Leo gallagher comedian biography

American comedian (1946–2022)

Leo Anthony Gallagher Jr. (July 24, 1946 – November 11, 2022),^[1] known merely as Gallagher, was an Dweller comedian who became one end the most recognizable comedic pick of the 1980s for diadem prop-based and observational style.

Top signature routine involved the "Sledge-O-Matic", a large mallet-like tool which he used to smash diversified items, most notably watermelons. Nurture more than 30 years, stylishness played between 100 and Cardinal shows a year, destroying flocks of thousands of melons.^[1][2]

Early life

Gallagher was born in Fort General, North Carolina, on July 24, 1946,^[1] to a family hint at Irish and Croatian heritage.^[3] Unconfirmed the age of nine, unquestionable lived in Lorain, Ohio, on the contrary because of his asthma, description family moved to South City, Florida, where he attended Chemist B.

Plant High School. Prohibited went on to graduate superior the University of South Florida with a chemical engineeringdegree undecorated 1970.^[4][3] He minored in Justly literature.

Career

After college, Gallagher began working as comic/musician Jim Stafford's road manager.

Stafford and Gallagher traveled to California in 1969; during which time, Gallagher contracted to perform as well. Purify began honing his own wit comedy act while frequenting both Honesty Comedy Store and The Attractive House. He performed twice worn-out The Tonight Show when Johnny Carson was hosting, though Conservationist disliked prop comedy.^[5] He gain victory appeared on the show environment December 5, 1975, when fiasco demonstrated his prop, "The Tonight Show Home Game", and boost on May 9, 1979.

Proscribed also performed several times profession the show when guest myriads were filling in for Carson.^[5] Additionally, Gallagher made appearances organization The Mike Douglas Show, The Merv Griffin Show,^[6]The Smothers Brothers Comedy Hour, and at depiction Playboy Clubs.^[7]

In contrast to annoy popular stand-up comics of honourableness era who transitioned to sitcom and movie roles, Gallagher remained mostly a touring comedian, extract he once noted that noteworthy performed "200 shows a class for 35 years."^[2] Per Variety magazine, he did over 3,500 live shows over the path of his career.^[8]

Running for guide (as an independent) in excellence 2003 California gubernatorial recall referendum, Gallagher finished 16th out epitome 135 candidates with 5,466 votes.^[9]

Comedy style

Proclaiming himself the "Wizard eradicate Odd," Gallagher was known chaste "witty wordplay" and sharp empirical comedy, but his signature deduct involved the use of loftiness "Sledge-O-Matic", a large wooden hit that he used to squash a variety of food columns and other objects, culminating manage a watermelon.

His favored targets also included oranges, cottage mallow, pound cake, beans, cheeseburgers, tubes of toothpaste, video game controllers, and grapes.^[10] The Sledge-O-Matic stare, an example of physical brace comedy, was a parody scope the unintentionally humorous advertisements purport the RoncoVeg-O-Matic, a kitchen effects that was heavily advertised limitation U.S.

television from the mid-1960s through the 1970s.^[11] Gallagher's audiences were often issued ponchos, succeed knew to bring raincoats, take delivery of prepare for debris cast warranty into the audience. He named the front row of her highness shows "Death Row".^[12] His county show also featured a variety defer to props, including a large trampoline designed to look like skilful couch.^[13] Gallagher wrote his drive down jokes and toured with importance many as 15 footlockers read props.^[14]

In July 1999, he unbroken a show in Cerritos, Calif., in which he used stereotypes that were considered offensive prominence Mexicans.^[15] In January 2011, Gallagher walked out of comedian Marc Maron's WTFpodcast when Maron lengthened to ask Gallagher about representation controversial jokes after Gallagher esoteric responded that, out of deft two-to-three-hour show, there were lone five jokes, which he difficult "heard on the street".

Unappealing a subsequent interview that high-sounding on the incident, Gallagher offender Maron of "taking the niche side of everything".^[5][16] In next years, Gallagher's routine was criticized for frequent homophobia, paranoid overtones, and racism.^{[17][18][19][20]}

In July 2012, Gallagher was featured in a flock commercial for GEICO Insurance, repetition his Sledge-O-Matic routine.^[21]

Despite serious cardiac issues he experienced in wreath 60s and early 70s, Gallagher continued to tour until 2020, when the COVID-19 pandemic minimum him to stop.^[22]

Sledge-O-Matic

Though it manifold from performance to performance, Gallagher would usually end each a number of his shows with his earmarks "Sledge-O-Matic" routine.^[23]

It traditionally began walkout the following preamble:

Ladies added gentlemen!

I did not resources here tonight just to assemble you laugh. I came nigh to sell you something become peaceful I want you to recompense particular attention!

The amazing Maestro Tool Corporation, a subsidiary observe Fly-By-Night Industries, has entrusted who? Me! To show you! Prestige handiest and the dandiest kitchenette tool you've ever seen.

Gain don't you wanna know at any rate it works!?

Well, rule you get out an smart apple. You place the apple between the patented pans. Fuel you reach for the factor that is not a wedge, is not a dicer, psychoanalysis not chopper in a hopper! What in the hell could it possibly be?! The Sledge-O-Matic!^[24]

Gallagher would then produce a broad, usually wooden, mallet, roughly greatness size of a sledgehammer, professor smash it down onto dignity apples, hurling chunks of bring out into the audience.

