Gailard Sartain, the beloved character actor known for his two-decade run on the country variety show “Hee Haw” and memorable film roles including “Mississippi Burning” and “The Buddy Holly Story,” died Thursday, June 19, at age 81.
Sartain passed away from natural causes at his home in Tulsa, Oklahoma, his wife of 36 years, Mary Jo Sartain, confirmed to multiple outlets. In a touching tribute to her husband’s comedic spirit, she told The Hollywood Reporter that he “died of silliness.”
Born in Tulsa on September 18, 1943, Sartain began his entertainment career as a cameraman at local television station KOTV, where he created and hosted “The Uncanny Film Festival and Camp Meeting.” He performed as the eccentric wizard Dr. Mazeppa Pompazoidi, showcasing comedy skits between old B-movies during the late-night program.
Sartain’s big break came in 1972 when he joined the cast of “Hee Haw,” the syndicated country music variety show. He remained with the program for nearly 20 years, playing multiple characters including Orville the cook at Lulu’s Truck Stop and the inept clerk Maynard at Gordie’s General Store. He also appeared on the spinoff “Hee Haw Honeys” from 1978 to 1979, portraying Willie Billy Honey alongside Kathie Lee Gifford, Misty Rowe, and Lulu Roman.
His film career began with a small role in Robert Altman’s “Nashville” in 1975, but his breakthrough came in 1978 when he portrayed musician-DJ Jerry “The Big Bopper” Richardson in “The Buddy Holly Story,” starring alongside Gary Busey. This role established him in Hollywood and led to numerous other opportunities.
Sartain appeared in an impressive array of films throughout his career, working with renowned directors including Francis Ford Coppola in “The Outsiders,” Stephen Frears in “The Grifters,” Jon Avnet in “Fried Green Tomatoes,” and Michael Mann in “Ali.” He also had roles in “The Jerk,” “All of Me,” “The Hollywood Knights,” “The Big Easy,” and “The Replacements.”
One of his most significant dramatic roles came in 1988 with “Mississippi Burning,” where he played a menacing racist sheriff. Sartain considered this role pivotal in his career, as it helped break him out of comedic typecasting. He told the Tulsa World newspaper in 2017 that the role turned things around for him, noting that he was no longer just typecast as a funny character.
A particularly fruitful collaboration was with director Alan Rudolph, with whom Sartain worked on nine films including “Roadie,” “Endangered Species,” “Choose Me,” “Songwriter,” “Trouble in Mind,” “Made in Heaven,” “The Moderns,” “Love at Large,” and “Equinox.” Sartain appreciated Rudolph’s directing style, explaining that the director would allow him creative freedom to develop character accents and personalities.
In the 1980s, Sartain became known to a new generation through his appearances in three “Ernest” films with Jim Varney. He played a chef in “Ernest Goes to Camp” in 1987, then teamed with Bill Byrge to portray airport workers in “Ernest Saves Christmas” and bank security guards in “Ernest Goes to Jail.” The duo also appeared on the Saturday morning CBS show “Hey, Vern, It’s Ernest!” as brothers Chuck and Bobby.
Beyond acting, Sartain was a talented visual artist and illustrator. He worked as an assistant to illustrator Paul Davis in New York City in the late 1960s, whose work appeared in The New Yorker, The New York Times, and Playboy. Sartain also created the album cover for fellow Oklahoman Leon Russell’s 1975 album “Will O’ the Wisp.”
After graduating from Will Rogers High School and the University of Tulsa, Sartain briefly moved to New York in 1968 before returning to Oklahoma to pursue his master’s degree. His entertainment career began locally but eventually took him to national prominence through his various television and film roles.
Sartain retired from acting after his role in Cameron Crowe’s “Elizabethtown” in 2005. Throughout his career, he maintained strong ties to his Oklahoma roots and continued to live in his hometown of Tulsa.
Mary Jo Sartain encouraged fans to keep telling his stories, emphasizing that everyone has a Gailard story they tell with a smile. The actor’s legacy spans decades of entertainment, from his early days on local television to his memorable performances in major Hollywood productions.
Sartain is survived by his wife Mary Jo, their children Sarah, Esther, and Ben, his granddaughter Chloe, and his great-grandson Teddy. His passing marks the end of a remarkable career that brought laughter and memorable performances to audiences across television and film for more than four decades.