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R E S O L U T I O N
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WHEREAS, The passing of renowned comedic actor Ruth Ann Buzzi |
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Perkins of Erath County on May 1, 2025, at the age of 88, has deeply |
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saddened her family, friends, and countless fans; and |
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WHEREAS, Professionally known as Ruth Buzzi, she was born to |
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Angelo and Rena Buzzi in Providence, Rhode Island, on July 24, |
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1936; she grew up in Connecticut and graduated with honors from the |
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Pasadena Playhouse College of Theatre Arts; after working with the |
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likes of Rudy Vallee and Dom DeLuise, she was hired as a regular on |
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The Steve Allen Comedy Hour; she then became a key cast member on |
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the groundbreaking sketch comedy Laugh-In; her most iconic |
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character, the perpetually indignant, handbag-wielding Gladys |
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Ormphby, even outlived the hit show, making appearances at |
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celebrity roasts and in a "Weird Al" Yankovic music video; and |
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WHEREAS, Ms. Buzzi gained a younger audience with a number of |
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notable roles, including shopkeeper Ruthie on Sesame Street and |
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voice work for such cartoons as The Berenstain Bears and The Smurfs; |
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she performed in more than 20 movies and guest starred on many |
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sitcoms as well; Johnny Carson hosted her eight times on The Tonight |
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Show; and |
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WHEREAS, On December 10, 1978, she married Kent Perkins, and |
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they eventually settled on a 600-acre ranch near Stephenville; the |
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couple collected classic automobiles, and Ms. Buzzi enjoyed |
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watching movies, taking ATV rides, making dinner for her family, |
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socializing with friends, and painting; she never sold her works, |
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instead donating them to charity; among the numerous organizations |
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she supported were the Make-A-Wish Foundation, the Special |
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Olympics, St. Jude Children's Research Hospital, CASA, and a |
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children's summer art camp through the Dallas Museum of Biblical |
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Art; an animal lover, she adored her dog, horses, and cats and |
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raised funds for the Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch and similar groups; |
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she was a Baptist and attended White's Chapel Methodist Church in |
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Southlake with her husband; and |
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WHEREAS, Ruth Buzzi brought joy and laughter to innumerable |
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people over the course of her remarkable career, and although she is |
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greatly missed, she leaves a legacy that will continue to resonate |
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in the years to come; now, therefore, be it |
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RESOLVED, That the House of Representatives of the 89th Texas |
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Legislature hereby pay tribute to the life of Ruth Ann Buzzi Perkins |
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and extend sincere sympathy to the members of her family: to her |
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husband, Kent Perkins; to her brother, Edward Buzzi; to her nieces, |
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Suzanne Buzzi and Cheryl Buzzi Stakley; to her great-niece, Madison |
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Stakley; and to her other relatives and friends; and, be it further |
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RESOLVED, That an official copy of this resolution be |
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prepared for her family and that when the Texas House of |
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Representatives adjourns this day, it do so in memory of Ruth Buzzi. |
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Slawson |
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______________________________ |
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Speaker of the House |
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I certify that H.R. No. 1251 was unanimously adopted by a |
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rising vote of the House on May 23, 2025. |
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______________________________ |
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Chief Clerk of the House |
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