Buzzi, Ruth 1936–

views updated

Buzzi, Ruth 1936–

(Ruthie Buzzi)

PERSONAL

Full name, Ruth Ann Buzzi; born July 24, 1936 (some sources cite 1939), in Westerly, RI; daughter of Angelo Peter (a stone sculptor) and Rena Pauline (maiden name, Macchi) Buzzi; married Bill Keko (divorced); married Kent Perkins (an actor), December 10, 1979. Education: Pasadena Playhouse College of Theatre Arts, graduated 1957 (with honors).

Addresses: Agent—Amsel, Eisenstadt and Frazier, 5757 Wilshire Blvd., Suite 510, Los Angeles, CA 90036.

Career: Actress and comedienne. Also a ventriloquist. Appeared in advertisements. Also known as Ruthie Buzzi.

Member: Screen Actors Guild, American Federation of Television and Radio Artists, Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences, American Guild of Variety Artists, American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers.

Awards, Honors: Emmy Award nomination, special classification achievements—individuals (variety performances), 1969, Emmy Award nomination, outstanding achievement by a performer in music or variety, 1972, and Golden Globe Award, best supporting actress in a series, miniseries, or motion picture made for television, 1973, all for Rowan and Martin's "Laugh-In"; Emmy Award nomination, outstanding supporting actress in comedy-variety, variety, or music, 1974, for The Dean Martin Show; Variety Artist of the Year, American Guild of Variety Artists Award, 1977; Pasadena Playhouse Achievement Award, 1979; Presidential Commendation Award, outstanding artist in the field of entertainment, 1980; Emmy Award nomination, outstanding performer on a children's program, 1987, for The Berenstain Bears; Daytime Emmy Award nomination, outstanding performer in a children's series, 1994, for Sesame Street; named a distinguished woman by Northwood University, Palm Springs, CA, 2004; inducted into the Broadcasting Hall of Fame; inducted into the Rhode Island Hall of Fame; honorary member of the Daughters of the American Revolution; some sources cite an Image Award from the National Association for the Advancement of Colored People.

CREDITS

Television Appearances; Series:

Regular performer, The Entertainers, CBS, 1964–65.

Voice of Granny Goodwitch, Linus the Lionhearted (animated), CBS, 1964–66.

Regular performer, The Steve Allen Comedy Hour, CBS, 1966–67.

Margie "Pete" Peterson, That Girl, ABC, 1967–68.

Regular performer, Rowan and Martin's "Laugh-In" (also known as Laugh-In), NBC, 1967–73.

The Dean Martin Show (also known as The Dean Martin Comedy Hour), NBC, 1971–74.

Fi, "The Lost Saucer," The Krofft Supershow (also known as The Krofft Superstar Hour), ABC, 1975–76.

Voice of Gladys Ormphby, Baggy Pants & the Nitwits (animated), NBC, 1977–78.

Aunt Minerva, Legends of the Superheroes, NBC, 1979.

Miss Take, Miss Fit, and other roles, Whatever Turns You On, CTV (Canada), 1979.

Leticia Bradford, Days of Our Lives (also known as Cruise of Deception: Days of Our Lives, Days, and DOOL), NBC, 1983.

Voice of Aunt Pruney Paw, Paw Paws (animated), beginning 1985.

Voices of Mama Bear and Grizzly Gran, The Berenstain Bears (animated), CBS, 1985–87.

Voice of Nose Marie, Pound Puppies (animated), ABC, 1986–88.

Voice of Ma, Chip 'n' Dale Rescue Rangers (animated), syndicated, 1989–93.

Voice, The Adventures of Don Coyote and Sancho Panda (animated; also known as Don Coyote and Sancho Panda), syndicated, 1990–93.

Voice of Mandy, Cro (animated), ABC, 1993–95.

Ruthie, Suzy Kabloozy, and voices for animated segments, Sesame Street (also known as Canadian Sesame Street, The New Sesame Street, Open Sesame, Sesame Park, and Les amis de Sesame), PBS, 1993–99.

Television Appearances; Movies:

Ruth Clayton, In Name Only, ABC, 1969.

Mrs. Rudnick, Boys Will Be Boys, 1997.

Television Appearances; Specials:

The Bob Hope Show, NBC, 1970.

The Wonderful World of Girls (also known as Gene Kelly's Wonderful World of Girls), NBC, 1970.

Pure Goldie, NBC, 1971.

Hellzapoppin, ABC, 1972.

Host, Triple Play '73, NBC, 1973.

Keep U.S. Beautiful, NBC, 1973.

Cleaning woman, "The Crazy Comedy Concert," ABC Afterschool Specials, ABC, 1974.

Paradise, CBS, 1974.

Sandy in Disneyland, CBS, 1974.

Herself, The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Lucille Ball, NBC, 1975.

