‘Laugh-In’ Star Gary Owens, Comedic Hollywood Legend, Dies at 80

LOS ANGELES - Feb. 16, 2015 - PRLog -- Feb. 12, 2015 (Los Angeles) – Beloved TV, radio and voiceover performer Gary Owens, who began his performing career at the age of 16, passed away at the age of 80. A diabetic since he was eight, he died peacefully at his Encino home surrounded by his family, Arleta Owens, wife of 57 years, and his sons Scott and Chris.

Owens had a uniquely familiar mellifluous baritone voice with impeccable nuanced timing.  He was equally adept at comedy or deadpan delivery. He was the announcers’ announcer, performing in 16 national television series and hosting more than 10,000 nationally syndicated and local radio shows. The phrase Owens created on his KMPC radio show, “broadcasting from beautiful downtown Burbank” later became a nightly catchphrase on Johnny Carson’s “Tonight Show.”

In 1979, Gary Owens was named the Top Radio Personality in the World by Billboard Magazine at the International Broadcast Forum in Toronto. He received his star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1980 at 6743 Hollywood Boulevard, between those of two longtime friends, Walt Disney and Betty White,

It seemed as though Owens knew everyone in the entertainment industry, and those who knew him adored him. He was best friends with comedian Jonathan Winters.

In 1995, Owens was inducted into The National Radio Hall of Fame in Washington D.C. alongside some of the biggest personalities in the business, including Carol Burnett, Red Skelton, George Burns, Ted Turner, Larry King and Garrison Keillor.

He was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in Chicago in 1996.  In 2001, Owens was inducted into The National Television Hall of Fame (by the National Association of Broadcasters-the NAB).

Gary Owens was the first radio star to be inducted into the Hollywood HaIl of Fame presented by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce. He is listed in the Gavin History of Radio as one of the greatest disc jockeys of all time. He achieved nationwide fame from Billboard Awards (he is a five-time recipient).

He was on every episode on the groundbreaking 1968-1974 NBC TV series, "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" with his trademark hand-over-the ear announcing style. “Laugh-In” paved the way for “Saturday Night Live.”

Perhaps most impressive of all is Owens' consistent durability in an industry hardly known for long-lasting careers. He appeared on camera in more than 1,000 network TV show episodes including: Mad About You, Sabrina The Teenage Witch, Roseanne, That 70's Show, Night Court, Batman, Battlestar Gallactica, The Green Hornet, The Gong Show, (original host), McHale's Navy, The Munsters, I Dream of Genie, The Jack Benny Show, Barnaby Jones, Simon and Simon, Ellery Queen, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Bob Hope Specials, and Lucille Ball Specials. His voiceover work was well known on such notable series as America’s Funniest Home Videos, Wonderful World of Disney, Bewitched, Full House, and is a recognizable voice at Disney theme parks.

Gary Owens has always served his industry well, having been voted into the Board of Governors of the Emmys and the Grammys for many years.

Owens was Honorary Mayor of Woodland Hills, California, taking over from the legendary Buster Keaton and Honorary Mayor of the City of Encino after Tim Conway.

Gary Owens has starred in over 3,000 animated cartoon episodes as a superhero or as the narrator. As a superhero, he portrayed Space Ghost, Blue Falcon, Roger Ramjet, Powdered Toast Man and even Batman.

His feature film career includes The Love Bug (the biggest film of 1969), National Lampoon's European Vacation, I'm Gonna Git You Sucka, Border to Border, Hysterical, How I Got Into College, The Green Hornet, Neil Simon’s Prisoner of Second Avenue, and many more.

As an author, Gary's book, "How to Make a Million Dollars with Your Voice or Lose Your Tonsils Trying" for McGraw-Hill Publishing is now in its 4th printing. He also wrote the entertaining 1973 book, What to Do While You're Holding the Phone.

Gary’s daily radio show aired at KMPC Los Angeles for 20 years and later he served as Vice President of Gene Autry's Golden West Broadcasters. In 1983 he became a Vice President at The Gannett Company, then the USA's biggest media corporation.

For three decades, Owens emceed and did the play-by-play commentary for The Hollywood Celebrity Baseball Game at Dodger Stadium. Working with Frank Sinatra, Dean Martin, Sammy Davis, Jr., Mark Harmon, Heather Locklear, Pamela Anderson, Garry Marshall and so many more.

He has been involved in hundreds of charitable causes over the years, raising more than 250 million dollars in the process.

Gary Owens is regarded as a "legend" by Billboard, Radio Ink, Broadcasting, Radio & Records, Electronic Media, The Gavin Report, Tuned-In and Advertising Age. Adweek calls Owens "A Super Power Name.” Columnist Dan O'Day described Gary Owens as "The Babe Ruth of Broadcasting." He was listed as one of the top announcers in the history of television by Vanity Fair's All-Star, All-Time TV Hall of Fame. In 1998, Nick at Night's TV Land poll selected Owens as their favorite TV announcer. In 2003, Don Barrett’s LARadio.com named Gary the Top Radio personality in Los Angeles for the past 50 years.

Gary Owens’ career spanned seven decades, from 1950 until 2015. He did what he loved best and worked right up to the end, voicing TV promos a month before his passing.

The Owens Hollywood legend continues with his two sons who are both successful Hollywood TV producers.

Scott Owens is an Emmy and Producers Guild of America award winning producer, known for his work on “The Amazing Race,” “America’s Most Smartest Model,” “Flavor of Love” and more.

Gary Owens youngest son, Executive Producer Chris Dane Owens, is co-founder of a multimedia production company, Biederman/Owens Entertainment, which specializes in the creation of original Reality TV concepts.  The company was discovered by former William Morris Agency powerhouse, Ben Silverman. Chris Owens was nominated for an Emmy award for his series, “Instant Beauty Pageant,” in collaboration with Jerry Biederman and producer Mark Wolper (Warner Bros.). His first series was Animal Planet’s “Who Gets the Dog?”

A memorial service for Gary Owens will be announced. The family requests that in lieu of flowers, donations be made to the Children’s Diabetes Foundation.