Henry Gibson Poem by gershon hepner

He wasn’t Hendrik Ibsen, but
in “Laugh-In” he recited
a weekly poem, he the butt
of laughter, and delighted
the fans of “Boston Legal, ” playing
the role of crusty judge
whom there was no gainsaying,
because he wouldn’t budge
from common sense, as I will not
as poet. It’s factor
that in my verse I stress a lot,
though like him, I’m an actor.

Henry Gibson, the actor who played the role of poet in 'Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In, ' where he would write brief humorous poems, and the role of a crusty judge in “Boston Legal, ” died in Malibu on September 14,2009:
After serving in the Air Force and studying at the Royal Academy of Dramatic Arts, Gibson — born James Bateman in Philadelphia in 1935 — created his Henry Gibson comic persona, a pun on playwright Henrik Ibsen's name, while working as a theater actor in New York. For three seasons on 'Laugh-In, ' he delivered satirical poems while gripping a giant flower.
After 'Laugh-In, ' Gibson went on to appear in several films, including 'The Long Goodbye' and 'Nashville, ' which earned him a Golden Globe nomination. His most memorable roles included playing the menacing neighbor opposite Tom Hanks in 'The 'Burbs, ' the befuddled priest in 'Wedding Crashers' and voicing Wilbur the Pig in the animated 'Charlotte's Web.'
His recent work included playing cantankerous Judge Clarence Brown on ABC's 'Boston Legal' for five seasons and providing the voice of sardonic, eye-patched reporter Bob Jenkins on Fox's 'King of the Hill.' In 2001, Gibson returned to the stage in New York in the Encores! New York City Center production of Rodgers and Hart's 'A Connecticut Yankee.'


9/21/09