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‘Laugh-in’ comedic actor Arte Johnson dies at 90

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ASSOCIATED PRESS / 1969

In this photo, Harvey Korman, right, of “The Carol Burnett Show,” and Arte Johnson, of “Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In,” each hold their Emmys for Outstanding Individual Achievements for a Variety Performance at the Emmy Awards in Los Angeles. Johnson died in Los Angeles today. He was 90. A family representative says Johnson died of heart failure following a three-year battle with bladder and prostate cancers.

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ASSOCIATED PRESS / 2008

This photo shows actor Arte Johnson at the 15th Annual Lint Roller Party in Los Angeles. Johnson, who won an Emmy for comedy sketch television show “Laugh-In,” died in Los Angeles today. He was 90. A family representative says Johnson died of heart failure following a three-year battle with bladder and prostate cancers.

LOS ANGELES >> Actor Arte Johnson, who won an Emmy for comedy sketch work on the television show “Laugh-In,” has died in Los Angeles. He was 90.

Family representative Harlan Boll says Johnson died early today of heart failure following a three-year battle with bladder and prostate cancer. No services have been planned, but his ashes will be spread in a private ceremony.

Johnson became known for his catchphrase “Verrry interesting” on “Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In.” The Michigan native won an Emmy in 1969 and was nominated two more times through his work on the hit show.

One of his characters was Wolfgang, a cigarette-smoking German soldier who thought World War II was still going on.

Johnson’s other television appearances include “Bewitched,” ”The Partridge Family,” ”Lost in Space” and “The Donna Reed Show.”

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