Henry Gibson
Gibson as The Poet onRowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1969)
Born	James Bateman (1935-09-21)September 21, 1935 Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.
Died	September 14, 2009(2009-09-14) (aged 73) Malibu, California, U.S.
Other names	Olsen Gibson
Alma mater	Catholic University of America
Occupations	Actor comedian poet
Years active	1943–2009
Spouse	Lois Joan Geiger ​ ​ (m. 1966; died 2007)​
Children	3, includingCharles Alexander Gibson

James Bateman (September 21, 1935 – September 14, 2009), known professionally asHenry Gibson, was an American actor, comedian and poet. He played roles in the television sketch-comedy seriesRowan & Martin's Laugh-In from 1968 to 1971, was the voice of the protagonist Wilbur in the animated featureCharlotte's Web (1973), portrayed country star Haven Hamilton inRobert Altman's filmNashville (1975), the Illinois Nazi leader inThe Blues Brothers (1980), and appeared inThe 'Burbs (1989). His later film roles included starring inThe Luck of the Irish (2001) and smaller parts as Thurston Howell inMagnolia (1999) and as Father O'Neil inWedding Crashers (2005). His final major acting role was as Judge Clark Brown on the television showBoston Legal, from 2004 to 2008.

Gibson was born September 21, 1935, inGermantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania.^[1] After graduating from theCatholic University of America in Washington, D.C., he served as an intelligence officer in theUnited States Air Force with the66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing in France from 1957 to 1960.^[1] Early in his career as a professional entertainer, he developed a comedy act in which he played a poet fromFairhope, Alabama. He adopted the stage name Henry Gibson, which is asame-sounding phrase for the name of famed Norwegian dramatistHenrik Ibsen.^[1] He also is known to have used the name Olsen Gibson.^[2]

Gibson began his acting career at 8 years old, working as a touring performer for the Mae Desmond Theatre for nine years.^[1] He appeared in many stage and theater productions. Gibson made many appearances onTonight Starring Jack Paar between 1957 and 1962, often reciting his poetry. In 1962, his appearance coincided with guest-hostJerry Lewis. Lewis, charmed by Gibson's demeanor, cast him inThe Nutty Professor (1963). Gibson's career took off following this film appearance.^[1] That was followed in 1964 by his poetry-reciting cowboy character Quirt Manly on the popular showThe Beverly Hillbillies. Around this time, Gibson appeared in an episode ofMy Favorite Martian.

Gibson spent three years as part of theLaugh-In television show's cast, where he was nominated for a Golden Globe in 1971. He often played "The Poet", reciting poems with "sharp satirical or political themes". Gibson would emerge from behind a stage flat, wearing suit and tie and holding an outlandishly large artificial flower. He would bow stiffly from the waist, state "[Title of poem] — by Henry Gibson" in an ironic Southern U.S. accent, again bow stiffly from the waist, recite his poem and return behind the flat.

Gibson's routine was so memorable that guests on the program occasionally performed it, includingJohn Wayne in his own inimitable style: "The Sky — by John Wayne. The Sky is blue/The Grass is green/Get off your butt/And join the Marine(s)!", whereupon Wayne left the scene by smashing through the flat. Gibson regularly appeared in the "Cocktail Party" segments as a Catholic priest, sipping tea. He would put the cup on the saucer, recite his one-liner in a grave and somber tone, then go back to sipping tea.

In 1962, Gibson recorded a comedy album onLiberty Records, titledAlligator. The album was reissued in 1968, now titled...by Henry Gibson, following his success onLaugh-In. The liner notes perpetuated the origin story of being a country boy from Fairhope, Alabama. The album did not reach the Billboard Top 200 in either release. In 1968, Gibson appeared on the television showBewitched as Napoleon Bonaparte. He appeared onBewitched in 1970 as Tim O'Shanter, a leprechaun. Around this time, Gibson made recurring appearances in the 1969–1974 anthologyLove, American Style.

