Vale: Gary Owens

US announcer and voice artist Gary Owens, best known as the voice of Laugh-In and the man behind Roger Ramjet, has died, aged 80.

He died at home in California following complications from his long-fought diabetes.

Owens became famous playing the zany announcer on Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In, with the line, “From beautiful downtown Burbank…” with his hand cupped to his ear like an old-time announcer.

He never stopped working, doing commercials, variety specials, cartoons, radio shows and even theme-park announcements.

In addition to his work on Laugh-In, he was the announcer on The Wonderful World of Disney and appeared in numerous TV specials with stars including Bob Hope and Lucille Ball.

As the sixties continued, Owens began doing voices for cartoons, including the characters Space Ghost and Roger Ramjet. He was also the narrator for the animated series The Perils of Penelope Pitstop. He also guested as an actor on such sixties TV shows as The Munsters, I Dream of Jeannie and McHales Navy.

Owens received a star on Hollywood Boulevard’s Walk of Fame in 1980.

Source: Washington Post, Examiner