Comic Gallagher Useless at 76

Comic Gallagher, famously recognized for smashing watermelons as a part of his legendary act, has died … his longtime supervisor tells TMZ.

Gallagher died whereas below hospice care within the Palm Springs space early Friday morning, TMZ has discovered. His supervisor tells TMZ Gallagher died of huge organ failure. He had been in ailing well being for some time, struggling quite a few coronary heart assaults over time.

The rep tells TMZ, “Gallagher stayed on the street touring America for many years. He was fairly positive he held a report for probably the most stand-up dates, by attrition alone,” including, “Whereas Gallagher had his detractors, he was an simple expertise and an American success story.”

Gallagher began working as a comic after faculty … getting his huge break after showing on Johnny Carson‘s ‘Tonight Present’ again in 1975 … exhibiting off his prop humor and rapidly changing into probably the most well-liked and recognizable comedians in America.

His trademark bit was the “Sledge-O-Matic,” the place he’d use a big mallet to destroy a bunch of meals and objects — all the time ending with a watermelon. Whereas it began as a parody of the Veg-O-Matic commercials, it will go on to be what hundreds of thousands would bear in mind him for.

Gallagher’s since develop into a popular culture phenomenon, getting parodied and referenced over time for his act … most lately being performed by fellow comic Paul F. Tompkins in “Bizarre: The Al Yankovic Story.”

The comic had 17 specials spanning a long time of his work … along with his first particular, “An Uncensored Night,” debuting in 1980. He appeared in episodes of “Hollywood Squares,” “WTF with Marc Maron,” “Tosh.0” and “Celeb Huge Brother.”

He had a well being scare again in 2011, as we reported, he collapsed onstage throughout a efficiency in Minnesota. He additionally suffered a coronary heart assault the next 12 months in Texas, moments earlier than he was alleged to carry out.

We final noticed the comic again in 2014 … and he provided us some unbelievable recommendation for these trying to get somebody a present whereas caught on a funds — and it is as hilarious as you’d count on.

Gallagher, who was retired, is survived by his daughter, Aimee, and his son, Barnaby.

He was 76.