About Henry Gibson
James Bateman (September 21, 1935 - September 14, 2009), known professionally as Henry Gibson, was an American actor, comedian, and poet. He played roles in the television sketch-comedy series Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In from 1968 to 1971, was the voice of Wilbur in the animated feature Charlotte's Web (1973), portrayed country star Haven Hamilton in Robert Altman's Nashville (1975), and played the Illinois Nazi leader in The Blues Brothers (1980). Born in Germantown, Philadelphia, he developed a comedy act early in his career in which he played a poet from Fairhope, Alabama, and adopted the stage name Henry Gibson as a same-sounding phrase for the Norwegian dramatist Henrik Ibsen. On Laugh-In he often played "The Poet," reciting poems with satirical or political themes, and was nominated for a Golden Globe in 1971. His final major acting role was as Judge Clark Brown on Boston Legal from 2004 to 2008. He died of cancer on September 14, 2009.
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Frequently asked questions
Where does the name Henry Gibson come from?
James Bateman took the stage name Henry Gibson as a sound-alike of Henrik Ibsen, the Norwegian dramatist.
What did Henry Gibson do on Laugh-In?
On Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, where he appeared from 1968 to 1971, he often played The Poet, reciting poems with satirical or political themes, and earned a Golden Globe nomination in 1971.
Who did Henry Gibson voice in Charlotte's Web?
Gibson was the voice of Wilbur in the 1973 animated feature Charlotte's Web.
What roles did Henry Gibson play in films?
He played country star Haven Hamilton in Robert Altman's Nashville in 1975 and the Illinois Nazi leader in The Blues Brothers in 1980.
Was Henry Gibson on Boston Legal?
His final major acting role was Judge Clark Brown on Boston Legal, from 2004 to 2008.
Where was Henry Gibson born?
Henry Gibson was born in Germantown, Philadelphia, on September 21, 1935, and early on developed an act as a poet from Fairhope, Alabama.
