Ruth Buzzi: Difference between revisions

| birth_date = {{birth date and age|mf=y|1936|07|24}}

| years_active = 1964–20211956–2021

'''Ruth Ann Buzzi''' ({{IPAc-en|ˈ|b|ʌ|z|i}} {{respell|BUZZY}}; born July 24, 1936)<ref>{{cite news| url=https://abcnews.go.com/amp/Entertainment/wireStory/celebrity-birthdays-week-july-18-24-78795863| title=Celebrity birthdays for the week of July 18–24| date=July 12, 2021| work=[[ABC News (United States)|ABC News]]| agency=[[Associated Press]]| access-date=April 19, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite news| title=Ruth Buzzi, Stonington native and 'Laugh-In' star, is far from both Hollywood and her hometown| first=Lee| last=Steele| date=December 23, 2018| url=https://www.ctpost.com/living/amp/Ruth-Buzzi-Stonington-native-and-Laugh-In-13484243.php| newspaper=[[Connecticut Post]]| location=Bridgeport| access-date=April 19, 2022}}</ref> is aan American retired American actress and [[Comedian|comediennecomedian]]. She has appeared on stage, in films, and on television. She is best known for her performances on the comedy-variety show ''[[Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In]]'' from 1968 to 1973, for which she won a [[30th Golden Globe Awards#Best Supporting Actress 2|Golden Globe Award]] and received five [[Emmy Award|Emmy]] nominations.

Buzzi was born at Westerly Hospital, [[Westerly, Rhode Island]], the daughter of Rena Pauline and Angelo Peter Buzzi, a nationally recognized stone sculptor. Her father, who came from a Swiss family, immigrated from [[Arzo, Switzerland]] in 1923.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.babcocksmithhouse.org/GraniteIndustry/NewspaperSeries/graniteweek48aBuzzi.pdf {{Bare|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220823084602/https://www.babcocksmithhouse.org/GraniteIndustry/NewspaperSeries/graniteweek48aBuzzi.pdf URL|archive-date=23 August 2022 PDF|title=Built from Stone: The Westerly Granite Story |access-date=23 August 2022 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{cite book| last=Riggs| first=Thomas| url=https://books.google.com/books?id=bOJkAAAAMAAJ&q=Rena+Pauline+Angelo+Peter+Buzzi| titlechapter=Buzzi, Ruth| worktitle=Contemporary Theatre, Film and Television| publisher=Cengage Gale| page=103| year=2006| isbn=978-0787690458}}</ref> She was raised in the village of Wequetequock in the town of [[Stonington, Connecticut]], in a rock house overlooking the ocean at [[Wequetequock Cove]], where her father owned Buzzi Memorials, a business that her older brother Harold operated until his retirement in 2013.<ref>{{cite news| last1=White| first1=Brooke Constance| title=New Buzzi Memorials owner to carry on tradition of craftsmanship| url=https://www.thewesterlysun.com/news/new-buzzi-memorials-owner-to-carry-on-tradition-of-craftsmanship/article_795c8b51-7801-5145-b519-59e95d64e775.html| access-date=December 18, 2020| newspaper=[[The Westerly Sun]]| date=September 12, 2016| quote=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’sHarold's younger sister is the famous comedian and actress Ruth Buzzi, who starred on "Laugh In."}}</ref>

Before graduation from college, Buzzi was already a working actress with a union card in musical and comedy revues. Her first job in show business was at 19, traveling with singer [[Rudy Vallee]] in a live musical and comedy act during her summer break from college; it allowed her to graduate with an [[Actors' Equity Association]] union card. She moved to New York City after graduation and was hired immediately for a lead role in an off-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, including [[Barbra Streisand]], [[Joan Rivers]], [[Dom DeLuise]], [[Bernadette Peters]], and [[Carol Burnett]]. She performed in New York musical variety shows, and she made numerous television commercials, some of which won national awards including the [[Clio Awards|Clio Award]].{{Citation<ref needed |datename=March 2023}} "Littleton"/>

