But I am deeply saddened to report that the great Henry Gibson has died. "Laugh-In" ("A Poem... by Henry Gibson"), "The Long Goodbye," "Nashville," "Mullet" (a short), "Magnolia"... he has always been an inspiration to me.
I am in Boulder with my friend Julia Sweeney for a CWA-related athenaeum, talking to students about comedy, critical thinking, death... and any and all other subjects, depending on where the conversations lead. I'll be back this weekend and plan to write more about Henry Gibson then. R.I.P.
He was one of the first people on television to have an influence on me as a child. Incredible stuff.
In "The Long Goodbye" he slaps Sterling Hayden right on the face...and you actually believe he'd do it. In real life, no one would ever hit Sterling Hayden. If that's not great acting, I don't know what is.
I believe my first introduction to Henry Gibson was his memorable performance as the leader of the Illinois Nazis in "The Blues Brothers."
Given its subject matter, Gibson's infomercial-spoofing appearance in "The Kentucky Fried Movie" (1977) seems rather timely now:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_kXl8LyD_JA