June 20 (UPI) -- Gailard Sartain, an actor who starred in Hee Haw and Fried Green Tomatoes, died Tuesday. He was 78. The Church Studio, an Oklahoma recording studio where Sartain's wife, Mary Jo, volunteers, announced his death Friday.

Gailard Sartain, the actor best known for "The Buddy Holly Story" and "Hee Haw," died Tuesday, June 17, at the age of 78.

The pride of Tulsa also showed up in three Ernest movies, played The Big Bopper in ‘The Buddy Holly Story’ and did nine films with Alan Rudolph.