The Flip Wilson Comedy Special, NBC, 1975.

Funshine Saturday Sneak Peek, ABC, 1975.

(Uncredited) Mrs. Gladys Ormphby, The Dean Martin Celebrity Roast: Frank Sinatra, NBC, 1977.

Princess, Once upon a Brothers Grimm, CBS, 1977.

The Mad Mad Mad Mad World of the Super Bowl, NBC, 1977.

"Mickey's 50," The Wonderful World of Disney (also known as Disneyland, Disneylandia, The Disney Sunday Movie, Disney's Wonderful World, The Magical World of Disney, Walt Disney, Walt Disney Presents, and Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color), NBC, 1978.

Herself, "Kraft Salutes Disney's 25th Anniversary," Disney's Wonderful World (also known as Disneyland, Disneylandia, The Disney Sunday Movie, The Magical World of Disney, Walt Disney, Walt Disney Presents, Walt Disney's Wonderful World of Color, and The Wonderful World of Disney), NBC, 1982.

Voice of Mrs. Page, "The Incredible Book Escape" (live action and animated), CBS Library, CBS, 1982.

The Bob Hope Special: Bob Hope's Women I Love—Beautiful but Funny, NBC, 1982.

Dom DeLuise and Friends, Part 2, ABC, 1984.

Blanche, Kids Incorporated: Rock in the New Year, 1986.

Super Night at the Super Bowl, CBS, 1987.

Voice of Felonia, Rockin' with Judy Jetson (animated), syndicated, 1988.

Voice of Chrissy's mother, Marvin: Baby of the Year (animated), CBS, 1989.

Country Comedy Hour, The Nashville Network, 1989.

Super Bloopers & New Practical Jokes, NBC, 1990.

Miss Ninnie, Dorf's Family Stump, CBS, 1991.

Welcome Home, America!—A USO Salute to America's Sons and Daughters, ABC, 1991.

Super Bloopers & New Practical Jokes, NBC, 1992.

(In archive footage) Herself, Rowan and Martin's "Laugh-In" Past and Present Christmas (also known as Laugh-In Past Christmas Present), NBC, 1993.

(In archive footage) Herself, Rowan and Martin's "Laugh-In" 25th Anniversary (also known as Rowan and Martin's "Laugh-In" 25th Anniversary Reunion), NBC, 1993.

Ruthie, Sesame Street Stays Up Late! A Monster New Year's Eve Party, PBS, 1993.

Rowan and Martin's "Laugh-In": A Valentine Day's Special, NBC, 1994.

Sesame Street's All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever! (also known as All-Star 25th Birthday: Stars and Street Forever!), ABC, 1994.

Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, NBC, 1996.

71st Annual Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade, NBC, 1997.

(In archive footage) Roaster, The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts, 1998.

Elmopalooza, ABC, 1998.

The 67th Annual Hollywood Christmas Parade, UPN, 1998.

Herself, A Hot Dog Program (also known as Rick Sebak: A Hot Dog Program), PBS, 1999.

(Uncredited; in archive footage) Ruthie, 50 Greatest TV Animals, Animal Planet, 2003.

Herself, TV Land Convention Special, TV Land, 2004.

Appeared in other specials.

Television Appearances; Awards Presentations:

The Third Annual American Comedy Awards, ABC, 1989.

Television Appearances; Episodic:

Mrs. Mildred Weatherspoon, "A Coffin Too Frequent," The Monkees, NBC, 1967.

Herself, The Mike Douglas Show, syndicated, 1967.

"Gloria Plays Cupid," That's Life, ABC, 1969.

Guest, Front Page Challenge, 1969.

Herself, The Leslie Uggams Show, CBS, 1969.

"Love and the Decision/Love and the Haunted House," Love, American Style, ABC, 1970.

Witch, "The Witches Feast," Night Gallery, NBC, 1971.

Herself, The Flip Wilson Show, NBC, 1971, 1972 (multiple episodes), 1973.

Annie Whipple, "My Fair Buzzi," Here's Lucy, CBS, 1972.

The David Steinberg Show, CBS, 1972.

Amelia Murphy, The Young and the Restless (also known as Y & R), CBS, 1973.

Rose Jenkins, "Judgement," Medical Center, CBS, 1973.

"Love and the Missing Mister/Love and the Old Lover/Love and the Twanger Tutor," Love, American Style, ABC, 1973.

The Burns and Schreiber Comedy Hour, ABC, 1973.

"Little Red Riding Hood," Harlem Globetrotter's Popcorn Machine, CBS, 1974.

"Stan and the Wealthy Widow," Lotsa Luck, NBC, 1974.

Herself, Tony Orlando and Dawn (also known as The Tony Orlando and Dawn Rainbow Hour), CBS, 1975.

