Probably lucky to have lived this long. According to the report, the comedian died of massive organ failure while at a hospice in Palm Springs, California. Gallagher had reportedly been sick for quite some time, having suffered multiple heart attacks over the years starting in 2011, when he collapsed onstage in Minnesota. He also suffered a cardiac episode the following year right before he was supposed to get on stage in Texas.
I think his was the first comedian's special I ever watched. In 1986, a high school buddy's family invited me to tag a long for a family vacation. One night we went crazy and rented whatever watermelon smashing video he had out plus the vcr.
I don't remember her name because it was 20 years ago, but when I worked in the food court in the Student Center at UK there was a woman there that was related to Gallagher. She said he was a total *** and came to a family reunion and handed out little watermelon smashers to everyone like they were fans instead of family.