Gallagher was one of the most iconic comedians of the 1980s, known for smashing watermelons with a sledgehammer.
- Died: November 11, 2022 (Who else died on November 11?)
- Details of death: Died at his home in Palm Springs, California of organ failure at the age of 76.
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The Prop Comic
Gallagher (born Leo Anthony Gallagher Jr.) honed his prop comic act in California at the Comedy Store and the Ice House. He appeared on Johnny Carson’s “The Tonight Show” in the 1970s. He performed the first comedy special to air on the cable network Showtime in 1980 and his career took off, becoming one of the most recognizable comics during the 1980s. He would do many comedy specials for Showtime and appeared on HBO. Gallagher’s trademark routine was using a homemade sledgehammer he named the “Sledge-O-Matic” to smash fruit, usually watermelons, and splash the audience. He was sued once by an audience member for injuries sustained at his show and the court sided with the comic. Beyond props, Gallagher was known for observational humor. Later in his career, he was accused of racism and homophobia in his act which caused some venues to cancel his show. He toured constantly up until the COVID-19 pandemic.
Notable Quote
“We just worked this out recently. I have done 200 shows a year for 35 years, use about nine watermelons a show. So that’s 63,000 watermelons. I have spent over $250,000 of my own money on watermelons.” – He told The Produce News in 2013
Tributes to Gallagher
Full Obituary: Variety
