LAUGH IN STAR HENRY GIBSON DEAD AT 73

Henry Gibson

Veteran comic character Henry Gibson, best known for his role reciting offbeat poetry on "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In," has died. The star was 73. Gibson's son, James, said Gibson died Monday at his home in Malibu after a brief battle with cancer. For three seasons he starred on "Laugh-In." He delivered satirical poems while gripping a giant flower. After "Laugh-In," Gibson went on to appear in several films, including "The Long Goodbye" and "Nashville," which earned him a Golden Globe nomination. His most memorable roles included playing the menacing neighbor opposite Tom Hanks in "The 'Burbs," the befuddled priest in "Wedding Crashers" and voicing Wilbur the Pig in the animated "Charlotte's Web."His recent work included playing cantankerous Judge Clarence Brown on ABC's "Boston Legal" for five seasons and providing the voice of sardonic, eye-patched reporter Bob Jenkins on Fox's "King of the Hill." In 2001, Gibson returned to the stage once again in The Big Apple in the Encores! New York City Center production of Rogers and Hart's "A Connecticut Yankee."Gibson is survived by three sons and two grandchildren.
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