Ruth Buzzi | |
|---|---|
 Buzzi in 1996 | |
| Born | Ruth Ann Buzzi (1936-07-24)July 24, 1936 Westerly, Rhode Island, U.S. |
| Died | May 1, 2025(2025-05-01) (aged 88) Stephenville, Texas, U.S. |
| Resting place | Mount Sinai Memorial Park,Hollywood Hills, Los Angeles, California, U.S. |
| Occupations |
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| Years active | 1956–2021 |
| Spouses | |
Ruth Ann Buzzi (/ˈbʌzi/BUZ-ee; July 24, 1936 – May 1, 2025) was an American actress, singer and comedian. She appeared on stage, in films, and on television. She was best known for her performances on the comedy-variety showRowan & Martin's Laugh-In from 1968 to 1973, for which she won aGolden Globe Award and received fiveEmmy nominations.
Buzzi was born July 24, 1936, inWesterly, Rhode Island,[2] the daughter of Rena Pauline and Angelo Peter Buzzi, a nationally recognized stone sculptor. Her father, who came from a Swiss family, immigrated fromArzo,Switzerland, in 1923.[3][4] She was raised in the village of Wequetequock in the town ofStonington, Connecticut, in a stone house overlooking the ocean atWequetequock Cove, where her father owned Buzzi Memorials, a business that her older brother Harold operated until his retirement in 2013.[5]
Buzzi attendedStonington High School, where she was head cheerleader. At age 18, she moved across the country to enroll at thePasadena Playhouse College of Theatre Arts, where her classmates includedDustin Hoffman andGene Hackman. She graduated with honors in June 1957.[6]
Before graduation from college, Buzzi was already a workingunion actress performing in musical and comedy revues. Her first job in show business was at 19, traveling with singerRudy Vallée in a live musical and comedy act during her summer break from college; it allowed her to graduate with anActors' Equity Association union card. She moved to New York City after graduation and was hired immediately for a lead role in anoff-Broadway musical revue, the first of 19 in which she performed around the East Coast. She worked alongside other young performers just beginning their careers at the time, includingBarbra Streisand,Joan Rivers,Dom DeLuise, andCarol Burnett. She performed in New York musical variety shows, and she made numerous television commercials, some of which won national awards including theClio Award.[7]
Her first national recognition on television came onThe Garry Moore Show in 1964,[7] shortly afterCarol Burnett was replaced byDorothy Loudon on the series. She performed as "Shakundala the Silent", a bumbling magician's assistant to her comedy partnerDom DeLuise, who played "Dominic the Great". Buzzi was a member of the regular repertory company on theCBS variety showThe Entertainers (1964–65). In 1966–67, she appeared inSweet Charity withGwen Verdon in the original cast (playing three small parts: "The Good Fairy", "Woman with Hat", "Receptionist").[8]
In 1967, Buzzi appeared in all eight episodes ofThe Steve Allen Comedy Hour, a variety series starringSteve Allen. Her character parts in the Allen sketches led her to be cast forNBC's new showRowan and Martin's Laugh-In. She was the only featured player to appear in every episode ofLaugh-In including the pilot for the show and theLaugh-In television special.[citation needed] Among her recurring characters onLaugh-In were Flicker Farkle, youngest of the Farkle family; Busy-Buzzi, aHedda Hopper–type Hollywood gossip columnist; Doris Swizzler, a cocktail-lounge habituée who always got smashed with husband Leonard (Dick Martin); and one of the Burbank Airlines Stewardesses, inconsiderate flight attendants.
Buzzi was probably best-known for her role as "spinster" Gladys Ormphby, clad in drab brown with her bun hairdo covered by a visible hairnet knotted in the middle of her forehead. She first used this look when playing Agnes Gooch in a school production ofAuntie Mame. In most sketches, her purse was used as a weapon, with which she would flail away vigorously at anyone who incurred her wrath. She most often was the unwilling object of the advances ofArte Johnson's "dirty old man" character Tyrone F. Horneigh. NBC collectively called these two charactersThe Nitwits when they went to animation in the mid-1970s as part of the seriesBaggy Pants and the Nitwits. Buzzi and Johnson both voiced their respective roles in the cartoon.[citation needed]
Buzzi appeared as Gladys in many of the NBCDean Martin Celebrity Roasts from theMGM Grand Hotel inLas Vegas, ranting about notable roastees includingMuhammad Ali,Frank Sinatra, andLucille Ball. In each case, Gladys pugnaciously attacked the honoree with her purse, and she would also hit Martin when he invariably made disparaging remarks about her looks and her romantic prospects.
