• Ruth Buzzi, famed for her role on "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In," died at age 88.
• She was known for her character Gladys Ormphby, a feminist icon from the show.
• Buzzi's career included over 200 television appearances spanning six decades.
• She battled Alzheimer's disease and was in hospice care prior to her passing.
• Buzzi earned multiple Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe during her career.

Ruth Buzzi, celebrated for her portrayal of the eccentric Gladys Ormphby on the influential sketch comedy series "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In," has died at the age of 88. Confirmed by her agent, Buzzi passed away peacefully at her home in Texas after years of battling Alzheimer’s disease while in hospice care. Her husband, Kent Perkins, shared that Buzzi wished to convey her enjoyment of performing, stating, "She wants you to know she probably had more fun doing those shows than you had watching them," according to CBS News and India Times.

Best known for her *Laugh-In* character, Gladys Ormphby, Buzzi became an iconic figure through her radical portrayal of overlooked women, using humor to fight back against misogyny. She often brandished her handbag to comically retaliate against those who insulted her character. As she once said, "Gladys embodies the overlooked, the downtrodden... so when she fights back, she speaks for everyone who's been marginalized," according to NPR and India Times.

Over a career that spanned more than six decades, Buzzi made over 200 television appearances, receiving five Emmy nominations and a Golden Globe during her time on *Laugh-In*, which originally aired from 1968 to 1973. She made her mark on television with various characters, appearing on shows like *Sesame Street* and *The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson*, and performed successfully in films such as the 2003 remake of *Freaky Friday*, according to CBS News and India Times.

Buzzi was born on July 24, 1936, in Westerly, Rhode Island, and was raised in Connecticut, where she excelled in school activities as a head cheerleader. She pursued acting studies at the Pasadena Playhouse and achieved her first professional break in 1956. Her rise to fame started with a notable performance on *The Garry Moore Show* in 1964, leading to her eventual legendary status, according to NPR and India Times.

The entertainment world has since expressed heartfelt tributes, commending Buzzi for her contributions to comedy and her memorable performances that brought joy to countless audiences. "Thank you for the laughs," remarked Lisa Geduldig, a comedian, conveying the sentiments felt by many, as Buzzi leaves behind a legacy hard to forget, according to NPR.