Gailard Sartain, a fan-favorite character actor best known for his roles in Hee Haw and the Ernest films, as well as Fried Green Tomatoes, has died. He was 78.
The Church Studio in Tulsa, Oklahoma, announced his death in a
Facebook post. The studio called Sartain “an extraordinary actor, artist, and comedian.” No cause of death was released.
Sartain built a wide-ranging career in film and television. While he often played serious roles, audiences loved him most for his comedy.
Sartain Gets Early Start
Sartain was born Sept. 18, 1946, in Tulsa. He graduated from Will Rogers High School and the University of Tulsa with a degree in fine arts. In the early 1970s, he created a late-night sketch show, The Uncanny Film Festival and Camp Meeting, which aired locally on KOTV.
He starred in the show as Dr. Mazeppa Pompazoidi. The character gained a cult following and caught the attention of Jim Halsey, agent to country music star Roy Clark. Halsey helped Sartain land a role on Hee Haw, where he appeared from 1972 to 1974.
Hollywood Career and Notable Roles
Sartain went on to appear in dozens of films, including The Outsiders, The Buddy Holly Story, Fried Green Tomatoes, Mississippi Burning, and Ali. He also became a regular in the Ernest movie series and starred in the Saturday morning TV show Hey Vern, It’s Ernest!.
His television credits included The Dukes of Hazzard, Walker, Texas Ranger, Chicago Hope, and King of the Hill. He voiced “Big Daddy” in the Simpsons episode “The Simpsons Spin-Off Showcase.”
Sartain’s final screen role came in Elizabethtown (2005), where he acted alongside Susan Sarandon and Orlando Bloom.
In addition to acting, Sartain was an accomplished artist. Early in his career, he worked in New York City as an assistant to illustrator Paul Davis. In 1975, he designed the album cover for Leon Russell’s Will O’ the Wisp.
Tributes Pour In
News of Sartain’s passing led to an outpouring of tributes on social media.
“RIP, Gailard Sartain, one of the great character actors,” one fan wrote on X. Another said, “Because of Mazeppa, people in Tulsa knew how funny he was before he made the rest of the world laugh.”
Sartain was the son of a Tulsa fire chief. He attended Cascia Hall Preparatory School before college. He was also a member of the Kappa Sigma fraternity.
With his mix of humor, talent, and heart, Sartain left a lasting mark on film, TV, and the Tulsa community that helped shape him.