Buzzi was featured on the second season on the comedyThat Girl asMarlo Thomas's friend Margie "Pete" Peterson.[9] She starred withJim Nabors as the time-traveling androids Fi and Fum inThe Lost Saucer produced bySid and Marty Krofft which aired from September 11, 1975, until September 2, 1976 (16 episodes). In 1979, she co-starred on the Canadian children's comedy showYou Can't Do That on Television (also known asWhatever Turns You On).
Dean Martin's producerGreg Garrison hired her for his comedy specials starringDom DeLuise. She recorded the single "You Oughta Hear the Song" in 1977 which reached number 90 on Billboard's national Country Music chart; Buzzi joked in 2022 in hindsight: "Here's a medley of my hit song: I'd like to thank the millions and millions of you who didn't buy a copy. I got to spend quality time at home in '78 instead of standing in front of all those aggravating audiences."[10]
Buzzi was a guest star on many television series: as Chloe, the wife of phone company worker Henry Beesmeyer (Marvin Kaplan) onAlice (1981); onDown to Earth (1985);Donny & Marie;The Flip Wilson Show;The Dean Martin Music and Comedy Hour; the Dean Martin Roasts;The Carol Burnett Show;Tony Orlando and Dawn;The Monkees;Emergency!; and variety series hosted byLeslie Uggams andGlen Campbell. She also appeared occasionally on game shows and was a celebrity judge onThe Gong Show. She appeared inLucille Ball's last comedy show,Life with Lucy, as Mrs. Wilcox in the episode "Lucy Makes a Hit withJohn Ritter". She appeared eight times onThe Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.[11]
Buzzi voiced the character Nose Marie in theHanna-Barbera animated seriesPound Puppies (1986). She also voiced Mama Bear inBerenstain Bears (1985) and performed hundreds of guest voices for many other cartoon series, includingThe Smurfs,The Angry Beavers, andMo Willems'Sheep in the Big City.[11]
She joined the cast ofSesame Street in 1993 as a shopkeeper, Ruthie, as part of the "Around the Corner" set expansion. Ruthie ran Finders Keepers, which sold items previously owned by fairy tale and nursery rhyme characters. After the set was removed in 1999, she continued to appear on the show in inserts, usually in costume as other characters. She also voiced Suzie Kabloozie and her pet cat, Feff, in animated inserts that were shown on the show from 1994 to 2008. She reprised her role as Ruthie inSesame Street Stays Up Late!,Sesame Street's All Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever, andElmopalooza, as well as the direct-to-video productionThe Best of Elmo and the feature filmThe Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland.[11]
Buzzi appeared in the"Weird Al" Yankovic video "Gump" and similarly appeared in other music videos with theB-52's andthe Presidents of the United States of America. She appeared onSaved by the Bell,The Muppet Show, two episodes ofYou Can't Do That on Television in 1979 (as well as the entire run of theYou Can't Do That On Television's spinoffWhatever Turns You On), and numerous other television shows. She played the role of the eccentric Nurse Kravitz on NBC's daytime soap operaPassions. In 2006 and 2007, she made guest appearances on the children's TV seriesCome on Over. She had featured roles in more than 20 films, includingChu Chu and the Philly Flash,Freaky Friday,The North Avenue Irregulars,The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again,The Villain,The Being,Surf II,The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland, and a number of westerns for the European market known as theLucky Luke series in which she plays the mother of theDalton Gang.[11] In 2021, she retired from acting.
Buzzi was a charter member of the Pasadena Playhouse Alumni Association.[12] She painted as a hobby; however, she had never offered her oil paintings for sale to the public, choosing to donate original works to charity, where they sold in excess of $6,000.[13][additional citation(s) needed]
Buzzi supported numerous children's charities, includingMake a Wish Foundation,Special Olympics,the Thalians,St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, andBig Brothers Big Sisters of America, and she was a children's art summer camp sponsor through the Dallas Museum of Biblical Art.[14][13] She was active in fundraising for the Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch[15] inMedina Texas, and other animal causes.
