Ruth Buzzi(I)
- Actress
- Soundtrack
Ruth Buzzi was Born July 24, 1936 in South County (Westerly), Rhode
Island to Rena Pauline and Angelo Peter Buzzi, a nationally recognized
stone sculptor. She Raised in Wequetequock, Connecticut, and attended
Stonington High School. She Gained experience as a cheerleader
performing before crowds at athletic events. At 17, she enrolled at the
Pasadena Playhouse for the Performing Arts, among her classmates were
the immeasurable talents of
Dustin Hoffman and
Gene Hackman. She graduated with honors.
Ruth went on to Act in a wide variety of revues throughout New England,
and worked alongside other young and talented performers who were just
beginning their careers at the time. Including the legendary
Barbra Streisand,
Joan Rivers,
Dom DeLuise,
Bernadette Peters and
Carol Burnett. She came to national
recognition when she teamed up with
Dom DeLuise in an act in which he played an
incompetent magician and she was his "sidekick" named "Shakuntala" who
never spoke but sported a wide grin. The audiences demanded more of
them and they eventually played several major nighttime television
variety shows including
The Garry Moore Show (1958)
"The Entertainers" with Carol Burnett, and
Your Show of Shows (1950)
with Imogene Coca. She was hired by
Bob Fosse to perform in his then wife
Gwen Verdon's hit Broadway musical "Sweet
Charity". During that time she auditioned for and received a permanent
place in
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In (1967),
on which she played everything from deadpan old woman, to hard-bitten
drunks, to southern belles to hookers. Memorable characters include
Busy-Buzzi, a Hollywood gossip columnist; Doris Sidebottom, the
hard-bitten drunk; and a stewardess (who she teamed up with Debbie Reynolds). The two played inconsiderate flight attendants.
More to explore
Add demo reel with IMDbPro
How much have you seen?
Keep track of how much of Ruth Buzzi’s work you have seen. Go to your list.