Henry Gibson
USA- Biography of Henry Gibson
- Early Life and Education
- Stage and Television Career
- Laugh-In and Film Career
- Personal Life and Legacy
Biography of Henry Gibson
Henry Gibson was an American artist, voice actor, and singer, best known for his roles in the television comedy show "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" and as Judge Clark Brown in the series "Boston Legal". He was also known for his role as Werner Klopek in the dark comedy film "The Burbs" alongside Tom Hanks.
Early Life and Education
Henry Gibson, whose real name was James Bateman, was born on September 21, 1935, in Germantown, Pennsylvania. He attended St. Joseph's Preparatory School, where he was the president of the Drama Club. After graduating from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., Gibson served as an officer in the United States Air Force. Following his military service, he developed a poet persona with a southern accent.
Stage and Television Career
Gibson's performing career began at the age of seven, appearing in various stage productions. From 1957 to 1962, he made numerous appearances on Jack Paar's evening show, reciting his poetry. His career gained momentum when he landed a role in Jerry Lewis' film "The Nutty Professor" released in 1963.
In Robert Altman's film "Nashville" (1975), Gibson's song "Keep A Goin'" was featured, which he had previously performed on The Dick Van Dyke Show. Gibson also appeared in three other Altman films: "The Long Goodbye", "A Perfect Couple", and "Health". He also starred in the parody sci-fi comedy film "The Incredible Shrinking Woman" alongside Lily Tomlin.
For his role in "Nashville", Henry Gibson was nominated for a Golden Globe Award and received the National Society of Film Critics Award for Best Supporting Actor.
Laugh-In and Film Career
For three years, Gibson appeared on the comedy show "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In". He often portrayed a Poet character, reciting satirical poems on sharp social and political topics. The Poet persona, dressed in an Indian jacket adorned with beads and flowers in a hippie style, became so iconic that it was frequently parodied. Another notable character he portrayed was a Catholic priest who constantly sipped tea.
In the 1989 film "The Burbs", Gibson played a villain. Prior to this, he had already played a similar role in the 1980 musical comedy "The Blues Brothers" as the leader of Illinois Nazis. The film, starring Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi, gained popularity among the youth audience partly due to Gibson's involvement.
Gibson also lent his voice to numerous animated characters, most notably Wilbur the pig in the popular film "Charlotte's Web" (1973).
Personal Life and Legacy
On April 6, 1966, Henry Gibson married Lois Joan Geiger, who was five years older than him. They had three children together: Jonathan David Gibson, who became the executive director of Universal Pictures; Charles Alexander Gibson, a two-time Academy Award-winning visual effects artist; and James Gibson, a screenwriter. Lois passed away on May 6, 2007, at the age of 77.
Henry Gibson, who battled cancer, passed away on September 14, 2009, at his home in Malibu, California, just one week before his 74th birthday. He was cremated, and his ashes were interred at the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery.
