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{{Short description|American actor (1935–2009)}}{{About|the actor|other people named Henry Gibson|Henry Gibson (disambiguation)}}{{Use mdy dates|date=May 2021}}

factoids

Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, U.S.}}| birth_name = James Bateman2009149|21}}| death_place = Malibu, California, U.S.| other_names = Olsen GibsonActorpoet}}| years_active = 1943–2009Lois Joan Geiger2007|reason=died}}Charles Gibson (special effects artist)>Charles Alexander Gibson| alma_mater = Catholic University of America}}Henry Gibson (born James Bateman; September 21, 1935 – September 14, 2009) was an American actor, comedian and poet. He played roles in the TV sketch-comedy series Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In from 1968 to 1971, was the voice of the protagonist Wilbur in the animated feature Charlotte's Web (1973), portrayed country star Haven Hamilton in Robert Altman's film Nashville (1975), the Illinois Nazi leader in The Blues Brothers (1980), and appeared in The 'Burbs (1989). His later film roles included starring in The Luck of the Irish (2001) and smaller parts in Magnolia (1999) and as Father O'Neil in Wedding Crashers (2005). His final major acting role was as Judge Clark Brown on the TV show Boston Legal from 2004 to 2008.

Early life

Gibson was born September 21, 1935, in Germantown, Philadelphia, the sixth of seven children of Edmund Alberts Bateman (1896–1980) and his wife Dorothy (née Cassidy) (1903–1975). He attended Saint Joseph's Preparatory School, where he was president of the drama club.{{citation needed|date=October 2022}} Gibson had English, Irish, German and distant Dutch ancestry.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. 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. He also is known to have used the name Olsen Gibson.WEB, "Gibson, Henry 1935–." Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television. 2007,weblink Encyclopedia.com, February 20, 2016, The Gale Group, Inc.,

Career

Gibson began his acting career at the age of eight years old as a touring performer for the Mae Desmond Theatre for nine years. 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. 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 suit and tie and holding an outlandishly large artificial flower. He would bow stiffly from the waist, state "[Title of poem] â€” 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 â€” 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.File:John Wayne Tiny Tim Laugh In 1971.JPG|thumb|275px|Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, front L-R: John Wayne, Tiny Tim, Dick Martin. Back, L-R: Ruth Buzzi, Joanne Worley, Alan Sues, Dennis Roy Allen, and Henry Gibson. John Wayne was part of a comedy routine making believe that Tiny Tim had a strong grip]]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. 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."Laugh-In Star Henry Gibson Moves into His Personal Prime Time with Nashville, People; accessed July 15, 2017. 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. He played con man Henry Beemus on "The Love Boat" S6 E11 "A Christmas Presence" which aired 12/18/1982.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 recurring character Judge Clark Brown.

Personal life and death

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. Lois died on May 6, 2007, at age 77.NEWS,weblink Obituary: Lois Gibson, Malibu Times, May 9, 2007, Gibson died of cancer on September 14, 2009, one week before his 74th birthday. He was cremated at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery, and his ashes were given to his family.

Filmography

Film {| class"wikitable"

! Year! Title! Role! NotesThe Nutty Professor (1963 film)>The Nutty Professor College Student Kiss Me, Stupid >|The Outlaws Is Coming >|Chitty Chitty Bang Bang >| UncreditedEvil Roy Slade >|Charlotte's Web (1973 film)>Charlotte's Web Wilbur VoiceThe Long Goodbye (film)>The Long Goodbye Dr. Verringer Nashville (film)>Nashville Haven Hamilton The Last Remake of Beau Geste >|The Kentucky Fried Movie >|A Perfect Couple >|The Blues Brothers (film)>The Blues Brothers Head Nazi Health (film)>HealtH Bobby Hammer The Incredible Shrinking Woman >|Tulips (film)>Tulips Maurice Avocado Monster in the Closet >|Innerspace >|Switching Channels >|The 'Burbs >|Brenda Starr (1989 film)>Brenda Starr Prof. Gerhardt Von Kreutzer Night Visitor >|(Gremlins 2: The New Batch) >|Tune in Tomorrow... >|(Tom and Jerry: The Movie) >| Voice(Gold Diggers: The Secret of Bear Mountain) >| UncreditedCyber Bandits >|Color of a Brisk and Leaping Day >|Bio-Dome >|Mother Night (film)>Mother Night Adolf Eichmann VoiceAsylum >|A Stranger in the Kingdom >|Magnolia (film)>Magnolia Thurston Howell The Luck of the Irish (2001 film)>The Luck of the Irish Reilly O'Reilly TV movieThe Year That Trembled >|Teddy Bears' Picnic (film)>Teddy Bears' Picnic Clifford Sloane The Commissioner >|Never Die Alone >| UncreditedWedding Crashers >|Big Stan >| Final film">

