If you’re of a certain age, you might remember a time when “prop” comedy wasn’t frowned upon. Long before the days of Carrot Top, a comedian named Gallagher made a fortune out of smashing watermelons with a mallet and sadly, the one-time headliner has passed away at seventy-six. If you’re a comedy fan, you’ll know that Gallagher’s reputation in recent years wasn’t sterling, with him having stormed out of an interview on Marc Maron‘s Wtf podcast when challenged on some of his material.
Leo Gallagher was all the rage in his younger days, having appeared on The Tonight Show several times, despite Johnny Carson’s rumoured aversion to prop humor. Later in his career, Gallagher ended up in a vicious legal battle with his brother, Ron Gallagher, who performed under the name “Gallagher Too.” The legit Gallagher initially allowed his brother to use his material,...
Leo Gallagher was all the rage in his younger days, having appeared on The Tonight Show several times, despite Johnny Carson’s rumoured aversion to prop humor. Later in his career, Gallagher ended up in a vicious legal battle with his brother, Ron Gallagher, who performed under the name “Gallagher Too.” The legit Gallagher initially allowed his brother to use his material,...
- 11/11/2022
- by Chris Bumbray
- JoBlo.com
Gallagher, the inventive prop comedian known for smashing watermelons as part of his act, died Friday of organ failure, his former manager Craig Marquardo confirmed to Variety. He was 76.
Gallagher had been in hospice care in California after suffering multiple heart attacks in recent years.
Born Leo Anthony Gallagher Jr., the mononymous comedian became a household name in 1980 with “An Uncensored Evening,” the first standup comedy special to ever air on Showtime. Gallagher would go on to create 12 more hourlong specials for the network, as well as several popular programs for HBO.
Gallagher’s signature bit involved a handmade sledgehammer he called the “Sledge-O-Matic,” which he would use to smash food onstage and spray it onto the audience. His hammer’s trademark victim was the watermelon. Gallagher also became famous for his witty wordplay and sharp observational comedy.
While his contemporaries went on to host talk shows or star in sitcoms or movies,...
Gallagher had been in hospice care in California after suffering multiple heart attacks in recent years.
Born Leo Anthony Gallagher Jr., the mononymous comedian became a household name in 1980 with “An Uncensored Evening,” the first standup comedy special to ever air on Showtime. Gallagher would go on to create 12 more hourlong specials for the network, as well as several popular programs for HBO.
Gallagher’s signature bit involved a handmade sledgehammer he called the “Sledge-O-Matic,” which he would use to smash food onstage and spray it onto the audience. His hammer’s trademark victim was the watermelon. Gallagher also became famous for his witty wordplay and sharp observational comedy.
While his contemporaries went on to host talk shows or star in sitcoms or movies,...
- 11/11/2022
- by Ethan Shanfeld
- Variety Film + TV
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