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Gallagher (comedian)

Leo Anthony Gallagher Jr. (July 24, 1946 – November 11, 2022),[1] known simply as Gallagher, was an American comedian who became one of the most recognizable comedic performers of the 1980s for his prop and observational routine that included the signature act of smashing a watermelon on stage with a wooden sledgehammer. For more than 30 years, he played between 100 and 200 shows a year, destroying tens of thousands of melons with the sledgehammer he called the "Sledge-O-Matic".[1][2] This last sketch was meant to poke fun at infomercials who peddled similarly inane products and whose popularity apexed in the late 1970s and early 1980s before waning during the 1990s.

Gallagher

Leo Anthony Gallagher Jr.

(1946-07-24)July 24, 1946

November 11, 2022(2022-11-11) (aged 76)

  • Comedian
  • actor

1969–2020

Geralyn Ann Hines March 5, 1988 – ?
Deedra Kay Higgins 1980–?

2

Early life[edit]

Gallagher was born in Fort Bragg, North Carolina, on July 24, 1946,[1] to a family of Irish and Croatian heritage.[3] Until the age of nine, he lived in Lorain, Ohio, but because of his asthma, the family moved to South Tampa, Florida, where he attended Henry B. Plant High School. He went on to graduate from the University of South Florida with a chemical engineering degree in 1970.[4][3] He minored in English literature.

Conflict with brother[edit]

In the early 1990s, Gallagher's younger brother Ron asked him for permission to perform shows using Gallagher's trademark Sledge-O-Matic routine. Leo granted his permission on the condition that Ron, who shared a strong likeness to Leo, and his manager clarified in promotional materials that it was Ron Gallagher, not Leo Gallagher, who was performing. Ron typically performed in venues smaller than those in which Leo Gallagher performed. After several years, Ron began promoting his act as Gallagher Too or Gallagher Two. In some instances, Ron's act was promoted in a way that left unclear the fact that he was not the original Gallagher.[28][29]


Leo initially responded by requesting only that his brother not use the Sledge-O-Matic routine. Ron nonetheless continued to tour as Gallagher Too using the routine. In August 2000, Leo sued his brother for trademark violations and false advertising.[28] The courts ultimately sided with Leo, and granted an injunction prohibiting Ron from performing any act that impersonated his brother in small clubs and venues. This injunction also prohibited Ron from intentionally bearing likeness to Leo.

Legacy[edit]

In 2004, Comedy Central rated Gallagher the 100th best stand-up comedian of all time.[30] Gallagher was displeased with being ranked so low, and he told The Oregonian, "I looked at the other people and I was trying to find anyone I ever heard of. How could I be behind people I never heard of? ... I made 13 one-hour shows for Showtime, which are available on videotape. I invented the one-man show on cable."[31]


Gallagher is portrayed by Paul F. Tompkins in the 2022 movie, Weird: The Al Yankovic Story.[8]


Announcing his death on November 11, 2022, his manager said that while Gallagher had his detractors, "He was an undeniable talent and an American success story".[8]

Scientific study[edit]

In the 1980s, researchers at Loma Linda University used Gallagher's comedy to study laughter's effect on the body. Taking blood samples from ten medical school students while they watched Gallagher in action, the researchers observed the subjects' white blood cells increasing. The scientists said that laughing appeared to have boosted their immune systems.[1]

Personal life[edit]

Gallagher claimed that he lost nearly all of his fortune speculating on the stock market, and joked that he was "broke." However, his long-time manager disputed this as a bit of comedic exaggeration, adding, "We all need to be as broke as Leo."[22]


During a performance on March 10, 2011, in Rochester, Minnesota, Gallagher collapsed on stage, clutching his chest. He was rushed to Saint Marys Hospital, where it was determined that he had suffered a minor heart attack.[32]


A year later, on March 14, 2012, just before a performance in Lewisville, Texas, Gallagher began to experience intense chest pains. Gallagher's manager said the comic suffered a "mild to serious" heart attack and was placed in the hospital in a medically induced coma while doctors tried to determine what was wrong with his heart.[33][34] After replacing two coronary stents, doctors slowly brought him out of the coma on March 18, 2012. He quickly recovered and started talking to his family. His manager, Christine Sherrer, stated that he was breathing on his own, moving, and telling jokes.[35]


Gallagher died on November 11, 2022, in hospice care at his home in Palm Desert, California. The cause of death was organ failure from numerous heart attacks he suffered over the course of his life. He was 76.[36][37]

An Uncensored Evening (1980)

Cosmos (1980)

Mad as Hell (1981)

Two Real (1981)

Totally New (1982)

That's Stupid (1982)

Stuck in the Sixties (1983)

The Maddest (1983)

Melon Crazy (1984)

Over Your Head (1984)

The Bookkeeper (1985)

The Messiest (1986); contains clips from previous specials

Overboard (1987)

We Need a Hero (1992)

Smashing Cheeseheads (1997)

Messin' Up Texas (1998)

Sledge-O-Matic.com (2000)

Tropic of Gallagher (2007)

[38]

Live at Gadsden State: I'll Cut Your Pecker Off" (2009)

[39]

Gotham Comedy Live (2014); episode "Gallagher" recorded on October 9 at the Gotham Club in in New York City[24]

Chelsea

Official website

at IMDb

Gallagher