Henry Gibson

Henry Gibson (born James Bateman; September 21, 1935 – September 14, 2009)[1][2][3] was an American actor, singer, and songwriter.

Henry Gibson
Gibson as The Poet on Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, 1969
Born
James Bateman

(1935-09-21)September 21, 1935
DiedSeptember 14, 2009(2009-09-14) (aged 73)
Other namesOlsen Gibson
EducationSaint Joseph's Preparatory School
Alma materCatholic University of America
OccupationActor, singer, songwriter
Years active1963–2008
TelevisionRowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1967–1973)
Spouse(s)
Lois Joan Geiger
(m. 1966; died 2007)
Children3, including Charles Alexander Gibson

His best-known roles include his time as a cast member of the TV sketch-comedy series Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In from 1968 to 1971, providing the voice of Wilbur in the 1973 film Charlotte's Web, his portrayal of country star Haven Hamilton in Robert Altman's 1975 film Nashville, his role as the Illinois Nazi leader in the 1980 film The Blues Brothers, his appearance as a supermarket manager in the 1987 film Innerspace, his performance opposite Tom Hanks in 1989's The 'Burbs, a role as a barfly in the 1999 film Magnolia, his role as the family priest in the 2005 film Wedding Crashers, and his recurring role as Judge Clark Brown on Boston Legal.

Early life

Gibson was born September 21, 1935 in Germantown, Philadelphia, the sixth of seven children of Edmund Alberts Bateman and his wife Dorothy (née Cassidy). He attended Saint Joseph's Preparatory School, where he was president of the drama club.[4]

After graduating from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., he served as an intelligence officer in the United States Air Force with the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing in France from 1957 to 1960.[3] Early in his career as a professional entertainer, he developed a comedy act in which he played a poet from Fairhope, Alabama. He adopted the stage name Henry Gibson, which is a same-sounding phrase for the name of famed Norwegian dramatist Henrik Ibsen.[3] He also is known to have used the name Olsen Gibson.[5]

Career

Gibson's performing career began at the age of seven. He appeared in many stage and theater productions. Gibson made many appearances on Tonight Starring Jack Paar between 1957 and 1962, often reciting his poetry. In 1962, his appearance coincided with guest-host Jerry Lewis. Lewis, charmed by Gibson's demeanor, subsequently cast him in The Nutty Professor (1963). Gibson's career took off following this film appearance.[3] That was followed in 1964 by his poetry-reciting cowboy character Quirt Manly on the popular show The Beverly Hillbillies. Around this time, Gibson appeared in an episode of My Favorite Martian.

Gibson spent three years as part of the Laugh-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 a Nehru jacket and "hippie" beads 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 John Wayne actually performed it once 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 also 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 had issued a comedy album on Liberty records, titled Alligator. The album was rereleased in 1968, now titled ...by Henry Gibson, following his success on Laugh-In. The liner notes perpetuated the origin story of his 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 show Bewitched as Napoleon Bonaparte. He appeared on Bewitched in 1970 as Tim O’Shanter, a leprechaun. Around this time, Gibson also made recurring appearances in the 1969–1974 anthology Love, American Style.

During the 1960s, Gibson had appeared on The Dick Van Dyke Show reading the poem "Keep a-Goin'", which he later turned into a song in the Robert Altman movie Nashville (1975). Notably, he was nominated for a Golden Globe Award for his portrayal of Haven Hamilton in the film and won the National Society of Film Critics award for the role.[1] The Nashville 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."[6] Gibson appeared in three other films directed by Altman: The Long Goodbye (starring Elliott Gould), A Perfect Couple, and Health.

In 1978, he appeared in The New Adventures Of Wonder Woman as the arch-villain Mariposa. Two years later, he appeared on The 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 the John Landis film The Blues Brothers; this became one of his better-known film roles. The next year, he appeared in The Incredible Shrinking Woman.

In the 1989 Joe Dante comedy The 'Burbs, starring Tom Hanks, Gibson played the villain. He reunited with director Dante a year later when Gremlins 2: The New Batch was released in 1990, 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 film Color of a Brisk and Leaping Day with Michael Stipe. That year, he was also the voice of Adolf Eichmann in Keith Gordon's film adaptation of Kurt Vonnegut's novel Mother Night. During 1999, Gibson made an appearance in Paul Thomas Anderson's Magnolia as an eccentric barfly who antagonizes former child prodigy Donnie Smith, played by William H. Macy.

