Renowned comedian and gospel artist Lulu Roman, best known for her memorable appearances on the country variety show Hee Haw, passed away on April 23 at the age of 78. Her son, Damon Roman, revealed to The Hollywood Reporter that she had moved in with him in Bellingham, Washington, seven months ago. The cause of her passing has not yet been disclosed.
Born Bertha Louise Hable, Roman had a brief marriage to Gary M. Toman from July 2, 1975, until their divorce on February 28, 1978. She later wed Woody Smith on February 14, 1988, but their relationship ended in separation on September 6, 1991. She is survived by her two sons, Damon Eric and Justin Collin.
Tragically, her son Justin, who was the proprietor of the Nashville-based food truck Bacon Nation, passed away due to a heart attack in October 2017 at the age of 41.
The Journey to Fame: Lulu Roman’s Experience on Hee Haw
In a revealing 2024 interview on The 700 Club, Roman shared the story of her selection for Hee Haw, where she starred in 150 episodes from 1969 to 1992. She credited the show’s country music host, Buck Owens, for her discovery, stating that he believed she would rise to fame.
“He said, ‘One of these days you’re going to be a big star, and I’m going to have something to do with it.’ I says, ‘Keep talking, cowboy. Go on, baby, talk to me,'”Roman recounted.
During the conceptualization of the CBS variety show in the 1960s, the creators sought a diverse cast. Buck Owens recommended Roman for the role of the “fat, dumb woman.”
“So when they put together the HEE HAW show, there were a couple of fellows from Canada, and they had seen Laugh-In. They thought, ‘This could be a good thing. We could do country music in this and do real well,'”Roman elaborated. “They made a list—one gorgeous blonde and one gorgeous brunette; one girl-next-door type and one boy-next-door type; one fat, dumb man and one fat, dumb woman.”
Roman recalled her audition journey vividly, remembering how she was flown from Dallas to Hollywood for the opportunity. Upon arriving at CBS studios, she encountered the famous comedian Carol Burnett.
For those unfamiliar, Carol Burnett is a celebrated comedian, actress, and singer, with accolades including multiple Golden Globe Awards, a Grammy Award, seven Primetime Emmy Awards, two Peabody Awards, and a Tony Award.
“Buck said, ‘I got your girl. She’s in Dallas!’… They put me on a big jet plane, and they flew me to Hollywood, Calif. Took me to CBS television studios. The first person I saw was Carol Burnett. I’ll never forget as long as I live. She met us in the hall and said, ‘Shut your mouth, child. You’re fixin’ to be one of us,'”Roman reminisced.
Lulu Roman leaves behind her son, Damon Roman, and a legacy that touched the hearts of many through her significant contributions to the world of entertainment.