Henry 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 Henry Gibson 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 2 comedy albums, "The Alligator" and "The Grass Menagerie," as well as a book, "A Flower Child's Garden of Verses."
After "Laugh-In," Henry Gibson played the evil Dr. Verringer in "The Long Goodbye" (1973), the first of four films in which he appeared for director Robert Altman. They reunited two years later for "Nashville," in which Gibson played country singer Haven Hamilton and also wrote his character's songs. They went on to work together again in "A Perfect Couple" and "HealtH."In television, is recent notable work included a five-season stint as crusty Judge Clarence Brown on "Boston Legal" and multiple episodes as the voice of newspaperman Bob Jenkins on the animated King of the Hill.
Gibson is survived by three sons. Memorial services are pending.
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