Amy Merkl, "Grateful," Emergency! (also known as Emergency One and Emergencia), NBC, 1976.

"The Happy State of Depression," Medical Center, CBS, 1976.

Herself, The Muppet Show, syndicated, 1976.

Herself, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (also known as The Best of Carson), NBC, 1977.

Marty Robbins' Spotlight, syndicated, 1977.

Patti, "Double Wedding/The Ventriloquists/Julie Falls Hard," The Love Boat, ABC, 1978.

The Donna Fargo Show, syndicated, 1978.

Herself, "Roller Disco: Part 2," CHiPS (also known as CHiPs Patrol), NBC, 1979.

(Uncredted) Herself, "Great 5K Star Race and Boulder Wrap Party: Part 2," CHiPS (also known as ChiPs Patrol), NBC, 1980.

Chloe Beismeyer (title role), "Chloe," Alice, CBS, 1981.

Chloe Beismeyer, "Henry's Bitter Half," Alice, CBS, 1981.

"Letter from Broadway/Letter from Cyrano/Letter from a Secret Admirer," Aloha Paradise, ABC, 1981.

Laura Morley, "Three on a Mismatch," Trapper John, M.D., CBS, 1982.

Host, The Shape of Things, NBC, 1982.

The Book of Lists, CBS, 1982.

Madame's Place, syndicated, 1982.

Mrs. Mound, "Reading, Writing, and Robbing," Gun Shy, CBS, 1983.

Herself, "Dom DeLuise," This Is Your Life, syndicated, 1983.

Voice, "Miss Nelson Is Back," Reading Rainbow, PBS, 1983.

"Flashpoint," Masquerade, ABC, 1984.

Juliette, "That Dynamite Girl," George Burns Comedy Week, CBS, 1985.

Mrs. Wilcox, "Lucy Makes a Hit with John Ritter," Life with Lucy, ABC, 1986.

Tiffany Cobb, "Mrs. Cobb's Daughter," Check It Out, USA Network, 1986.

"Perfect Match," Down to Earth, WTBS (now TBS), c. 1986.

"Who Killed Maxwell Thorn?," The Love Boat, ABC, 1987.

"Career Crunch," Out of This World, syndicated, 1988.

"Corporate Munsters," The Munsters Today (also known as The New Munsters), syndicated, 1988.

Mrs. Roberta Powers, "House Party," Saved by the Bell, NBC, 1990.

Carol, "Animal Magnetism," They Came from Outer Space, syndicated, 1991.

Voice of Dottie Debson, "Dances with Bigfoot," Dark-wing Duck (animated), ABC and The Disney Channel, 1991.

Mattie Fae Tillman, "In the Brick of Time," Major Dad, CBS, 1992.

Judge Jackson, "I've Fallen and I Won't Get Up," The Jamie Foxx Show, The WB, 1997.

Delilah, "Good Will Haunting," Sabrina, the Teenage Witch (also known as Sabrina and Sabrina Goes to College), ABC, 1998.

Telephone operator, "Here Comes Santa Claus," 7th. Heaven (also known as Seventh Heaven and 7th Heaven: Beginnings), The WB, 1998.

Herself, The Rosie O'Donnell Show, syndicated, 1998.

Liz Summer, "The Roast," Diagnosis Murder, CBS, 1999.

Old lady, "Lie Like a Dog," 100 Deeds for Eddie McDowd, Nickelodeon, 2000.

"One Hundred," 7th Heaven (animated; also known as Seventh Heaven and 7th Heaven: Beginnings), The WB, 2001.

Nurse Kravitz, Passions (also known as Harmony's Passions and The Passions Storm), NBC, 2003 (multiple episodes).

Appeared in other programs, including Adam-12, NBC; The Bobby Vinton Show, syndicated; The Carol Burnett Show (also known as Carol Burnett and Friends), CBS; Cher, CBS; The Dom DeLuise Show, CBS; Donny and Marie, ABC; Fridays, ABC; The Garry Moore Show, CBS; The Glen Campbell Goodtime Hour, CBS; Hee Haw, CBS and syndicated; The Jonathan Winters Show, CBS; Lucky Luke, [Italy]; The Mac Davis Show, NBC; Pop Goes the Country, syndicated; The Rene Simard Show, CBC; and The Sonny and Cher Comedy Hour, CBS.

Television Appearances; Pilots:

Featured performer, The Rowan & Martin's "Laugh-In" Pilot Special, NBC, 1967.

Ruth, Singles, CBS, 1972.

Aunt Minerva, Legends of the Superheroes, NBC, 1979.

Television Additional Voices; Animated Series:

The Smurfs (also known as Smurf's Adventures), NBC, c. 1981–90.

The New Jetsons, syndicated, 1985.

Rick Moranis in Gravedale High (also known as Gravedale High), NBC, 1990–91.

