For the former United States congressman, see Henry R. Gibson; for the percussionist, see Master Henry Gibson; for the dramatist, see Henrik Ibsen.
Henry Gibson (born
September 21,
1935) is an
American actor and
songwriter, perhaps best known as a cast member of
Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In. His stage name may have been based upon that of the dramatist
Henrik Ibsen, and he often pronounced his surname as though it were "Ibsen", particularly when performing as "The Poet" on that comedy-variety show.
Biography
Early life
Gibson was born
Henry Gibson Bateman in
Germantown, Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, the son of Dorothy (
née Cassidy) and Edmund Albert Bateman.
[ He attended Saint Joseph's Preparatory School, where he was President of the Drama Club.][Henry Gibson Biography (1935-)] A graduate of The Catholic University of America in Washington, D.C., Gibson served in the U.S. Air Force as an intelligence officer during the 1950s. During the 1950s he developed an act in which he portrayed a southern accented poet. During this period he adopted the stage name Henry Gibson influenced by the name of Norwegian playwright Henrik Ibsen.