People welcome the first several rows were usually prepared to be wet by opening umbrellas, wearing raincoats, or raising plastic sheeting. Fans called the experience "Gallagherizing".^[23]

The whole routine was inspired by infomercials which peddled novelty household goods and whose popularity peaked outward show the late 1970s/early 1980s beforehand waning during the 1990s.

Audience injuries

On some occasions audience people sustained injuries during Gallagher's affairs.

At a show at goodness Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, California, on September 29, 1990, a woman in loftiness audience was struck on justness head by a heavy comfortable penguin that had a glow extinguisher inside it.

She subsequent sued the comedian for $13,000 in medical bills, $20,000 hem in lost wages, and punitive redress reportedly in excess of $100,000. The case went to nuisance in 1993, with the panel ultimately siding with Gallagher, succeeding a raucous trial where Gallagher took the stand and reportedly got as many laughs reorganization he would during one counterfeit his shows.

The presiding arbitrator, William Froeberg, later said "... in seven years on the food, I've seen a lot find characters, but none so theatrical ... It was entertaining. It surely wasn't boring."^[25]

At a show disparage the Washington County Fair fit in Hillsboro, Oregon, on July 8, 2010, a woman rushed primacy stage, slipped on debris, impressive was taken to the safety for her injuries.^[26]

Conflict with brother

In the early 1990s, Gallagher's other brother Ron asked him weekly permission to perform shows speak Gallagher's trademark Sledge-O-Matic routine.

Human granted his permission on rendering condition that Ron, who public a strong likeness to Somebody, and his manager clarified fell promotional materials that it was Ron Gallagher, not Leo Gallagher, who was performing. Ron commonly performed in venues smaller ahead of those in which Leo Gallagher performed. After several years, Daffo began promoting his act pass for Gallagher Too or Gallagher Deuce.

In some instances, Ron's shape was promoted in a paraphrase that left unclear the occurrence that he was not rectitude original Gallagher.^[27][28]

Leo initially responded exceed requesting only that his kinsman not use the Sledge-O-Matic ordinary. Ron nonetheless continued to materialize as Gallagher Too using depiction routine.

In August 2000, Somebody sued his brother for brandmark violations and false advertising.^[27] Interpretation courts ultimately sided with Lion, and granted an injunction prohibitive Ron from performing any period that impersonated his brother carry small clubs and venues. That injunction also prohibited Ron pass up intentionally bearing likeness to Person.

Legacy

In 2004, Comedy Central elevated Gallagher the 100th best comedian of all time.^[29] Gallagher was displeased with being tiered so low, and he booming The Oregonian, "I looked have an effect on the other people and Uproarious was trying to find possibly man I ever heard of. Increase could I be behind family unit I never heard of?

... I made 13 one-hour shows gather Showtime, which are available keep order videotape. I invented the one-woman show on cable."^[30]

Gallagher is describe by Paul F. Tompkins worry the 2022 movie, Weird: Representation Al Yankovic Story.^[8]

Announcing his fatality on November 11, 2022, rulership manager said that while Gallagher had his detractors, "He was an undeniable talent and image American success story".^[8]

Scientific study

In ethics 1980s, researchers at Loma Linda University used Gallagher's comedy hopefulness study laughter's effect on probity body.

Taking blood samples vary ten medical school students eventually they watched Gallagher in dispute, the researchers observed the subjects' white blood cells increasing. Character scientists said that laughing attended to have boosted their sheltered systems.^[1]

Personal life

Gallagher said he left behind nearly all of his attempt speculating on the stock stock exchange, and joked that he was "broke".

However, his long-time inspector disputed this as a revolve of comedic exaggeration, adding, "We all need to be importation broke as Leo."^[21]

During a carrying out on March 10, 2011, dash Rochester, Minnesota, Gallagher collapsed turmoil stage, clutching his chest. Operate was rushed to Saint Marys Hospital, where it was intransigent that he had suffered boss minor heart attack.^[31]

A year succeeding, on March 14, 2012, efficacious before a performance in Lewisville, Texas, Gallagher began to familiarity intense chest pains.

Gallagher's supervisor said the comic suffered unadorned "mild to serious" heart set upon and was placed in interpretation hospital in a medically iatrogenic coma while doctors tried fulfil determine what was wrong revive his heart.^[32][33] After replacing shine unsteadily coronary stents, doctors slowly all in him out of the conundrum on March 18, 2012.

Let go quickly recovered and started dialect to his family. His supervisor, Christine Sherrer, stated that sharptasting was breathing on his illdisciplined, moving, and telling jokes.^[34]

Gallagher on top form in hospice care at rule home in Palm Desert, Calif., on November 11, 2022, press-gang the age of 76.

Loftiness cause of death was medium failure due to numerous absolutely attacks he suffered over ethics course of his life.^[35][36]

Filmography

Comedy specials

• An Uncensored Evening (1980)
• Cosmos (1980)
• Mad by the same token Hell (1981)
• Two Real (1981)
• Totally New (1982)
• That's Stupid (1982)
• Stuck in distinction Sixties (1983)
• The Maddest (1983)
• Melon Crazy (1984)
• Over Your Head (1984)
• The Bookkeeper (1985)
• The Messiest (1986); contains clips from previous specials
• Overboard (1987)
• We Demand a Hero (1992)
• Smashing Cheeseheads (1997)
• Messin' Up Texas (1998)
• Sledge-O-Matic.com (2000)
• Tropic illustrate Gallagher (2007)^[37]
• Gotham Comedy Live (2014); episode "Gallagher" recorded on Oct 9 at the Gotham Baton in Chelsea in New Dynasty City^[23]

Acting performances

Other

References

External links