Buzzi also guest-starred as Chloe, the wife of phone company worker Henry Beesmeyer ([[Marvin Kaplan]]) on ''[[Alice (American TV series)|Alice]]'' in 1981. She was also a guest star on ''[[Down to Earth (US TV series)|Down to Earth]]'' in 1985. [[Dean Martin]]'s producer Greg Garrison hired her for his comedy specials starring [[Dom 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’sHere's a medley of my hit song: I’dI'd like to thank the millions and millions of you who didn’tdidn't buy a copy. I got to spend quality time at home in ‘78'78 instead of standing in front of all those aggravating audiences."<ref>[https://twitter.com/Ruth_A_Buzzi/status/1530929330255175680 Here’sHere's a medley of my hit song: I’dI'd like to thank the millions and millions of you who didn’tdidn't buy a copy. I got to spend quality time at home in ‘78'78 instead of standing in front of all those aggravating audiences.]</ref>

Buzzi was a guest star on many television series, including ''[[Donny & Marie (1976 TV series)|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 (TV series)|The Monkees]]'', ''[[Emergency!]]'', and variety series hosted by [[Leslie Uggams]] and by [[Glen Campbell]]. She also appeared occasionally on game shows and was a celebrity judge on ''[[The Gong Show]]''. She appeared onin [[Lucille Ball]]'s last comedy ''[[Life with Lucy]]'' as Mrs. Wilcox in the episode "Lucy Makes a Hit with John Ritter". She appeared eight times on ''[[The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson]]'' and has made more than 200 other television guest appearances.{{Citation needed |date=March 2023}}

Buzzi voiced the character Nose Marie in the [[Hanna-Barbera]] animated series ''[[Pound Puppies (1986 TV series)|Pound Puppies]]'' (1986). She also voiced Mama Bear in ''[[The Berenstain Bears (1985 TV series)|Berenstain Bears]]'' (1985) and performed hundreds of guest voices for many other cartoon series, including ''[[The Smurfs (1981 TV series)|The Smurfs]]'', ''[[The Angry Beavers]]'', and [[Mo Willems]]' ''[[Sheep in the Big City]]''.{{Citation needed |date=March 2023}}

Buzzi performed in numerous national television commercials, most notably for [[Clorox|Clorox 2]], [[Clairol]], [[Mum (deodorant)|Ban roll-on deodorant]], and [[Santa Anita Park]], and she voiced Granny Goodwitch in television commercials for [[Sugar Crisp]] cereal. She originated the Goodwitch character in the animated TV series ''[[Linus the Lionhearted]]'' (1964–65).{{Citation needed |date=March 2023}}

Buzzi appeared in the [["Weird Al" Yankovic]] video "[[Gump (song)|Gump]]" and similarly appeared in other music videos with the [[B-52's]] and [[The Presidents of the United States of America (band)|the Presidents of the United States of America]]. She appeared on ''[[Saved by the Bell]]'', ''[[The Muppet Show]]'', two episodes of ''[[You Can't Do That on Television]]'' in 1979 (as well as the entire run of the ''You Can't Do That On Television'''s spinoff ''[[Whatever Turns You On (TV series)|Whatever Turns You On]]''), and numerous other television shows. She played the role of the eccentric Nurse Kravitz on NBC's daytime soap opera ''[[Passions]]''. In 2006 and 2007, she made guest appearances on the children's TV series ''[[Come on Over (TV series)|Come on Over]]''.{{Citation needed |date=March 2023}}

She had featured roles in more than 20 films, including ''[[Chu Chu and the Philly Flash]]'', ''[[Freaky Friday (1976 film)|Freaky Friday]]'', ''[[The North Avenue Irregulars]]'', ''[[The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again]]'', ''[[The Villain (1979 film)|The Villain]]'', ''[[The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland]]'', and a number of westerns for the European market known as the [[Lucky Luke]] series in which she plays the mother of the [[Dalton Gang]].{{Citation needed |date=March 2023}}

