Who was Henry Gibson? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: James Bateman

Died At Age: 73

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Lois Gibson

father: Edmund Alberts Bateman

mother: Dorothy

Actors Singers

Height: 5'3" (160 cm), 5'3" Males

Died on: September 14, 2009

place of death: Malibu, California, United States

U.S. State: Pennsylvania

Cause of Death: Cancer

Diseases & Disabilities: Parkinson's Disease

City: Philadelphia

More Facts

education: The Catholic University Of America

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1

What are some famous roles played by Henry Gibson?

Some famous roles played by Henry Gibson include Haven Hamilton in "Nashville," Walter Kornbluth in "The Blues Brothers," and Judge Arse in "Boston Legal."
2

Did Henry Gibson have any notable collaborations with other actors?

Yes, Henry Gibson had notable collaborations with actors such as Robert Altman, John Belushi, and William Shatner throughout his career.
3

What was Henry Gibson's comedic style known for?

Henry Gibson was known for his deadpan delivery and satirical humor, often portraying sarcastic or eccentric characters in his performances.
4

In which popular TV shows did Henry Gibson make guest appearances?

Henry Gibson made guest appearances in TV shows such as "The Twilight Zone," "MacGyver," and "Star Trek: Deep Space Nine."
5

What was Henry Gibson's impact on the entertainment industry?

Henry Gibson's unique comedic talents and memorable performances left a lasting impact on the entertainment industry, influencing future generations of comedians and actors.

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Childhood & Early Life

James Bateman whose stage name was Henry Gibson was born on September 21, 1935 in Germantown in the state of Philadelphia. His parents, Dorothy and Edmund Alberts Bateman, had seven children, and James was their sixth born.

He began acting at an early age and was the president of Saint Joseph's Preparatory School’s drama club. He graduated from the Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C. After college, he served as an intelligence officer in the United States Air Force with the 66th Tactical Reconnaissance Wing in France from 1957 to 1960.

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Career

Henry Gibson began performing at the age of seven, appearing in several plays and theater productions. He however became popular for his comedy act, in which he recited poetry pretending to be a poet from Fairhope, Alabama. Between 1957 and 1962, he often appeared on 'Tonight Starring Jack Paar', reciting humorous self-penned poetry.

In 1962, he met Jerry Lewis, a guest-host of 'Tonight Starring Jack Paar', who offered him his breakthrough role of a college student in the sci-fi comedy 'The Nutty Professor' (1963). He subsequently appeared on several television shows, including a few episodes of 'The Joey Bishop Show', and one episode each of 'My Favorite Martian' and 'The Beverly Hillbillies'.

From 1967 to 1971, he was a cast member on 'Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In' and portrayed a unique character, wearing a Nehru jacket and hippie beads while holding an outlandishly large artificial flower. On this show, he also appeared as 'The Poet' with a heavy southern accent, reciting poems with "sharp satirical and political themes". One of his other popular characters on the show was that of a Catholic priest who somberly delivers one-liners in a graveyard. For his roles on the show, he earned a Golden Globe nomination for Best Supporting Actor in a Series, Miniseries, or Motion Picture for TV in 1971.

During the 1960s, he appeared in films like 'Kiss Me, Stupid' (1964) and 'The Outlaws Is Coming' (1965). His television shows of this decade include 'Mister Roberts' (1965), 'F Troop' (1966) and 'Bewitched' (1968-70). Following his success on 'Laugh-In', he re-released his comedy album '...by Henry Gibson' in 1968. The album was originally released in 1962 as 'Alligator'.

From 1969 to 1974, he made several appearances on the comedy anthology series 'Love, American Style'. He also worked in the 1975 satirical musical comedy film 'Nashville', directed by Robert Altman. The film, which saw his character Haven Hamilton sing 'Keep a-Goin'', a poem he had originally recited on 'The Dick Van Dyke Show' in 1966, earned him his second Golden Globe nomination.

He played arch-villain Mariposa in 'The New Adventures of Wonder Woman' (1978) and Will Jason (Squirt) in 'The Dukes of Hazzard' (1980), and had voice roles in 'Charlotte's Web' (1973) and 'The Grim Adventures of Billy and Mandy' (2004-07). He played the leader of the 'Illinois Nazis' in the musical comedy 'The Blues Brothers' (1980) and the villain opposite Tom Hanks in the horror comedy 'The 'Burbs' (1989).

He portrayed the dramatic role of an erstwhile train conductor in the 1996 independent film 'Color of a Brisk and Leaping Day', while he had a guest role on the TV show 'Star Trek: Deep Space Nine' (1998). Later in his career, he worked in an episode of 'Stargate SG-1' (2002), several episodes of the series 'Boston Legal' (2004-08), and the 2005 film 'Wedding Crashers'.

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Major Works

Henry Gibson's biggest role was playing Haven Hamilton in 'Nashville', for which he won a 'National Society of Film Critics' award, apart from 'Golden Globe' and 'Grammy' nominations.

He also earned a Golden Globe nomination in 1971 for his performance on 'Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In'.

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Family & Personal Life

Henry Gibson married writer Lois Joan Geiger, who was five years older than him, on April 6, 1966. Their three sons, Jonathan David Gibson, Charles Alexander Gibson, and James Gibson, are all involved in the entertainment industry.

He and his wife lived together for over four decades until her death on May 6, 2007. On September 14, 2009, one week before his 74th birthday, he died of cancer at his home in Malibu, California, and was cremated at the Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery.

Facts About Henry Gibson

Henry Gibson's real name was James Bateman, but he adopted the stage name "Henry Gibson" early in his career.

Before becoming an actor, Henry Gibson worked as a stand-up comedian and performed at famous comedy clubs in New York City.

Henry Gibson was known for his unique sense of humor and wit, which often shone through in his comedic performances on screen.

In addition to his acting career, Henry Gibson was also a talented songwriter and musician, playing the banjo and guitar.

Despite his small stature, Henry Gibson had a big presence on screen and was beloved by audiences for his memorable performances in film and television.

Henry Gibson Biography

You wanted to know

What are some famous roles played by Henry Gibson?

Did Henry Gibson have any notable collaborations with other actors?

What was Henry Gibson's comedic style known for?

In which popular TV shows did Henry Gibson make guest appearances?

What was Henry Gibson's impact on the entertainment industry?