Television {| class"wikitable"

! Year! Title! Role! Notes77 Sunset Strip >| Episode: The Toy JungleThe Beverly Hillbillies >| Episode: An Man for EllyThe Littlest Hobo >| Episode: The Great ManhuntGrindl >| Episode: Grindl, Girl WacThe Joey Bishop Show (TV series)>The Joey Bishop Show Henry Schultz 4 episodesMy Favorite Martian >| Episode: Danger! High VoltageLaredo (TV series)>Laredo Ranger Freddy Gruber Episode: The Pride of the RangersMister Roberts (TV series)>Mister Roberts Insignia 3 episodesThe Dick Van Dyke Show >| Episode: Talk to the SnailF Troop >| 2 episodesHey Landlord >| Episode: Aunt Harriet Wants YouBewitched >| 2 episodesRowan & Martin's Laugh-In >| 84 episodes Evil Roy Slade >| Television MovieEvery Man Needs One >| Television MovieHoneymoon Suite >| Episode: First PilotThe ABC Saturday Superstar Movie >| Episode: The Mini-MunstersLove, American Style >| 5 episodesViolence in Blue >| Television MovieGet Christie Love! >| Episode: Murder on the High CMcCloud (TV series)>McCloud Cookie Watkins Episode: Showdown at Times SquareBarbary Coast (TV series)>Barbary Coast Dasher Episode: Sharks Eat SharksPolice Woman (TV series)>Police Woman Otto Otterman Episode: Don't Feed the PigeonsThe Bureau >| Television MovieEscape from Bogen County >| Television MovieThe Night They Took Miss Beautiful >| Television MovieHalloween is Grinch Night >| Television ShortWonder Woman (TV series)>Wonder Woman Performer 2 episodesFantasy Island >| Episode: Bet a MillionSweepstakes (TV series)>$weepstake$ Sometimes 1 episodeThe Halloween That Almost Wasn't >Igor (fictional character)>Igor Television ShortAmateur Night at the Dixie Bar and Grill >| Television MovieThe Dukes of Hazzard >| Episode: Find Loretta LynnFor the Love of It >| Television MovieThe Littlest Hobo >| Episode: Ghost RigThe Nashville Gab >| Television MovieMagnum, P.I. >| Episode: Mixed DoublesTrapper John, M.D. >| Episode: Candy DoctorSimon & Simon >| Episode: Fowl PlaySmall & Frye >| Episode: Endangered DetectivesQuincy, M.E. >| Episode: Murder on IceThe Biskitts >| 13 episodesThe Smurfs (1981 TV series)>The Smurfs Additional voices 1 episodeHigh School U.S.A. >| Television MovieCover Up (TV series)>Cover Up Milton Episode: The Million Dollar FaceThe Fall Guy >| 2 episodesMickey Spillane's Mike Hammer (1984 TV series)>The New Mike Hammer Simon Rondale Episode: The Deadly PreyPound Puppies>The Pound Puppies Nabbit (voice) Television Short CBS Storybreak >| Episode: A Tale of Tales The Wuzzles >| 13 episodes The Twilight Zone (1985 TV series)>The Twilight Zone Mayor Episode: Welcome to WinfieldKnight Rider (1982 TV series)>Knight Rider Donald Crane Episode: Voo Doo KnightSlow Burn (1986 film)>Slow Burn Robert Television filmGalaxy High School >| 13 episodes Long Gone (film)>Long Gone Hale Buchman Television movie Foofur >| 13 episodesAround the World in 80 Days (TV miniseries)>Around the World in 80 Days Train Conductor MiniseriesReturn to Green Acres >| Television MovieTimeless Tales from Hallmark >| Episode: The Emperor's New ClothesNewhart >| Episode: Father GooseMurder, She Wrote >| 2 episodesMacGyver (1985 TV series)>MacGyver Various 2 episodesEerie Indiana >| Episode: The LosersEvening Shade >| Episode: Chip off the old BrickWhat a Dummy >| Episode: Tucker's on the AirFish Police (TV