# Buck Henry R.I.P **URL:** \ **Category:** Cafe Society\ **Tags:** celebrity-death\ **Created:** [January 9, 2020, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buck-henry-r-i-p/846166 "2020-01-09T07:43:20Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 20\ **Page:** 1
**Author:** ![rowrrbazzle](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/rowrrbazzle/32/414_2.png) [@rowrrbazzle](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/rowrrbazzle)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 7:43am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buck-henry-r-i-p/846166/1 "2020-01-09T07:43:20Z")
> **[Buck Henry, ‘Graduate’ Writer and ‘Get Smart’ Co-Creator, Dies at 89](https://variety.com/2020/film/news/buck-henry-dead-dies-graduate-1203461416/)** > > Buck Henry, a writer, actor and director whose 1967 Oscar-nominated adapted screenplay for “The Graduate” captured a generation’s frustration with their parents’ conspicuous consumption and rigid e… I remember three specific bits from “That Was The Week That Was” (1964). One of them was this, which I’ve posted here before. Some pictures presented in fairly rapid succession. The timing made it funny. Pres. Johnson. Buck Henry says, “LBJ”. His wife “Lady Bird”. “LBJ”. One daughter, Lynda Bird. “LBJ”. The other daughter, Luci Baines. “LBJ”. From his IMDb listing (assuming it’s accurate), I know that was either on November 24th or September 29th, 1964. ---
**Author:** ![Two\_Many\_Cats](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/t/8dc957/32.png) [@Two\_Many\_Cats](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Two_Many_Cats)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 11:05am UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buck-henry-r-i-p/846166/2 "2020-01-09T11:05:30Z")
Talented man. My most vivid memory of him is from SNL. _R-I-C… See ya in the sewer, suckers! K-E-Y… Why? Because we’re vermin. R-A-TEEEEEE…_ ---
**Author:** ![CalMeacham](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/calmeacham/32/35_2.png) [@CalMeacham](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/CalMeacham)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 12:22pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buck-henry-r-i-p/846166/3 "2020-01-09T12:22:49Z")
I first ran across him as the co-creator of **Get Smart!** , along with Mel Brooks (His name was prominently displayed against one of the many moving doors Maxwell Smart walked through during the opening credits). Then I noticed his name on the writing credits for **What’s Up, Doc!** (one of my all-time favorite comedies.\* ) and **The Graduate** and **Catch-22**. He also managed to get himself a brief role in each (I’m an after-credit reader, so I noticed; If I didn’t, Mad magazine’s parody of Catch-22 pointed out the fact.) Then I saw him several times during the first couple of seasons of **Saturday Night Live** , which he hosted more than once. After all that, he was difficult to miss when he popped up acting in something or as a writer. ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 1:48pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buck-henry-r-i-p/846166/4 "2020-01-09T13:48:35Z")
[The very first opening sketch on Saturday Night Live - Oct. 11, 1975](https://youtu.be/rdWAGFLnOUg) One of the most memorable sketches - [Lord and Lady Douchebag](https://youtu.be/C6XF4RxU7xQ) ---
**Author:** ![RealityChuck](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/realitychuck/32/195_2.png) [@RealityChuck](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/RealityChuck)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 1:59pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buck-henry-r-i-p/846166/5 "2020-01-09T13:59:27Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > [The very first opening sketch on Saturday Night Live - Oct. 11, 1975](https://youtu.be/rdWAGFLnOUg) That’s Michael O’Donoghue, not Buck Henry. Both were comic geniuses. ---
**Author:** ![Maserschmidt](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/maserschmidt/32/18829_2.png) [@Maserschmidt](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Maserschmidt)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 2:23pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buck-henry-r-i-p/846166/6 "2020-01-09T14:23:54Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > That’s Michael O’Donoghue, not Buck Henry. > > Both were comic geniuses. They were! Though only one of them imitated Michael Douglas having needles plunged into his eyes. 😃 ---
**Author:** ![Biggirl](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/biggirl/32/3294_2.png) [@Biggirl](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Biggirl)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 2:33pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buck-henry-r-i-p/846166/7 "2020-01-09T14:33:58Z")
I was last week years old when I found out about The Society for Indecency to Naked Animals which Buck Henry was president of, proving the humorlessness of conservatives isn’t a new thing at all, it is in fact older than I am. So long, Buck and thanks for the laughs. ---
**Author:** ![Annie-Xmas](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/a/ecc23a/32.png) [@Annie-Xmas](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Annie-Xmas)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 2:34pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buck-henry-r-i-p/846166/8 "2020-01-09T14:34:20Z")
I will always remember him as SNL’s baby sitting [Uncle Roy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrQZORhBNt8) ---
**Author:** ![Patch](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/p/a183cd/32.png) [@Patch](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Patch)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 2:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buck-henry-r-i-p/846166/9 "2020-01-09T14:43:29Z")
I’ll never forget Samurai Stockbroker nailing Buck with his sword, then the Weekend Update skit reporting on it later in the same show. ---
