Before fronting numerous solo specials, the performer got his start on Johnny Carson’s The Tonight Show in the 1970s.
Gallagher, the beloved comedian who rose to prominence onThe Tonight Showand famously smashed watermelons throughout his illustrious stand-up career, has died at age 76.
The star died at his home in Palm Springs, Calif, early Friday morning,The New York Timesreports.
Stand-up comedian Gallagher has died at 76.Everett Collection
Gallagher’s manager, Craig Marquardo, told the outlet the comic died from organ failure following “numerous heart attacks” throughout his life.
After launching his career on a 1975 episode of Johnny Carson’sThe Tonight Show, Gallagher proclaimed himself to be the “Wizard of Odd,” regularly performing outlandish acts with food during his sets, such as splattering watermelon, cantaloupes, and cottage cheese.
He also fronted 13 solo specials onShowtimeand more on HBO, and appeared in several memorable Budweiser ads including a commercial in which he used a watermelon as a bowling ball.
TheTimesreports he had more than 100 concert dates a year for three decades, across which he destroyed over 15,000 melons using his sledgehammer of choice, the “Sledge-O-Matic.”
In addition to his work in live comedy, Gallagher whose real first name was Leo appeared on television inThe Smothers Brothers Comedy Hourand in the 2013 movieThe Book of Daniel.
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