stating she died peacefully in her sleep at her Texas home after being in hospice care with Alzheimer’s disease for several years. Her death was confirmed by her representative, citing complications from the disease. Funeral arrangements will be handled by Lacy Funeral Home in Stephenville, Texas.

Buzzi rose to fame on Laugh-In (1968–1973), where she played several characters including the iconic Gladys Ormphby, known for whacking people with her purse. “So many people ask me to hit them with my purse,” she joked in a 2016 interview, recalling even Elton John once made the request at a party.

Born in 1936 in Westerly, Rhode Island, Buzzi began performing in New York at 19 and made her TV debut on The Garry Moore Show in 1964. She later appeared in The Entertainers, The Monkees, and Love, American Style. In addition to her work on Laugh-In, she was featured on The Carol Burnett Show, The Dean Martin Show, and voiced Mama Bear in the 1985 animated Berenstain Bears series. Her final acting role was in the 2021 film One Month Out.

In 2022, Buzzi suffered multiple strokes, prompting her husband of 43 years, Kent Perkins, to step away from public life to care for her. He continued updating fans through her social media, most recently sharing a message of thanks from Ruth after her passing.

In a tribute, National Comedy Center Executive Director Journey Gunderson praised Buzzi’s legacy: “Her characters, especially the unforgettable Gladys Ormphby, captured the delightful absurdity of the era. We remember her with admiration and appreciation for the joy and laughter she brought to generations of fans.”

In lieu of flowers, her family asks that donations be made to Alzheimer’s research at alz.org.