76-year-old comic Leo Gallagher Dies from catastrophic organ failure
Leo Gallagher, a legendary comedian known for breaking watermelons as part of his act, has passed away at age 76.
According to his manager Craig Marquardo, Gallagher passed away early on November 11 in the Palm Springs region while receiving hospice care.
His agent said to TMZ Massive organ failure caused Gallagher’s death.
According to a statement provided to CNN by Marquardo, the comedian died “after a short health battle” and “passed away surrounded by his family in Palm Springs, California.”
He had been sick for a while, suffering numerous heart attacks over the years.
The rep tells TMZ, “Gallagher stayed on the road touring America for decades. He was pretty sure he held a record for the most stand-up dates, by attrition alone,” adding, “While Gallagher had his detractors, he was an undeniable talent and an American success story.”
After college, Gallagher began performing as a comedian. After making his big debut in 1975 on Johnny Carson’s “Tonight Show,” he went on to establish himself as one of the country’s most well-known and recognizable comedians.
According to an obituary published by Marquardo, he rose to fame in the early 1980s with a comedy special named “An Uncensored Evening,” which was the first comedic stand-up special to ever show on cable television.
Gallagher was known for smashing food on stage and spraying the audience with it with a hand-made sledgehammer he called the “Sledge-O-Matic.”