The Addams Family, ABC, 1992–95.

The Savage Dragon, USA Network, c. 1995–97.

Sheep in the Big City, Cartoon Network, 2000–2002.

Television Additional Voices; Animated Specials:

Hollyrock-a-Bye Baby, ABC, 1993.

I Yabba-Dabba Do!, ABC, 1993.

Film Appearances:

Voice of soprano, It's Tough to Be a Bird (live action and animated short film), Buena Vista, 1969.

Elvira, Skatetown, U.S.A., Columbia, 1977.

Olga, Record City, American International Pictures, 1977.

Opposing coach, Freaky Friday, Buena Vista, 1977.

Damsel in distress, The Villain (also known as Cactus Jack), Rastar, 1979.

Doctor Rheems (Ecumenical Enchantress), The North Avenue Irregulars (also known as Hill's Angels), Buena Vista, 1979.

Tough Kate (also known as "Granny"), The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again, Buena Vista, 1979.

Scavenger Hunt, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1979.

Consuelo, Chu Chu and the Philly Flash, Twentieth Century-Fox, 1981.

Virginia Lane, The Being (also known as Easter Sunday, Freak, and The Pottsville Horror), New World Pictures, 1983.

Chuck's mother, Surf II (also known as Surf II: The End of the Trilogy), Aquarius Releasing/International Film Marketing, 1984.

Voices of Ma'mzelle Hepzibah and Miz Beaver, Pogo for President: "I Go Pogo" (animated; also known as Go Pogo, I Go Pogo, and Pogo for President), 1984.

Emcee, Dream Boys Revue (also known as The Female Impersonator Pageant), 1985.

Petal McGurk, Bad Guys, Columbia, 1986.

Voice, Milroy: Santa's Misfit Mutt (animated), United American Video, 1987.

Betty Conklin, Dixie Lanes (also known as After These Years Indian Summer and Relative Secrets), Miramax, 1988.

Marilyn, Up Your Alley, Curb Entertainment/Esquire Films, 1988.

Voice of Nose Marie, Pound Puppies and the Legend of the Big Paw (animated), TriStar, 1988.

Madame Gypsy, My Mom's a Werewolf (also known as My Mum's a Werewolf), Crown International Pictures, 1989.

Herself, Hollywood on Horses (documentary), 1989.

Jody Moore, Wishful Thinking, 1990.

Widow Knockerby, Diggin' Up Business (also known as Say Bye-Bye), 1990.

Maw, Troublemakers (also known as Botte di natale, The Fight before Christmas, The Night before Christmas, and Die Troublemaker), Triboro Entertainment Group, 1994.

Ruthie, The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland, Sony Pictures Releasing, 1999.

Lois Troy, Nothing but the Truth, Film Artists Network, 2000.

Gertie Hemple, Adventures in Homeschooling, 5K Films, 2004.

Herself, Goodnight, We Love You (documentary), Mansfield Avenue Productions, 2004.

(In archive footage) Herself, Derailroaded (documentary), Ubin Twinz Productions, 2005.

Perril, Fallen Angels, 2006.

Voice of Nana, Bongee Bear and the Kingdom of Rhythm (animated), Yankee Films, 2006.

Some sources cite appearances in The Stand-In, c. 1999; and in The Trouble with Hello.

Film Work:

Singing voice of Frou Frou, The Aristocats (animated musical), Buena Vista, 1970.

Stage Appearances:

Misguided Tour (revue), 1959.

Agnes Gooch, Auntie Mame, 1961.

Little Mary Sunshine (musical), Orpheum Theatre, then Players Theatre, both New York City, 1961.

Helena, Babes in the Wood (musical), Orpheum Theatre, 1964–65.

Good fairy, receptionist, and woman with hat, Sweet Charity (musical), Palace Theatre, New York City, 1966–67.

Wally's Cafe, Cherry County Playhouse, Muskegon, MI, 1992.

Also appeared in The Ruth Buzzi Show, Las Vegas, NV, and Pasadena Playhouse, CA; in A Man's a Man, off-Broadway production; and in Cinderella.

RECORDINGS

Videos:

(Uncredited) Performer in "Gump" music video, "Weird Al" Yankovic: The Ultimate Video Collection, Volcano Records Entertainment Group, 2003.

Music Videos:

"Weird Al" Yankovic, "Gump," 1996.

Singles:

"You Oughta Hear the Song"/"57 Chevrolet," United Artists, 1965.

(With Arte Johnson) "Very InterestingVDon't Futz Around," Reprise, 1967.

OTHER SOURCES

Periodicals:

Interview, November, 1994, p. 39.

TV Guide, August 23, 2003, p. 58.

Electronic:

Ruth Buzzi.com, http://www.ruthbuzzi.com, May 1, 2006.