Buzzi lived with her husband, actor Kent Perkins, on a 600-acre (240 ha) cattle and horse ranch nearStephenville, Texas.[16] They were avid automobile collectors. Their collection focused on post-war English vehicles, including Bentley,Rolls-Royce, andJaguar, although it also includes several American convertibles andmuscle cars. Some of their cars have been donated or lent to thePetersen Automotive Museum inLos Angeles, including a red, fuel-injected 1957Chevrolet convertible that was exhibited from 1993 to 2011 as part of the display honoring the cars ofSteve McQueen. Buzzi's 1960 Rolls-RoyceSilver Cloud drophead coupe convertible was on display for the "Century of Elegance" exhibit.[17]
Buzzi was named in numerous songs, includingHouse of Pain's "I'm a Swing It",The Bled's "Ruth Buzzi Better Watch Her Back", and theLoretta Lynn/Conway Twitty duet "You're the Reason Our Kids Are Ugly".[18][19]
Buzzi was diagnosed withAlzheimer's disease in 2012.[20] In July 2022, it was reported that Buzzi had suffered a series of strokes and was improving.[21]
Buzzi died of complications from Alzheimer's disease duringhospice care at her home, in Stephenville, Texas, on May 1, 2025. She was 88.[20][22][23]
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1969 | It's Tough to Be a Bird | Soprano | Performs "When the Buzzards Return to Hinckley Ridge", a parody of "When the Swallows Come Back to Capistrano" |
| 1970 | The Aristocats | Frou-Frou | Singing voice |
| 1976 | Freaky Friday | Opposing Coach | |
| 1977 | The Rescuers | German Mouse | Voice; uncredited/unconfirmed |
| 1978 | Record City | Olga | |
| 1979 | The North Avenue Irregulars | Dr. Rheems | |
| The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again | Old Tough Kate, aka 'Granny' | ||
| The Villain | Damsel in Distress | ||
| Skatetown, U.S.A. | Elvira | ||
| 1980 | I Go Pogo | Miz Beaver / Miss Mam'selle Hepzibah | Voice |
| 1981 | Chu Chu and the Philly Flash | Consuelo | |
| 1983 | The Being | Virginia Lane | |
| 1984 | Surf II | Chuck's Mom | |
| 1986 | Bad Guys | Petal McGurk | |
| 1988 | Pound Puppies and the Legend of Big Paw | Nose Marie | Voice |
| Dixie Lanes | Betty | ||
| 1989 | Up Your Alley | Marilyn | |
| My Mom's a Werewolf | Madame Gypsy | ||
| 1990 | Wishful Thinking | Jody | |
| 1990 | Diggin' Up Business | Widow Knockerby | |
| 1994 | The Best of Elmo | Ruthie | Direct-to-video |
| Troublemakers | Maw | ||
| 1999 | The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland | Ruthie | |
| 2000 | Nothing but the Truth | Lois Troy | |
| 2004 | Adventures in Homeschooling | Gertie Hemple | Short Film |
| 2006 | Fallen Angels | Perril | |
| 2021 | One Month Out | Agnes | Final film role before retirement |
| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1964 | The Garry Moore Show[7] | Herself | season 6, episode 32 |
| 1964–1965 | Linus the Lionhearted | Granny Goodwitch | 3 episodes |
| 1967–1973 | Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In | Regular Performer | 141 episodes |
| 1967 | TheSteve Allen Comedy Hour | Herself | |
| 1967 | The Monkees | Mrs. Weatherspoon | S2:E11, "A Coffin Too Frequent" |
| 1967–1968 | That Girl | Pete Peterson | 5 episodes |
| 1968–1973 | The Carol Burnett Show | Various characters | 5 episodes |
| 1969 | That's Life | 1 episode | |
| 1969 | In Name Only | Ruth Clayton | TV movie |
| 1970–1982 | Walt Disney anthology television series | Granny | 6 episodes |
| 1970–1974 | The Dean Martin Show | Herself | 16 episodes |
| 1970–1973 | Love, American Style | Beverly | 2 episodes |
| 1971 | Night Gallery | Hungry Witch | 1 episode |
| 1972 | The Singles | TV movie, also starringMichele Lee andJohn Byner | |
| 1972 | Here's Lucy | Annie Whipple | 1 episode |
| 1973–1976 | Medical Center | Rose Jenkins | 2 episodes |
| 1974 | Lotsa Luck | Wilma Wallachek | 1 episode |
| 1974 | Paradise | TV movie, also starringLuther Adler | |
| 1974 | ABC Afterschool Special | Cleaning Lady | 1 episode |
| 1975–1976 | The Lost Saucer | Fi | 16 episodes |
| 1976 | Emergency! | Amy Merkle | 1 episode |
| 1976 | The Muppet Show | Guest Star | season one, episode 4 |
