Beloved character actor and comedian Gailard Sartain, best known for his long-running role on the variety show “Hee Haw” and his portrayal of The Big Bopper in “The Buddy Holly Story,” died Thursday, June 19, at age 81, following a prolonged illness.
Sartain’s death was announced late Thursday by The Church Studio in Tulsa, Oklahoma, where his wife Mary Jo volunteers. The recording studio remembered him as “an extraordinary actor, artist, and comedian” in a Facebook post confirming his passing.
Born in Tulsa on September 18, 1943, Sartain began his entertainment career working as a cameraman at a local television station before creating the character Dr. Mazeppa Pompazoidi in 1970. This late-night movie host, dressed in wizard garb, introduced B-movies and performed comedy skits on “The Uncanny Film Festival and Camp Meeting,” which aired on KOTV in Tulsa.
The local show proved to be Sartain’s launching pad to national recognition when a talent scout discovered his work and recruited him in 1972 to join the cast of “Hee Haw.” He remained with the syndicated country music variety show for 20 seasons, appearing more than 170 times over nearly two decades. On the program, Sartain most frequently appeared as Sheriff Orville P. Bullmoose alongside hosts Roy Clark and Buck Owens.
His success on “Hee Haw” led to appearances on other 1970s variety shows, including “Cher,” “The Sonny and Cher Show,” and “Shields and Yarnell.” Sartain also made guest appearances on television series throughout his career, including “Walker, Texas Ranger,” “Chicago Hope,” “The Simpsons,” “The Dukes of Hazzard,” and “King of the Hill.”
Sartain’s film career included memorable roles in several major productions. He portrayed Jiles Perry Richardson Jr., known as The Big Bopper, in the 1978 biopic “The Buddy Holly Story,” reuniting with fellow Tulsa native Gary Busey, who had appeared on his early local television show. Busey starred as Buddy Holly and received an Oscar nomination for the performance.
Among his more than 60 film and television credits, Sartain appeared in Robert Altman’s “Nashville” in an uncredited role, followed by significant parts in “The Outsiders,” “Mississippi Burning,” “Fried Green Tomatoes,” “The Big Easy,” “The Grifters,” and “Stop! Or My Mom Will Shoot.” In “Fried Green Tomatoes,” he played Ed Couch, the husband of Kathy Bates’ lead character.
Sartain also became associated with the “Ernest” comedy franchise, appearing in three films alongside comedian Jim Varney: “Ernest Goes to Camp,” “Ernest Saves Christmas,” and “Ernest Goes to Jail.” He also worked with Varney on the television series “Hey Vern, It’s Ernest!” in the 1980s and performed as part of the duo Chuck and Bobby in commercials with Ernest co-star Bill Byrge.
Beyond acting, Sartain was a talented artist and illustrator who created magazine illustrations and album covers throughout his career. His artwork was featured on the cover of fellow Oklahoman Leon Russell’s 1975 album “Will O’ the Wisp.” Earlier in his career, he worked in New York City as an assistant to illustrator Paul Davis.
Former “Hee Haw” castmate Victoria Hallman, who played Miss Honeydew on the show, reflected on Sartain’s declining health and described him as being like a big brother who made everyone on set laugh so hard they had to redo takes. Hallman noted, “We always fool ourselves that people will hang on.”
Sartain’s final screen role was as Charles Dean in writer-director Cameron Crowe’s 2005 romantic comedy “Elizabethtown.” His passing marks the second loss for “Hee Haw” fans in recent months, following the death of comedic actor Lulu Roman in late April.
Misty Rowe, another “Hee Haw” cast member, paid tribute to Sartain on social media, describing him as her brother on “Hee Haw Honeys” and friend on “Hee Haw” for 19 years. Teresa Knox, CEO of The Church Studio, confirmed to media outlets that Sartain passed away after a long decline in health, though no official cause of death has been revealed.
Sartain is survived by his wife Mary Jo. The Church Studio’s tribute noted his late-night visits to the studio in the 1970s after filming his Mazeppa character, describing these moments as fondly remembered by those who worked there.
