Henry Gibson, the short little comic who was so familiar as "The Poet" on the ROWAN & MARTIN'S LAUGH-IN from 1968-1971, has died of cancer at the age of 73. While LAUGH-IN might have been one of his most familiar roles, Gibson has an extensive filmography of work starting with the 1963 Jerry Lewis comedy classic, THE NUTTY PROFESSOR. But perhaps his greatest acting triumph was his excellent role in NASHVILLE in 1975.

While Gibson was mostly a comic actor adding a quirky touch to films such as 1989's THE BURBS as a bizarre new neighbor, he was a great addition to horror films such as TRAPPED ASHES in 2006. Gibson's last film appearance was in 2008 in BIG STAN. On BOSTON LEGAL, Gibson won praise playing character Judge Clark Brown.

Sadly Gibson's wife, Lois, died in 2007. Gibson has three sons. In another week he would have been 74. He will be deeply missed as a highly intelligent comic who often presented funny and quirky characterizations with a classic deadpan style of mock seriousness.