Buzzi supports numerous children's charities, including [[Make a Wish Foundation]], [[Special Olympics]], [[the Thalians]], [[St. Jude Children’sChildren's Research Hospital]], and [[Big Brothers Big Sisters of America]], and she is a children's art summer camp sponsor through Dallas Museum of Biblical Art.<ref name=fyke>{{cite news| title=Ruth Buzzi: Comedienne and Former Stonington High School Cheerleader!| url=https://patch.com/connecticut/windsorlocks/ruth-buzzi-comedienne-and-former-stonington-high-school-cheerleader_b3da74bb-windsorlocks| first=Corey| last=Fyke| journal=[[Patch (website)|Patch]]| date=November 6, 2013}}</ref><ref name=oates>{{cite news| title=Museum of Biblical Art throws swinging 8x8 art auction and party| url=https://dallas.culturemap.com/news/society/01-16-14-museum-biblical-art-8x8-exhibition-auction/#slide=0| last=Oates| first=Diana| date=January 16, 2014| journal=CultureMap Dallas| access-date=December 18, 2020}}</ref> She is active in fund raising for the Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch<ref>{{cite web| title=We Salute Our Pen Sponsors| url=http://www.utopiarescue.com/salute.htm| website=Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch| access-date=September 15, 2012| url-status=dead| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120716145914/http://www.utopiarescue.com/salute.htm| archive-date=July 16, 2012}}</ref> in [[Medina, Bandera County, Texas|Medina, Texas]] and other animal causes.

Buzzi lives with her husband, actor Kent Perkins, on a {{convert|600|acre|ha|adj=on}} cattle and horse ranch near [[Stephenville, Texas]].<ref name="Ranch">{{cite news |last=Thomas |first=Nick |date=March 5, 2017 |title=At Age 80, Ruth Buzzi Settles Down In Texas |url=http://www.post-journal.com/life/arts-entertainment/2017/03/at-age-80-ruth-buzzi-settles-down-in-texas/ |work=The Post-Journal |location=Jamestown, NY |access-date=April 6, 2018}}</ref> The coupleThey are avid automobile collectors. Their collection focuses on post-war English vehicles, including Bentley, [[Rolls-Royce Motor Cars|Rolls-Royce]], and [[Jaguar Cars|Jaguar]], although it also includes several American convertibles and [[muscle car]]s. Some of her vehicles have been in television commercials and featured in parades, and her blue Bentley convertible was featured on the cover of ''[[Vogue (magazine)|Vogue]]'' with [[Jessica Simpson]] behind the wheel.{{citation needed|date=November 2015}} Some of their cars have been donated or lent to the [[Petersen Automotive Museum]] in [[Los Angeles|Los Angeles, California]] including a red, fuel-injected 1957 Chevrolet convertible that was exhibited from 1993 to 2011 as part of the display honoring the cars of [[Steve McQueen]]. Buzzi's 1960 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud drophead coupe convertible was on display for the "Century of Elegance" exhibit.<ref name=Deseret>{{cite news| title=Buzzi loves pulling up in an eye-catching Rolls| url=http://www.deseretnews.com/article/991837/Buzzi-loves-pulling-up-in-an-eye-catching-Rolls.html?pg=all| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208125155/http://www.deseretnews.com/article/991837/Buzzi-loves-pulling-up-in-an-eye-catching-Rolls.html?pg=all| url-status=dead| archive-date=December 8, 2015| work=[[Deseret News]]| location=Salt Lake City| access-date=September 15, 2012| date=June 22, 2003}}</ref>

OnIn July 19, 2022, it was reported that Buzzi was showing improvement afterhad sufferingsuffered a series of strokes and was improving.<ref>{{cite web news| url=https://www.msnpeople.com/en-ustv/movies/news/northruth-texanbuzzi-actorrecovering-ruthmultiple-buzzistrokes-suffersjokes-seriesnot-quite-ready-to-make-an-ash-of-strokesmyself/ar-AAZKO40#comments | title=NorthRuth TexasBuzzi, actorRecovering Ruthfrom BuzziMultiple showingStrokes, Jokes She'improvements 'Not afterQuite sufferingReady seriesto Make an Ash of strokesMyself'| first=Giovana| websitelast=Gelhoren| date=August 3, 2022| magazine=[[MSNPeople (magazine)|People]]| access-date=September 26, 2024}}</ref>

|''[[Whatever Turns You On (TV series)|Whatever Turns You On]]''

| Buzzi played the role of Ruthie from 1993 to 2001 but segments featuring Suzie KablozzieKabloozie and Feff were repeated on the show until 2008.

* Buzzi was named a "Distinguished Woman of Northwood" by the Board of Regents of [[Northwood University]] in 2008.<ref>{{citationcite neededweb| title=2004 Distinguished Women| url=https://www.northwood.edu/archives/category/2004-dws/| website=Northwood University| access-date=JulySeptember 26, 20222024}}</ref>

* {{IMDb name|125651}}

* {{tcmdbTCMDb name|id=26383|name=Ruth Buzzi}}

* {{iobdb name|27332}}