series)>Fish Police voice Episode: The CodfatherTales from the Crypt (TV series)>Tales from the Crypt Stanhope Episode: None But the Lonely HeartSisters (American TV series)>Sisters Cyrus Calhoun 2 episodesRugrats >| Episode: Chuckie's First HaircutSanto Bugito >| Episode: My Name is RevengeDaisy-Head Mayzie >| Television ShortEscape to Witch Mountain (1995 film)>Escape to Witch Mountain Ravetch Television movieThe John Larroquette Show >| Episode: Several Unusual Love StoriesCoach (TV series)>Coach Ted Tilly Episode: Turtle WorldMad About You >| Episode: Dream WeaverDuckman >| Episode: A Room with a BellevueAdventures from the Book of Virtues >| Episode: RespectAaahh!!! Real Monsters >| 4 episodesSabrina the Teenage Witch (1996 TV series)>Sabrina the Teenage Witch Witch Judge / Judge Samuels 4 episodes(Star Trek: Deep Space Nine) >| Episode: Profit and LaceMaggie Winters >| Episode: Angstgiving Day Providence (American TV series)>Providence Mr. Berry Episode: You Bet Your LifeSunset Beach (TV series)>Sunset Beach Wayne Landry Episode: #1.667The Wild Thornberrys >| Episode: Born to Be WildTotal Recall 2070 >| Episode: Bones Beneath My SkinHey Arnold! >| 2 episodesThe Amanda Show >| Episode: #1.1Rocket Power >| 23 episodesEarly Edition >| Episode: Luck o' the IrishThe Luck of the Irish (2001 film)>The Luck of the Irish Reilly O'Reilly Television MovieStargate SG-1 >| Episode: The SentinelShe Spies >| Episode: The Martini ShotCharmed >| Episode: Sand Francisco Dreamin'(Rocket Power: Race Across New Zealand) >| Television movieThe Guardian (TV series)>The Guardian Phil Hostetler Episode: Big CoalBecker (TV series)>Becker Deputy Secretary Episode: Chock Full O'NutsStripperella >| Episode: Eruption, JunctionCracking Up (TV series)>Cracking Up Dr. Bollas Episode: PilotMalcolm in the Middle >| Episode: Kitty's BackThe Batman (TV series)>The Batman Bagely (voice) Episode: Topsy TurvyThe Grim Adventures of Billy & Mandy >| 3 episodesBoston Legal >| 24 episodesKing of the Hill >| 7 episodes(Eloise: The Animated Series) >| Episode: Eloise Goes to School Part 1All Grown Up! >| Episode: Trading Places

Discography

• The Alligator (1962)
• The Grass Menagerie (1968)

Books

• A Flower Child's Garden of Verses (1970)

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Awards and nominations {| class"wikitable sortable"

! Year! Award! Category! Nominated work! Result! {{Abbr|Ref.|Reference(s)}}Golden Globe Awards Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Series, Miniseries or Television Film >Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In >HTTP://WWW.IMDB.COM/NAME/NM0002099/AWARDS>TITLE=HENRY GIBSONACCESS-DATE=MAY 1, 2020, Golden Globe Award for Best Supporting Actor – Motion Picture>Best Supporting Actor – Film rowspan=4Nashville (film)>Nashville {{nom}}Grammy Awards >Grammy Award for Best Score Soundtrack for Visual Media>Best Score Soundtrack {{nom}}National Society of Film Critics >| {{won}}1975 New York Film Critics Circle Awards>1975 New York Film Critics Circle New York Film Critics Circle Award for Best Supporting Actor >| {{nom}}

References

{{commons Category|Henry Gibson}}

External links

• {{IMDb name|2099}}
• Obituary at the Daily Telegraph

{{National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor}}{{Authority control}}