Gary Owens, the radio and TV performer best known for serving as the announcer for Laugh-In, died Thursday at his Los Angeles home. He was 80.

Gary Owens Dies

Owens’ son Chris Owens confirmed his passing, saying that his father, who had been battling diabetes since age eight, was surrounded by family when he died.

“His body just kind of failed. We are grateful that he died so peacefully with all of us present and that he was able to remain vital throughout his life,” Chris Owens told CNN in a statement. “I would like people to remember how good my father was. It would be hard to count how many times people approached my brother and I to tell us how much they loved working with my dad.”

Owens got his start in the entertainment industry in his teens, working as a radio newscaster in South Dakota before moving to Hollywood to work for KFWB. In addition to KFWB, Owens was a radio personality at KMPC, KFI, KIIS FM, and KKGO in Los Angeles and KEWB in San Francisco.

On TV, he used his distinct baritone for the entire run of NBC’s Rowan and Martin’s Laugh- In from 1968-73. He also provided voice work to thousands of cartoon characters, including, Space Ghost, Blue Falcon, Roger Ramjet, Powdered Toast Man and Batman.

Owens was inducted into the National Radio Hall of Fame in 1996. He was inducted into the National Television Hall of Fame in 2001.

Owens is survived by his wife Arleta and sons Scott and Chris.