Remembering Buck Henry: Al Franken, Judd Apatow, Sarah Silverman, Albert Brooks Join In Praise For Comedy Legend – Update
UPDATE, with additional reactions Genius, a giant, legendary – those are just some of the words that writers strained to come up with to describe the titanic impact that Buck Henry had on their world.
The Graduate screenwriter and SNL host passed today at age 89. Here are some of the initial reactions from friends, fans and the industry as news of his death reached them.
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I am grateful to have worked with and been a friend of Buck Henry. Among his amazing body of work was hosting SNL many times in the first five seasons. Please read the following about his role in defining what the show would become. #RIPBuckHenry @nbcsnl https://t.co/2TmQtBqdPS
— Al Franken (@alfranken) January 9, 2020
Just saw this. Loved working with him. Rest in peace Buck.
RT @bengreenman: RIP Buck Henry. Of the million things he did and did well (Graduate, Heaven Can Wait), my favorite is his amazing role in @AlbertBrooks's Defending Your Life. He's fine.— Albert Brooks (@AlbertBrooks) January 9, 2020
Oh man. RIP Buck Henry. pic.twitter.com/OTPegK2TWD
— Sarah Silverman (@SarahKSilverman) January 9, 2020
Buck Henry. The world lost a true original. Buck and I were Mr. and Mrs Stool in Rude Awakening. His sly dry humor kept me laughing on and off camera. NY Times cross words kept him busy between each take. His brilliant, curious brain could was never still.
— Andrea Martin (@iamandreamartin) January 9, 2020
Truly legendary. Kind, unforgivingly outspoken, loyal and the funniest person I ever met. RIP Mr. Henry. 💔💔 https://t.co/4oTY9Swobm
— Elizabeth Perkins (@Elizbethperkins) January 9, 2020
A post shared by Judd Apatow (@juddapatow) on Jan 8, 2020 at 8:46pm PST
Had the pleasure of working with #BuckHenry on a semi regular basis when he portrayed Dilbert’s dad in the animated series I did with @ScottAdamsSays. He was a savagely witty man with a genteel presentation. And his work is a seminal influence on all late 20th century comedy. pic.twitter.com/v0ETJ5S8Io
— Larry Charles (@larrycharlesism) January 9, 2020
I was rewatching Heaven Can Wait the other day. Buck Henry has always been an actor/Writer I have admired immensely. One chance meeting years ago. He was a lovely man who gave me some advice I needed at the time. Rest in peace Buck Henry.
— Peter Frampton (@peterframpton) January 9, 2020
RIP Buck Henry. An incredibly funny, sweet and talented man. Invited by William Goldman to attend first PB Readthru. I’m pretty sure in this very baseball cap. Need I say more? Thank you, Buck. #oneofakind pic.twitter.com/VZp6kbSjlf
— Cary Elwes (@Cary_Elwes) January 9, 2020
God Bless You Buck Henry💔 RIP
— Bernadette Peters (@OfficialBPeters) January 9, 2020
Favorite of the great #BuckHenry. #MilosForman’s #TakingOff. pic.twitter.com/AgOB9DYMY0
— natasha lyonne (@nlyonne) January 9, 2020
“The Graduate” changed movies forever. And “Heaven Can Wait” is the best remake of all time. Both perfect films. And Buck was such a great gentleman to boot! A great SNL Host!
Meeting Buck Henry was a thrill.
Thank YOUUUU and Much love, Buck! https://t.co/TeaZv9awPo— Rob Schneider (@RobSchneider) January 9, 2020
Buck Henry inspired me in so many ways and I still remember the actual moment in film class when I realized the we-don’t-talk scene in The Graduate…was perfect writing. Perfect.