Gibson also worked frequently as a voice actor in animation, most notably portraying Wilbur the pig in the popular Hanna-Barbera children's movie Charlotte's Web (1973). He later worked for the company again on the cartoon The Biskitts. Additionally, Gibson's voice work was featured on The Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy as Lord Pain, King of the Hill as reporter Bob Jenkins, and Rocket Power as grouchy neighbor Merv Stimpleton.

Later television work included a guest role on Star 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 of Stargate SG-1 entitled "The Sentinel" as the character Marul. His last major roles were in the 2005 film Wedding Crashers as Father O'Neil, and on the television show Boston Legal as supporting character Judge Clark Brown.

Personal life

On April 6, 1966, Gibson married Lois Joan Geiger. They had three sons together – Jonathan David Gibson, an executive at Universal Pictures, Charles Alexander Gibson, a director and visual effects supervisor, and James Gibson, a screenwriter.[1][3] His wife died on May 6, 2007 at age 77.[3][7]

Death

Gibson died of cancer on September 14, 2009 at his home in Malibu, California, a week before his 74th birthday.[3] He was cremated at the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery.

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1963The Nutty ProfessorCollege StudentFilm debut
1964Kiss Me, StupidSmith
1965The Outlaws Is ComingCharlie Horse
1968Chitty Chitty Bang BangDancerUncredited
1973Charlotte's WebWilburVoice
1973The Long GoodbyeDr. Verringer
1975NashvilleHaven Hamilton
1977The Last Remake of Beau GesteGeneral Pecheur
1977The Kentucky Fried MovieUnited Appeal For The Dead Sketch
1979A Perfect CoupleFred Bott
1980The Blues BrothersHead Nazi
1980HealtHBobby Hammer
1981The Incredible Shrinking WomanDr. Eugene Nortz
1981TulipsMaurice Avocado
1983National Lampoon's VacationHotel ClerkUncredited
1986Monster in the ClosetDr. Pennyworth
1987InnerspaceMr. Wormwood
1988Switching ChannelsIke Roscoe
1989The 'BurbsDr. Werner Klopek
1989Brenda StarrProf. Gerhardt Von Kreutzer
1989Night VisitorJake
1990Gremlins 2: The New BatchEmployee Fired For Smoking
1990Tune in Tomorrow...Big John Coot
1992Tom and Jerry: The MovieDr. ApplecheekVoice
1995Cyber BanditsDr. Knutsen
1996Color of a Brisk and Leaping DayRobinson
1996Bio-DomeWilliam Leaky
1996Mother NightAdolf EichmannVoice
1997AsylumDr. Edward Bellichek
1999A Stranger in the KingdomZack Burrows
1999MagnoliaThurston Howell
2001The Luck of the IrishReilly O'ReillyTV Movie
2002The Year That TrembledRalph Tyler
2002Teddy Bears' PicnicClifford Sloane
2003The CommissionerPolice Chief Jesse Curry
2004Never Die AloneFuneral Home DirectorUncredited
2005Wedding CrashersFather O'Neil
2007Big StanShortsFinal film

