LOS ANGELES (CelebrityAccess) Arte Johnson, 90, the Emmy Award-winner known for his catchphrase “very interesting” on “Laugh-In,” died of heart failure in Los Angeles On Wednesday.
Johnson became an integral part of the surprise anti-establishment comedy hit “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In,” known for his German soldier always peeking out from behind a fern and saying “very interesting” and for his dirty old man character, who always attempted to get attention from Ruth Buzzi but got was always hit by her handbag instead. He spent four seasons on the show and won an Emmy in 1969.
Other credits include an episode of “The Twilight Zone” and he co-starred as Dracula’s servant Renfield in the 1979 comedy “Love At First Bite” starring George Hamilton.
“Laugh-In” producer George Schlatter said that Johnson was “selling suits” when he discovered him. Johnson first produced his German soldier character alongside Bob Hope, joking about how Hope’s many USO shows never made it across enemy lines, telling Hope, “Every Christmas we waited for you.”
Johnson’s other credits include “Bewitched,” “Make Room For Daddy,” “General Hospital,” “The Gong Show,” and “The Match Game” and did voice work for cartoons. Film credits include “The Subterraneans” and “The President’s Analyst.”
