Ruth Buzzi, Purse-Wielding Gladys of ‘Laugh-In,’ Is Dead at 88

She had other roles onstage and on TV, but none more memorable than the wary spinster fending off male advances on that raucous sketch show.Ruth Buzzi as her best-known character, Gladys Ormphby, on “Laugh-In” with Sam Shepard, left (the playwright was moonlighting as a drummer), and Peter Stampfel of the Holy Modal Rounders, that week’s musical guests.