Comedian Gallagher Dies In Palm Springs At Age 76

PALM SPRINGS, CA — After battles with heart disease, the comedian known to audiences as Gallagher died Friday in Palm Springs. He was 76.

Gallagher "succumbed to his ailments and passed away surrounded by his family in Palm Springs, California," talent manager Roger Paul said in a statement provided to City News Service. "[Gallagher] had previously suffered numerous heart attacks, something he and David Letterman talked about on an appearance a few years back."

One of the most recognized funnymen of the 1980s, Leo Anthony Gallagher Jr. was known for his observational and prop humor, which included smashing watermelons as part of his "Sledge-O-Matic" act. During the 1970s, the beret-sporting Gallagher honed his comedy chops at Los Angeles-based venues like The Comedy Club and The Ice House, and also appeared on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. The funnyman went on to do multiple television appearances, including more than a dozen Showtime comedy specials.

"...While his counterparts went on to do sitcoms, host talk shows and star in movies, Gallagher stayed on the road touring America for decades," Paul told City News Service. "He was pretty sure he held a record for the most stand-up dates, by attrition alone.

"He toured steadily until the Covid-19 pandemic," Paul continued. "...While Gallagher had his detractors, he was an undeniable talent and an American success story."

His life was not without controversy. At a 1990 Gallagher performance at the Coach House in San Juan Capistrano, a woman in the audience was hit on the head by a stuffed penguin toy that had a fire extinguisher inside it. She later sued and the case went to a raucous trial in 1993, with the jury ultimately siding with the comedian.

In August 2000, Gallagher successfully sued his brother for trademark violations and false advertising stemming from the "Sledge-O-Matic" act. As a result, Ron Gallagher was barred from using his brother's likeness and impersonating the comedian's acts.

Whether it was on a lark or serious, Gallagher made a run for California governor during the 2003 California gubernatorial recall election, where he finished 16th out of 135 candidates with 5,466 votes.

Reports of Gallagher's ill health surfaced around 2012 when his manager confirmed he had suffered a heart attack.

Gallagher was born in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, on July 24, 1946. He attended H.B. Plant High School in Florida and later graduated from the University of South Florida with a chemical engineering degree in 1970.

—City News Service contributed to this report by Patch editor Toni McAllister.