Comedian Buddy Hackett dead at 78

Los Angeles - His son says Buddy Hackett was always willing to share his jokes. Sandy Hackett says his dad never called to just say “hello”, he’d start with “a guy walks into a bar....” The comedian has died at his beach home in Southern California. He was 78. Hackett had an unmistakable and often-imitated voice. He made a living at comedy for more than 50 years. Hackett’s son, who’s also a comedian, calls his dad “one of the greatest ever.” The younger Hackett says his father suffered from diabetes, but that an exact cause of death isn’t known. Buddy Hackett’s career spanned stand-up comedy, stage, film and television. His movies include “The Music Man,” “The Love Bug” and “It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World.”