| 1977–1978 | Baggy Pants and the Nitwits | Gladys | 16 episodes |
| 1977 | Once Upon a Brothers Grimm | Queen Astrid | TV movie |
| 1978–1987 | The Love Boat | Herself | 2 episodes |
| 1979 | Legends of the Superheroes | Aunt Minerva | Part Two of a Two Part TV Special |
| 1979–1980 | CHiPs | 2 episodes | |
| 1979 | Whatever Turns You On | Mother/Miss Fidt/Miss Take/Lois the Cafeteria Lady/Gladys the Makeup Girl/Script Girl/Old Lady | 13 episodes |
| 1980 | Myra | Mrs. Paige | Animated Short |
| 1981 | Alice | Chloe | Henry's Bitter Half |
| 1981 | Aloha Paradise | Herself | 1 episode |
| 1982 | Trapper John, M.D. | Laura Morley | 1 episode |
| 1983 | Gun Shy | Mrs. Mound | 1 episode |
| 1983 | Days of Our Lives | Leticia Bradford | unknown episodes |
| 1983 | Alvin and the Chipmunks | 13 episodes | |
| 1984 | Masquerade | 1 episode | |
| 1984 | Don't Ask Me, Ask God | Jonesey's Wife | TV movie, also starringPat Robertson andSteve Allen |
| 1985 | Paw Paws | Aunt Pruney Paw | unknown episodes |
| 1985 | George Burns Comedy Week | Juliette | 1 episode |
| 1985–1987 | The Berenstain Bears | Mama Bear | 52 episodes |
| 1985 | The Jetsons | Grandma Ganymede | 1 episode |
| 1986 | Check It Out! | Tiffany Cobb, Mrs. Cobb's Daughter | 1 episode |
| 1986 | Life with Lucy | Mrs. Wilcox | 1 episode |
| 1986 | Kids Incorporated: Rock in the New Year | Blanche | TV movie |
| 1986–1987 | Pound Puppies | Nose Marie | 26 episodes |
| 1987 | Milroy, Santa's Misfit Mutt | Mrs. Claus (voice) | TV Short (also starringBuddy Ebsen) |
| 1988 | Rockin' with Judy Jetson | Felonia Funk (voice) | TV movie |
| 1988–1990 | The Munsters Today | Dracula's Mom | 2 episodes |
| 1988–1991 | Out of This World | Mrs. Miller, Mabel T Stone | 3 episodes |
| 1989 | Marvin: Baby of the Year | Chrissy's Mother (voice) | TV Short |
| 1990 | Chip 'n Dale Rescue Rangers | Mrs. Sweeney (voice) | 1 episode |
| 1990 | Gravedale High | voice role | unknown episodes |
| 1990 | Saved by the Bell | Roberta Powers | 1 episode |
| 1991 | They Came from Outer Space | Carol | 1 episode |
| 1991 | The New Adam-12 | Mrs. Woolridge | 1 episode |
| 1992 | Lucky Ed's Tabloid News | Sample Lady | TV movie |
| 1992 | Darkwing Duck | Alien Crow (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 1992 | Lucky Luke | Ma Dalton | 1 episode |
| 1992 | Major Dad | Mattie Fae Tillman | 1 episode |
| 1993 | I Yabba-Dabba Do! | Additional Voices | TV movie |
| 1993 | Wild West C.O.W.-Boys of Moo Mesa | 1 episode | |
| 1993 | Hollyrock-a-Bye Baby | Additional Voices | TV movie |
| 1993 | The Pink Panther | 1 episode | |
| 1993–2008 | Sesame Street | Ruthie, voice of Suzie Kabloozie and Feff, Gladys Ormphby, The Fairy Godplant | Buzzi played the role of Ruthie from 1993 to 2001 but segments featuring Suzie Kabloozie and Feff were repeated on the show until 2008. |
| 1993 | Sesame Street Stays Up Late! | Ruthie | |
| 1993–1994 | Cro | Nandy | 20 episodes |
| 1994 | Sesame Street's All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever! | Ruthie | TV special |
| 1995 | Savage Dragon | Various Voices | unknown episodes |
| 1997 | The Jamie Foxx Show | Judge Lekeisha Roshanda Jackson | 1 episode |
| 1998 | Sabrina the Teenage Witch | Delilah | S3:E6, "Good Will Haunting" |
| 1998–2001 | 7th Heaven | Telephone Operator | 2 episodes |
| 1998 | Elmopalooza | Ruthie | TV special |
| 1999 | Boys Will Be Boys | Mrs. Rudnick | TV movie, also starringRandy Travis andMickey Rooney |
| 1999 | Diagnosis Murder | Liz Summers | 1 episode |
| 2000 | Rocket Power | Dog Owner | 1 episode |
| 2000 | 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd | Old Lady | 1 episode |
| 2000 | The Angry Beavers | Mrs. Beaver | 1 episode |
| 2000–2001 | Sheep in the Big City | Delilah | 7 episodes |
| 2003 | Passions | Nurse Kravitz | 2 episodes |
| 2006–2007 | Come on Over | Ruthie | 2 episodes |
The business, which his father established in 1933, is well known locally for its iconic "Buzzi Memorials" billboard sign seen from Route 1. Many also recognize the name because Harold's younger sister is the famous comedian and actress Ruth Buzzi, who starred on "Laugh In."
