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Gallagher dies at age 76
- The TV personality died Friday in a hospice in Palm Springs, TMZ reports
- Gallagher, who was known for smashing watermelons with a sledgehammer on stage, had been in ill health for years and had suffered heart attacks
- His rep told TMZ: ‘Gallagher continued to tour America for decades’
- “He was pretty sure he had a record for the most stand-up dates, just from attrition alone… He was an undeniable talent and an American success story.”
- The star announced in March 2012 that he was retiring from performing live, after 32 years on the comedy circuit and days after suffering his third heart attack.
- He first became famous on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1975
- Gallagher is survived by his daughter, Aimee and son Barnaby
Comedian Gallagher has died of ‘massive organ failure’ at age 76 – a decade after he stopped performing due to multiple heart attacks.
The TV personality, real name Leo Anthony Gallagher Jr., who rose to fame after appearing on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show in 1975, died Friday morning at a hospice in Palm Springs, reports TMZ.
Gallagher, who was known for smashing watermelons with a sledgehammer on stage during his act, had been in ill health for many years and had been forced to step out of the spotlight after suffering two heart attacks in two weeks in March 2012.
Tragic loss: Comedian Gallagher died at age 76 of ‘mass organ failure’ (photo 1980)
His representative told the publication: “Gallagher continued to tour America for decades.
“He was pretty sure he had a record for the most stand-up dates just by attrition. Although Gallagher had his opponents, he was an undeniable talent and an American success story.”
The star announced his retirement from performing in March 2012, after 32 years on the comedy circuit and days after suffering his second heart attack in less than two weeks.
He was on his way to the stage at a Texas bar in March 2012, when he suddenly collapsed.
Icon: Gallagher, who was known for smashing watermelons with a sledgehammer on stage during his act, had been in poor health for years and had suffered multiple heart attacks (photo 1981)
Routine: The star announced his retirement from live performance in March 2012, after 32 years on the comedy circuit and days after suffering his second heart attack in less than two weeks (pictured 1984)
He told a WDCM radio in Ohio, “I decided this was enough. I’ve been performing live for 32 years, so I’m looking for some little things like retirement stuff, I’d love to show up at maybe company parties.”
The comedian had suffered a mild heart attack during a performance in Minnesota a year earlier.
The Fort Bragg-born star began working as a comedian and musician after graduating from college in Florida, traveling to California in 1969 to jump-start his career.
He appeared twice on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson in 1975 and 1979 and quickly became one of the country’s most famous comedians.
Legend: He has appeared in 14 comedy specials for Showtime and was ranked as the 100th best stand-up comedian of all time by Comedy Central in 2004 – with which he disagreed (photo 2013)
Gallagher’s signature sketch was the ‘Sledge-O-Matic’ – a wooden mallet with which he smashed various items.
He has appeared in 14 comedy specials for Showtime and was ranked as the 100th best stand-up comedian of all time by Comedy Central in 2004 – which he disagreed with.
He said, ‘I looked at the other people and I was trying to find someone I’d ever heard of. How could I stand behind people I had never heard of? … I made 13 one-hour shows for Showtime. I invented the one-man show on cable.’
His character in the recently released biopic Weird Al Yankovic – starring Daniel Radcliffe – was played by Paul F. Tompkins.
Gallagher is survived by his daughter, Aimee and son Barnaby.
Stand-up: The TV personality, real name Leo Anthony Gallagher Jr., who rose to fame after appearing on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show in 1975, died Friday morning in a hospice in Palm Springs, TMZ reports (2009 photo)