Gallagher (born Leo Anthony Gallagher, Jr.; July 24, 1946) is an American comedian, and prop comic, most popularly known for smashing watermelons as part of his act. Leo Anthony Gallagher was born at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. He grew up in South Tampa, Florida, where he attended H.B. Plant High School. He graduated from the University of South Florida with a Chemical Engineering degree in 1970. After college, Gallagher began working as comic/musician Jim Stafford's road manager. Stafford and Gallagher went out to California in 1969 and Gallagher decided to take the stage himself. He began honing his own comedy act while hanging out at both The Comedy Store and the Ice House. He was repeatedly turned down to appear on The Tonight Show in the 1970s and 1980s, as Johnny Carson didn't enjoy prop comedy. However, he was liked by some of the program's staff, and Gallagher eventually performed several times on the show when guest hosts were filling in for Carson. Gallagher was one of the most popular and recognizable American comedians during the 1980s. He performed 14 comedy specials for Showtime. These shows have been re-broadcast numerous times, notably on Comedy Central. His first
Legendary comedian Gallagher is rocking some fresh hardware after his latest heart attack -- his FIFTH to be exact -- claiming doctors installed a brand new stent in a major artery to keep his… READ MORE >
Legendary comedian Gallagher suffered another heart attack, albeit a mild one ... just four days after he was discharged from a hospital in Texas, TMZ has learned.According to our sources,… READ MORE >
![Gallagher -- I'm Out of The Hospital ... AND I'M STILL FUNNY!!! [Video]](http://ll-media.tmz.com/0322-gallagher-hero-248x127.jpg)
TMZ has the ONLY video of legendary watermelon-basher Gallagher leaving a Texas hospital today ... proving the only thing killer about his recent heart attack ... is the new material he came up… READ MORE >
Comedy legend Gallagher has been taken out of a medically induced coma and is already up and telling jokes, this according to his promotional manager. Gallagher was put in the coma after… READ MORE >
Watermelon-smashing comedy legend Gallagher is hospitalized in Texas tonight ... after suffering a heart attack at a bar moments before he was supposed to perform ... TMZ has learned. 65-year-old… READ MORE >
Gallagher has another emergency on his plate -- TMZ has learned the bank is threatening to seize his L.A. home ... and the comic is now selling off his props in an effort to save his property.… READ MORE >
Good news for Gallgher fans -- he's out of the hospital, three days after he collapsed on stage during a show ... TMZ has learned.As TMZ first reported, the legendary comedian collapsed in… READ MORE >
Comedian Gallagher collapsed on stage during a performance in Minnesota Thursday night ... and the scary moment was all captured on video. The footage -- shot in Rochester, Minnesota at… READ MORE >
Comedian Gallagher collapsed onto his back, clutching his chest during his performance tonight in Rochester, MN -- and TMZ has learned he was rushed to a hospital by ambulance.Multiple witnesses… READ MORE >
