Comedy Icon Ruth Buzzi Dies at 88
Ruth Buzzi, the beloved comedian best known for her unforgettable portrayal of the purse-swinging Gladys Ormphby on Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, has died at the age of 88. She passed away peacefully in her sleep on May 1, 2025, at her home in Stephenville, Texas, after a prolonged battle with Alzheimer’s disease. Buzzi had been in hospice care for several years following multiple strokes in 2022.
A trailblazer in sketch comedy, Buzzi’s portrayal of Gladys—an eccentric spinster who famously fended off lecherous advances with her handbag—became an emblem of subtle feminist defiance during the cultural upheavals of the late 1960s and early 1970s.
Born in Westerly, Rhode Island, in 1936, Buzzi’s remarkable career spanned more than six decades and included roles across television, film, stage, and voice acting. She earned a Golden Globe and several Emmy nominations for her work on Laugh-In and was a familiar face on classic programs such as Sesame Street, The Dean Martin Show, and The Love Boat.
Offscreen, Buzzi was known for her philanthropy and artistic endeavors. She is survived by her husband, Kent Perkins.
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