‘hee Haw’ Actor Gailard Sartain Dead At 81

"Hee Haw" prima Gailard Sartain has died. He was 81.

The actor, who besides appeared successful "Mississippi Burning" and "The Buddy Holly Story," passed distant from earthy causes astatine his location connected Thursday, his woman Mary Jo Sartain confirmed to Fox News Digital.

"Everyone has a Gailard communicative that they show pinch a smile. Keep telling his stories," Mary, his woman of 36 years, said.

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"Hee Haw" character Gailard Sartain has died. He was 81. (Getty Images/Everett Collection)

Sartain joined the "Hee Haw" formed successful 1972. He appeared connected nan show for 20 years arsenic a assortment of different characters, including Orville nan navigator and clerk Maynard.

He besides portrayed Willie Billy Honey connected nan spin-off, "Hee Haw Honeys," from 1978-1979. Lulu Roman, Kathie Lee Gifford and Misty Rowe besides starred successful nan spin-off.

"Everyone has a Gailard communicative that they show pinch a smile. Keep telling his stories."

Along pinch "Hee Haw," Sartain appeared successful 9 characteristic films that were directed by Alan Rudolph: "Roadie," "Equinox," "The Moderns," "Love astatine Large," "Songwriter," "Endangered Species," "Choose Me," "Trouble successful Mind" and "Made successful Heaven." 

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During an question and reply pinch Tulsa World newspaper successful 2017, Sartain told nan outlet that he enjoyed moving pinch Rudolph because he "would conscionable move maine loose. So I would travel up pinch characteristic accents and stuff, and he would spell for it."

Meat Loaf, Art Carney, Gailard Sartain and Kaki Hunter connected nan group of "Roadie" successful 1980. (Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)

A profession precocious for Sartain was his domiciled arsenic a racist sheriff successful "Mississippi Burning," which was released successful 1988.

During his Tulsa World interview, Sartain admitted it was difficult being formed successful nan aforesaid role.

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"Nobody likes to beryllium typecast arsenic a barefooted hillbilly, truthful erstwhile I had nan opportunity to do different roles, I happily did it. I was formed successful that, and that benignant of turned things around. I wasn’t conscionable typecast arsenic a funny guy. That was a small spot pivotal," he said astatine nan time.

Gailard Sartain appeared successful a sketch connected nan ABC TV series, "Keep On Truckin'." (Photo by American Broadcasting Companies via Getty Images)

Sartain was calved successful Tulsa, Oklahoma successful 1943. The character is survived by his wife, their children, Sarah, Esther and Ben, his granddaughter, Chloe, and his great-grandson, Teddy.

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