During the 1960s, Gibson had appeared onThe Dick Van Dyke Show reading the poem "Keep a-Goin'", which he later turned into a song in theRobert Altman movieNashville (1975). Notably, he was nominated for aGolden Globe Award for his portrayal of Haven Hamilton in the film and won theNational Society of Film Critics award for the role.^[3] TheNashville Tennessean called Gibson "the male superstar most surely to be in line for an Academy Award" and hailed his performance as being "so real to Music Row habitués as to be frightening."^[4] Gibson appeared in three other films directed by Altman:The Long Goodbye, starringElliott Gould,A Perfect Couple, andHealth.

In 1978, he appeared inThe New Adventures Of Wonder Woman as the arch-villain Mariposa. In 1980, he appeared onThe Dukes of Hazzard as Will Jason (Squirt) in the second-season episode "Find Loretta Lynn". The same year, he played the leader of the "Illinois Nazis" in theJohn Landis filmThe Blues Brothers. This became one of his better-known film roles. In 1981, he appeared inThe Incredible Shrinking Woman. In 1982, he played con man Henry Beemus on "The Love Boat", S6 E11 "A Christmas Presence", which aired December 18, 1982.

In the 1989Joe Dante comedyThe 'Burbs, starringTom Hanks, Gibson played the villain. In 1990, he reunited with director Dante whenGremlins 2: The New Batch was released, performing a cameo as the office worker who is caught taking a smoking break on camera and fired by the sadistic boss. 1996 saw him playing an unusual dramatic role as former train conductor Robinson, in the independent filmColor of a Brisk and Leaping Day withMichael Stipe. In 1996, he was also the voice ofAdolf Eichmann inKeith Gordon's film adaptation ofKurt Vonnegut's novelMother Night. In 1999, Gibson made an appearance inPaul Thomas Anderson'sMagnolia as an eccentric barfly who antagonizes former child prodigy Donnie Smith, played byWilliam H. Macy.

Gibson worked frequently as a voice actor in animation, most notably portraying Wilbur the pig in the popularHanna-Barbera children's movieCharlotte's Web (1973). He later worked for the company again on the cartoonThe Biskitts. Gibson's voice work was featured onThe Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy as Lord Pain,King of the Hill as reporter Bob Jenkins, andRocket Power as grouchy neighbor Merv Stimpleton.

Later television work included a guest role onStar Trek: Deep Space Nine playing the Ferengi Nilva in the 1998 episode "Profit and Lace". Gibson also had a leading role in a season 5 episode ofStargate SG-1 entitled "The Sentinel" as the character Marul. His last major roles were in the 2005 filmWedding Crashers as Father O'Neil, and on the television showBoston Legal as recurring character Judge Clark Brown.

On April 6, 1966, Gibson married Lois Joan Geiger.^[1] They had three sons together – Jonathan David Gibson, an executive atUniversal Pictures;Charles Alexander Gibson, a director and visual effects supervisor; and James Gibson, a screenwriter.^[3][1] Lois died on May 6, 2007, at age 77.^[1][5]

Gibson died of cancer on September 14, 2009.^[1][3] He was cremated atWestwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery.

• The Alligator (1962)^[1]
• The Grass Menagerie (1968)^[1]

• A Flower Child's Garden of Verses (1970)^[1]

Wikimedia Commons has media related toHenry Gibson.

• Henry Gibson atIMDb
• Obituary at theDaily Telegraph

• 1935 births
• 2009 deaths
• 20th-century American comedians
• 20th-century American male actors
• 21st-century American comedians
• 21st-century American male actors
• American male comedians
• American male film actors
• American male musical theatre actors
• American male poets
• American male television actors
• American male voice actors
• American people of Dutch descent
• American people of English descent
• American people of German descent
• American people of Irish descent
• American sketch comedians
• American tenors
• Catholic University of America alumni
• Comedians from Philadelphia
• Deaths from cancer in California
• Male actors from Greater Los Angeles
• Male actors from Philadelphia
• St. Joseph's Preparatory School alumni
• United States Air Force officers

• All articles with dead external links
• Articles with dead external links from November 2025
• Use American English from October 2024
• All Wikipedia articles written in American English
• Articles with short description
• Short description matches Wikidata
• Use mdy dates from October 2024
• Articles with hCards
• Commons category link is on Wikidata