— Nia Vardalos (@NiaVardalos) January 9, 2020
Buck Henry was my idol. I am so sad for his loss, but I am happy to have known him and honor his work… RIP…
— Peter Segal (@pete_segal) January 9, 2020
RIP Buck Henry. Not only a great writer but I had the pleasure of working with him, Andre Gregory (on the right) and David Bowie (!!) as actors on “The Linguini Incident” directed by @SaltyShep. Screenwriting, comedy and wit were his forte and he did it better than anyone. RIP. pic.twitter.com/05CMAacajx
— Marlee Matlin (@MarleeMatlin) January 9, 2020
R.I.P. Buck Henry. I got to know Buck slightly through Carrie Fisher. A brilliantly witty writer, director and actor…he's especially memorable in Milos Forman's little-seen "Taking Off."https://t.co/2XZdsFL8aL
— Joe Dante (@joe_dante) January 9, 2020
In writing comedy, drama, or acting there are few as deeply, hilariously talented as Buck Henry. Sad day. The Graduate, Get Smart, SNL. Etc. etc, etc. RIP.
— Christopher 2020 Titus (@TitusNation) January 9, 2020
So sad to hear of the passing of Buck Henry. Just an honor to get to speak his dialogue in To Die For and have him off camera smile, sometimes critique. His ear for comedy was flawless. #RIPBuckHenry
— Illeana Douglas (@Illeanarama) January 9, 2020
David Letterman: Do you have any hobbies?
Buck Henry: I have hobbies.
DL: Do you have any pets?
BH: I'm not allowed to have pets.
DL: Why?
BH: Because of my hobbies.#RIPBuckHenry— Patton Oswalt (@pattonoswalt) January 9, 2020
Buck Henry, guys. A brilliant talent and a really lovely guy. RIP
— Michael McKean (@MJMcKean) January 9, 2020
Rest In Peace dear BUCK Henry you always made me laugh .love love
— Rosanna Arquette🌎✌🏼 (@RoArquette) January 9, 2020
RIP #BuckHenry. The Graduate and Heaven Can Wait are perfect screenplays, and Get Smart was hilarious. Another comedy legend gone.
— David Zuckerman (@David_Zuckerman) January 9, 2020
Once we did a show called Tiny Vaudeville. Buck Henry was in it. He and I watched @EbanSchletter and @Jeremykonner rehearse Dueling Banjos on theramin and saw respectively. Buck said to me, dry as the Sahara, “it’s so peculiar.” It was one of my life’s perfect moments. https://t.co/RjN7TVb7V4
— Ben Acker (@bnacker) January 9, 2020
R.I.P. my dear friend and mentor Buck Henry. My world will be missing a huge source of laughter that I will try my best to fill with so many memories. Oh my…this is a going to be a tough one.
— Alan Zweibel (@AlanZweibel) January 9, 2020
R.I.P. Buck Henry – our most fearless screenwriter. Buck was also a big personality & a performer… he gave screenwriting a face. Growing up I could turn on Saturday Night LIve (which Buck hosted 10 times) and point to the funniest, smartest guy and say – that's a screenwriter. pic.twitter.com/21CqPqzicL
— Larry Karaszewski (@Karaszewski) January 9, 2020
RIP: Screenwriter / WGAW member Buck Henry (The Graduate, What’s Up, Doc?, To Die For, Get Smart) dies at 89… 12/9/30 – 1/8/20 https://t.co/k7xhMwsr5P
— Writers Guild of America West (@WGAWest) January 9, 2020
While Mel Brooks came up with the shoe phone, it was Buck Henry who invented the Cone of Silence… two inspired gadgets of satirical spyware.
— Alan Spencer (@MrAlanSpencer) January 9, 2020
So sad to learn the nonpareil Buck Henry has died. Watching him hold court, listening to his dry delivery – among the great joys in life. He would have a great joke about this; all I can say is thanks for your writing, your spirit, your humor. The world is duller without you.
— Warren Leight (@warrenleightTV) January 9, 2020
R.I.P. Buck Henry. Buck hosted 10 times during the show’s first initial five years and was the kind of guy who could get accidentally sliced in the head by Belushi’s sword, finish the sketch by jumping out a windows and still carry on with the rest of the show. Truly incredible. pic.twitter.com/ctMqccJyvl
— That Week In SNL (@ThatWeekInSNL) January 9, 2020
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