1. James Bateman, known professionally as Henry Gibson, was an American actor, comedian and poet.
21 Facts About Henry Gibson
1. 2.
Henry Gibson adopted the stage name Henry Gibson, which is a same-sounding phrase for the name of famed Norwegian dramatist Henrik Ibsen.
3.
Henry Gibson is known to have used the name Olsen Gibson.
4.
Henry Gibson began his acting career at 8 years old, working as a touring performer for the Mae Desmond Theatre for nine years.
5.
Henry Gibson made many appearances on Tonight Starring Jack Paar between 1957 and 1962, often reciting his poetry.
6.
Lewis, charmed by Henry Gibson's demeanor, cast him in The Nutty Professor.
7.
Around this time, Henry Gibson appeared in an episode of My Favorite Martian.
8.
Henry Gibson spent three years as part of the Laugh-In television show's cast, where he was nominated for a Golden Globe in 1971.
9.
Henry Gibson often played "The Poet", reciting poems with "sharp satirical or political themes".
10.
Henry Gibson would emerge from behind a stage flat, wearing suit and tie and holding an outlandishly large artificial flower.
11.
Henry Gibson regularly appeared in the "Cocktail Party" segments as a Catholic priest, sipping tea.
12.
Henry Gibson would put the cup on the saucer, recite his one-liner in a grave and somber tone, then go back to sipping tea.
13.
In 1962, Henry Gibson recorded a comedy album on Liberty Records, titled Alligator.
14.
In 1968, Henry Gibson appeared on the television show Bewitched as Napoleon Bonaparte.
15.
Henry Gibson appeared on Bewitched in 1970 as Tim O'Shanter, a leprechaun.
16.
In 1999, Gibson made an appearance in Paul Thomas Anderson's Magnolia as an eccentric barfly who antagonizes former child prodigy Donnie Smith, played by William H Macy.
17.
Henry Gibson worked frequently as a voice actor in animation, most notably portraying Wilbur the pig in the popular Hanna-Barbera children's movie Charlotte's Web.
18.
Henry Gibson later worked for the company again on the cartoon The Biskitts.
19.
Henry Gibson had a leading role in a season 5 episode of Stargate SG-1 entitled "The Sentinel" as the character Marul.
20.
Henry Gibson died of cancer on September 14,2009, one week before his 74th birthday.
21.
Henry Gibson was cremated at Westwood Village Memorial Park Cemetery, and his ashes were given to his family.