Comedian Gallagher is best known in his routine of watermelon rolling, as well as many of the most popular television shows during the 80s passed away early this morning, according to his agent Craig Marquardo. He was 76.
According to a statement made by CNN by Marquardo the comedian died “after a short health battle” and “passed away surrounded by his family in Palm Springs, California.”
Gallagher was who was born Leo Gallagher, became a famous name in the early 1980s, with a special comedy named “An Uncensored Evening,” the first stand-up comedy show to ever be shown on cable television in accordance with an obituary posted by Marquardo.
Gallagher’s most famous moment was his own sledgehammer, which he called”the “Sledge-O-Matic,” which he used to smash food items on stage, while spraying his audience.
“That was something else he liked to claim credit for, which was physically engaging the audience in that manner,” the obituary stated.
Gallagher who is who is a Fort Bragg, North Carolina native, graduated with a degree in chemical engineering at the University of South Florida before making the move into Los Angeles and developing his comedy act at the renowned comedy venue The Comedy Store, located on the Sunset Strip, according to his bio on the site of Selak Entertainment, a booking agency.
The public began to notice in 1975 , when he performed his style that included props on Johnny Carson’s famous “The Tonight Show.”
Television was a blessing to him and in 1978 He made an appearance as a guest on “The Mike Douglas Show” and then the following year, he appeared as a guest on “The Merv Griffin Show.”
However, the Showtime Comedy specials from the 1980s which established his status in the pop world, and he went on to produce many more shows for the network for the next 27 years.
He was also a popular staple of MTV along with Comedy Central.
“While his counterparts went on to do sitcoms, host talk shows and star in movies, Gallagher stayed on the road touring America for decades,” the funeral obituary stated. “He was pretty sure he held a record for the most stand up dates, by attrition alone.”
Gallagher continued to tour regularly until the Covid-19 pandemic struck and took time off to visit his family, including his son Barnaby and daughter Aimee and Aimee, the latter of whom appeared alongside him on his television shows when she was a kid.