Television

Year Title Role Notes
196377 Sunset StripEddieEpisode: The Toy Jungle
1964Beverly HillbilliesMr. Quirt Manly/HenryEpisode: An Man for Elly
1964The Littlest HoboAnselEpisode: The Great Manhunt
1964GrindlPrivate StonerEpisode: Grindl, Girl Wac
1963-64The Joey Bishop ShowHenry Schultz4 episodes
1964My Favorite MartianHomer P. GibsonEpisode: Danger! High Voltage
1965LaredoRanger Freddy GruberEpisode: The Pride of the Rangers
1965Mister RobertsInsignia3 episodes
1966The Dick van Dyke ShowDoug BedlorkEpisode: Talk to the Snail
1966F TroopPvt. Wrongo Starr2 episodes
1967Hey LandlordLeroyEpisode: Aunt Harriet Wants You
1968-70BewitchedVarious2 episodes
1968–71Rowan & Martin's Laugh-InGuest Performer84 episodes
1972Evil Roy SladeClifford StoolTelevision Movie
1972Every Man Needs OneWaltTelevision Movie
1972Honeymoon SuitePerformerEpisode: First Pilot
1973The ABC Saturday Superstar MovieMr. Grundy (voice)Episode: The Mini-Munsters
1969-73Love, American StylePerformer5 episodes
1975Violence in BluePerformerTelevision Movie
1975Get Christie Love!GarberEpisode: Murder on the High C
1975McCloudCookie WatkinsEpisode: Showdown at Times Square
1975Barbary CoastDasherEpisode: Sharks Eat Sharks
1975Police WomanOtto OttermanEpisode: Don't Feed the Pigeons
1976The BureauChief Peter DavlinTelevision Movie
1977Escape from Bogen CountyAbe RandTelevision Movie
1977The Night They Took Miss BeautifulRolly RoyceTelevision Movie
1977Halloween is Grinch NightMax (singing voice)Television Short
1975-78Wonder WomanPerformer2 episodes
1978Fantasy IslandFred WadeEpisode: Bet a Million
1979The Halloween That Almost Wasn'tIgorTelevision Short
1979Amateur Night at the Dixie Bar and GrillMilt CavanaughTelevision Movie
1980The Dukes of HazzardSquirtEpisode: Find Loretta Lynn
1980For the Love of ItGeorgeTelevision Movie
1980The Littlest HoboJeff FarleyEpisode: Ghost Rig
1981The Nashville GabArt SchmeckleTelevision Movie
1982Magnum, P.I.Ronald MillsEpisode: Mixed Doubles
1982Trapper John, M.D.Dr. BrownwellEpisode: Candy Doctor
1982Simon & SimonHerbert T. DowdEpisode: Fowl Play
1983Small & FryeDr. CalderEpisode: Endangered Detectives
1983Quincy, M.E.MaxEpisode: Murder on Ice
1983The BiskittsDowner (voice)13 episodes
1984The SmurfsAdditional voices2 episodes
1984High School U.S.A.Vice PrincipalTelevision Movie
1984Cover UpMiltonEpisode: The Million Dollar Face
1981-84The Fall GuyVarious2 episodes
1984The New Mike HammerSimon RondaleEpisode: The Deadly Prey
1985The Pound PuppiesNabbit (voice)Television Short
1985CBS StorybreakvoiceEpisode: A Tale of Tales
1985The WuzzlesEleroo (voice)13 episodes
1986The Twilight ZoneMayorEpisode: Welcome to Winfield
1986Knight RiderDonald CraneEpisode: Voo Doo Knight
1986Slow BurnRobertTelevision film
1986Galaxy High SchoolDoyle & Aimee's Locker (voice)13 episodes
1987Long GoneHale BuchmanTelevision movie
1987Foofurvoice13 episodes
1989Around the World in 80 DaysTrain ConductorMiniseries
1990Return to Green AcresE. Mitchell ArmstrongTelevision Movie
1990Timeless Tales from HallmarkSir BuffonEpisode: The Emperor's New Clothes
1990NewhartTad BurrowsEpisode: Father Goose
1988-92Murder, She WroteVarious2 episodes
1990-91MacGyverVarious2 episodes
1991Eerie IndianaMr. LodgepooleEpisode: The Loosers
1991Evening ShadeBudEpisode: Chip off the old Brick
1991What a DummyPerformerEpisode: Tucker's on the Air
1992Fish PolicevoiceEpisode: The Codfather
1992Tales from the CryptStanhopeEpisode: None But the Lonely Heart
1993SistersCyrus Calhoun2 episodes
1993RugratsHairdresser/Counselor (voice)Episode: Chuckie's First Haircut
1995Santo BugitoMothmeyerEpisode: My Name is Revenge
1995Daisy-Head MayzieCat in the Hat (voice)Television Short
1995Escape to Witch MountainRavetchTelevision movie
1995The John Larroquette ShowPriestEpisode: Several Unusual Love Stories
1995CoachTed TillyEpisode: Turtle World
1996Mad About YouHenry GibsonEpisode: Dream Weaver
1996Duckman(voice)Episode: A Room with a Bellevue
1997Adventures from the Book of VirtuesDick's Please (voice)Episode: Respect
1995-97AAAHH!!! Real MonstersMayor/Husband/Maurice (voice)4 episodes
1997-99Sabrina the Teenage WitchWitch Judge / Judge Samuels4 episodes
1998Star Trek: Deep Space NineNilvaEpisode: Profit and Lace
1998Maggie WintersHotel ClerkEpisode: Angstgiving Day
1999ProvidenceMr. BerryEpisode: You Bet Your Life
1999Sunset BeachWayne LandryEpisode: #1.667
1999The Wild ThornberrysRhino (voice)Episode: Born to Be Wild
1999Total Recall 2070BelasariusEpisode: Bones Beneath My Skin
1999Hey Arnold!Patty's Father (voice)2 episodes
1999The Amanda ShowHelicopter PilotEpisode: #1.1
2000Early EditionMr. QuigleyEpisode: Luck o' the Irish
2001The Luck of the IrishReilly O'ReillyTelevision Movie
2002Stargate SG-1MarulEpisode: The Sentinel
2002She SpiesDr. MeelbowEpisode: The Martini Shot
2002CharmedSandmanEpisode: Sand Francisco Dreamin'
2002Rocket Power: Race Across New ZealandMerv Stimpleton (voice)Television movie
1999-04Rocket PowerMerv Stimpleton/Young Merv/Reporter #1/Townsperson #3 (voice)23 episodes
2003The GuardianPhil HostetlerEpisode: Big Coal
2003BeckerDeputy SecretaryEpisode: Chock Full O'Nuts
2004StripperellaMr. Scrundle (voice)Episode: Eruption, Junction
2004Cracking UpDr. BollasEpisode: Pilot
2004Malcolm in the MiddleFrank RalstonEpisode: Kitty's Back
2005The BatmanBagely (voice)Episode: Topsy Turvy
2004-07The Grim Adventures of Billy and MandyLord Pain (voice)3 episodes
2004-08Boston LegalJudge Clark Brown24 episodes
2005-08King of the HillBob Jenkins/Travis/Jenkins (voice)7 episodes
2006Eloise: The Animated SeriesMr. Noblesse (voice)Episode: Eloise Goes to School Part 1
2007All Grown Up!Dr. Schleprizzi (voice)Episode: Trading Places

