Farewell To Gallagher, The Wizard Of Odd

Gallagher, the mustachioed prop comedian who rose to prominence with smashed watermelons and garnered controversy later in life for racist and homophobic jokes, has died. He was 76.

Craig Marquardo, the comedian’s former manager, confirmed his death in an email to Rolling Stone. Gallagher had reportedly been living in hospice for several years after suffering a string of heart attacks. He “succumbed to his ailments and passed away surrounded by family in Palm Springs, California,” Marquardo said.

“He was the #1 comedian in America for 15 years, with some of that due to the popularity of his stand-up specials airing on MTV in its early days, bringing him an entirely new audience,” Marquardo said, adding, “Gallagher was known for his edgy style, brilliant wordplay, and inventive props.” Read more >