(July 24, 1936 – May 1, 2025)
Ruth Ann Buzzi Perkins, 88, passed away on May 1, 2025, in Erath County. A celebration of life will be held at 2 pm May 17, 2025, at the Cowboy Church of Erath County with Rev. Werth Mayes officiating. Arrangements are by Lacy Funeral Home.
Ruth was born in Providence, Rhode Island on July 24, 1936, to Angelo Buzzi and Rena Pauline (Macchi) Buzzi. She attended Stonington High School, where she was head cheerleader, and at just the age of 17, she enrolled at the Pasadena Playhouse College of Theatre Arts, from which she graduated with honors in June 1957. She married Kent Perkins on December 10, 1978, in Las Vegas, Nevada and had been married for 43 years. Ruth was a Baptist and Ruth and Kent attended White’s Chapel Methodist Church in Southlake, Texas.
Ruth was an American actress and comedian. She appeared on stage, in films, and on television. She won a Golden Globe Award and received five Emmy nominations; She appeared eight times on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson and has made more than 200 other television guest appearances. Ruth was a charter member of the Pasadena Playhouse Alumni Association. She supported numerous children’s charities, including Make a Wish Foundation, Special Olympics, the Thalians, St. Jude Children’s Research Hospital, and Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Casa of Erath County, and she was a children’s art summer camp sponsor through Dallas Museum of Biblical Art. She was active in fundraising for the Utopia Animal Rescue Ranch in Medina, Texas and other animal causes.
Ruth lived with her husband, actor Kent Perkins, on a 600-acre cattle and horse ranch near Stephenville, Texas. They were avid automobile collectors. Their collection focused on post-war English vehicles, including Bentley, Rolls-Royce, and Jaguar, although it also includes several American convertibles and muscle cars. Some of her vehicles have appeared in television commercials and featured in parades, and her blue Bentley convertible was featured on the cover of Vogue with Jessica Simpson behind the wheel. Some of their cars have been donated or lent to the Petersen Automotive Museum in Los Angeles including a red, fuel-injected 1957 Chevrolet convertible that was exhibited from 1993 to 2011 as part of the display honoring the cars of Steve McQueen. Ruth’s 1960 Rolls-Royce Silver Cloud drophead coupe convertible was on display for the “Century of Elegance” exhibit. She also painted as a hobby; but had never offered her oil paintings for sale to the public, choosing to donate original works to charity. Ruth loved movies, ATV rides on their ranch, preparing dinner for her family, and socializing with friends. Ruth loved her dog Cora Belle, her four cats, and her horses. Ruth did not share enthusiasm for her husband’s love for cars.
Survivors include her husband, Kent Perkins of Erath County, Texas; brother, Edward Buzzi of Connecticut; Nieces, Suzanne Buzzi of Stonington, Connecticut and Cheryl Buzzi Stakley of Detroit, Michigan; and great niece, Madison Stakley of Sacramento, California.
Memorials may be made to Alzheimer’s Association
What a sweet lady. I met her once. She was a comedy icon. My she rest in peace.
She was a sweet down to earth lady.
Such a great legend and so kind, you will be missed Ruth, thank you for the best memories.