Source: IMDb[8]

Awards and Nominations

Year Award Category Nominated work Result Ref.
1970Golden Globe AwardsBest Supporting Actor - TelevisionRowan & Martin's Laugh-InNominated[9]
1975Best Supporting Actor - FilmNashvilleNominated
1975Grammy AwardsBest Score SoundtrackNominated
1975National Society of Film CriticsBest Supporting ActorWon
1975New York Film Critics CircleBest Supporting ActorNominated

References

  1. Barnes, Mike (2009-09-17). "'Laugh-In' ignited a rich comic career". The Hollywood Reporter. pp. 6, 15. Retrieved 2009-09-16.
  2. [https://familysearch.org/ark:/61903/1:1:JGGT-JZQ United States Social Security Death Index database, FamilySearch.org; accessed 17 February 2016, Henry Gibson, 14 Sep 2009; citing U.S. Social Security Administration, Death Master File, database (Alexandria, Virginia: National Technical Information Service, ongoing)
  3. McLellan, Dennis (2009-09-17). "Actor was original cast member of 'Laugh-In'". Los Angeles Times. p. A24. Archived from the original on 2009-09-23. Retrieved 2009-09-14.
  4. "Henry Gibson biography". Filmreference.com. Retrieved 2013-07-01.
  5. ""Gibson, Henry 1935–." Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television. 2007". Encyclopedia.com. The Gale Group, Inc. Retrieved 2016-02-20.
  6. Laugh-In Star Henry Gibson Moves into His Personal Prime Time with Nashville, People; accessed 15 July 2017.
  7. Obituary: Lois Gibson Malibu Times May 9, 2007
  8. "Henry Gibson". IMDb. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
  9. "Henry Gibson". IMDb. Retrieved May 1, 2020.
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