Arte Johmson, dead at 90 Comedian and actor Arte Johnson, Emmy-winning star of 1960s and ’70s comedy sketch show “Laugh-In,” died July 3 in Los Angeles of heart failure. He was 90 and had been battling bladder and prostate cancer.
"Laugh-In" producer George Schlatter said he looked for "funny and magic people" when casting the show, recalling in a 50th anniversary interview with THR that Johnson was "selling suits" when he found him. The producer said Johnson first did the German soldier on TV during an appearance with Bob Hope, riffing on the comic's famous USO tours by coming out and saying, "'Every Christmas we waited for you.' Hope didn't know what to think of him."
Remember how the show was considered progressive and risque? Now, it would look like a regular show on Nickelodeon for kids.