Henry Gibson Loses Battle With Cancer At 73
Early Photo of Henry On 60's TV Show Laugh-In
Cancer has been taking its toll on performers this month.
First it was Patrick Swayze, and sadly it has claimed two more lives. Mary Travers, age 72 of the famed folk group Peter Paul and Mary and now actor Henry Gibson at the age of 73.
I fondly remember Henry Gibson from the late 60's show Rowan and Martin's Laugh -In which my family watched religiously.
He was always was the quiet one of the show. I remember him playing the teetotaler priest during their party scenes.
Of course he always had a poem to recite on Laugh-In, and would start every one with, "A poem.... by Henry Gibson".
Later roles found him in the Blues Brother's movie playing a Nazi party leader!
And most people didn't know that Henry played a Ferengi named "Nilva" on Star Track Deep Space 9. (Nilva was a Ferengi Commerce Authority commissioner and the chairman of the Slug-o-Cola company) for all you non Trekkies.
Years later, you can find him playing Judge Clark Brown on Boston Legal just to name a few.
Reuters Wrote:
By Mike BarnesHenry Gibson, a wry comic character actor whose career included "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In," "Nashville" and "Boston Legal," died Monday at his home in Malibu after a brief battle with cancer. He was 73.
Gibson's breakthrough came in 1968 when he was cast as a member of the original ensemble of NBC's top-rated "Laugh-In," on which he performed for three seasons. Each week, a giant flower in his hand, he recited a signature poem, introducing them with the catchphrase that became his signature: "A Poem, by Henry Gibson."
The poems proved so popular that they led to the release of two comedy albums, "The Alligator" and "The Grass Menagerie," as well as a book, "A Flower Child's Garden of Verses."
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