**Author:** ![Chefguy](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/chefguy/32/138_2.png) [@Chefguy](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Chefguy)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 3:26pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buck-henry-r-i-p/846166/10 "2020-01-09T15:26:58Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > [The very first opening sketch on Saturday Night Live - Oct. 11, 1975](https://youtu.be/rdWAGFLnOUg) I can see where Andy Kaufman stole his bit from. ---
**Author:** ![cormac262](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/f14d63/32.png) [@cormac262](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cormac262)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 3:39pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buck-henry-r-i-p/846166/11 "2020-01-09T15:39:49Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > That’s Michael O’Donoghue, not Buck Henry. > > Both were comic geniuses. I think you’re mistaken: Buck Henry played Lord Douchebag in that SNL skit. Buck will be sorely missed. I just recently saw “Heaven Can Wait”, and I’d forgotten how good he was in that, too. ---
**Author:** ![Snowboarder\_Bo](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/snowboarder_bo/32/229_2.png) [@Snowboarder\_Bo](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Snowboarder_Bo)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 3:50pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buck-henry-r-i-p/846166/12 "2020-01-09T15:50:51Z")
Well that’s a helluva thing to read first thing in the morning. An inestimable comedic talent, a true giant of late 20th century American comedy and one of my personal favorites. RIP Mr. Henry; you done good. ---
**Author:** ![davidm](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/davidm/32/225_2.png) [@davidm](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/davidm)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 3:54pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buck-henry-r-i-p/846166/13 "2020-01-09T15:54:01Z")
> [@Annie-Xmas](#): > > I will always remember him as SNL’s baby sitting [Uncle Roy](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HrQZORhBNt8) The goofy sisters in the glass bottom boat. They would never get away with that today, and probably shouldn’t. ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 4:55pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buck-henry-r-i-p/846166/14 "2020-01-09T16:55:56Z")
I liked him in **The Man Who Fell to Earth,** also. But especially in **Catch-22.** “That’s DANBY…d, a, n, b, y.” And the delightful sneer he used calling Anthony Perkins _padre!_ ---
**Author:** ![Ukulele\_Ike](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/u/df788c/32.png) [@Ukulele\_Ike](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Ukulele_Ike)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 5:10pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buck-henry-r-i-p/846166/15 "2020-01-09T17:10:58Z")
Oh, man, and as the Head Swinger in **Eating Raoul.** ---
**Author:** ![cochrane](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/cochrane/32/10441_2.png) [@cochrane](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/cochrane)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 5:16pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buck-henry-r-i-p/846166/16 "2020-01-09T17:16:33Z")
> [@RealityChuck](#): > > That’s Michael O’Donoghue, not Buck Henry. > > Both were comic geniuses. WELL, EXCUUUUUSE ME! > [@cormac262](#): > > I think you’re mistaken: Buck Henry played Lord Douchebag in that SNL skit. No, he’s right. He’s referring to the first sketch, which I mistakenly thought had Buck Henry. ---
**Author:** ![Cayuga](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/c/3e96dc/32.png) [@Cayuga](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Cayuga)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 5:20pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buck-henry-r-i-p/846166/17 "2020-01-09T17:20:30Z")
> [@cochrane](#): > > [The very first opening sketch on Saturday Night Live - Oct. 11, 1975](https://youtu.be/rdWAGFLnOUg) > > One of the most memorable sketches - [Lord and Lady Douchebag](https://youtu.be/C6XF4RxU7xQ) > [@RealityChuck](#): > > That’s Michael O’Donoghue, not Buck Henry. > > Both were comic geniuses. > [@cormac262](#): > > I think you’re mistaken: Buck Henry played Lord Douchebag in that SNL skit. Yes but the first link was to a sketch with O’Donoghue and Belushi — Chevy at the end. No Buck Henry in sight. ---
**Author:** ![Doug\_K](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/d/b5ac83/32.png) [@Doug\_K](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/Doug_K)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 5:43pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buck-henry-r-i-p/846166/18 "2020-01-09T17:43:12Z")
Did anyone notice the date on the linked article? How did Variety know 4 1/2 years ago that he would die on a Wednesday at age 89? ---
**Author:** ![MovieMogul](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/m/f08c70/32.png) [@MovieMogul](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/MovieMogul)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 6:53pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buck-henry-r-i-p/846166/19 "2020-01-09T18:53:17Z")
If you’ve never seen TAKING OFF, go dig it up immediately. It’s a very funny satire of the counter-culture (and counter-counter-culture) with one of Henry’s best (and biggest) performances and also the first American film by Milos Forman (just a few years before _Cuckoo’s Nest_). Really terrific. RIP. ---
**Author:** ![eschereal](https://sea3.discourse-cdn.com/straightdope/user_avatar/boards.straightdope.com/eschereal/32/18939_2.png) [@eschereal](https://boards.straightdope.com/u/eschereal)\ **Post date:** [January 9, 2020, 6:56pm UTC](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buck-henry-r-i-p/846166/20 "2020-01-09T18:56:31Z")
I will always think of him as Colonel Korn from _Catch-22_. The world has become a slightly less funny place. I hope he [gets on the tram](https://www.imdb.com/title/tt0101698/). [Next page](https://boards.straightdope.com/t/buck-henry-r-i-p/846166.md?page=2)