Henry Gibson was quite the character

Henry Gibson was living proof that you don't have to be a star to be popular in Hollywood.

Gibson, who died Monday after a brief battle of cancer, was 73. Most recently he had a recurring role as a judge on the William Shatner-James Spader legal comedy "Boston Legal." To many baby boomers, he will best be remembered as the Southern poet on "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In."

Gibson was a frequent guest on many television series as far back as the 1960s on shows such as "Bewitched" and "Mister Roberts." He made his film debut as a college student in the Jerry Lewis comedy "The Nutty Professor" in 1963.

Gibson didn't make a lot of movies in his career, but he made the most out of his performances in them. He was memorable as the voice of Wilbur the pig in "Charlotte's Web" and equally memorable as Clifford Stool in "Evil Roy Slade" and Dr. Eugene Nortz in the Lily Tomlin comedy "The Incredible Shrinking Woman."

Here are six of Henry Gibson's more memorable performances. All of these movies are available on video or DVD.

"The Blues Brothers" (1980) -- Gibson co-stars as the head Illinois Nazi seeking revenge after Jake and Elwood (John Belushi and Dan Aykroyd) make them jump off a bridge in this musical comedy. Other stars include Cab Calloway, John Candy and Carrie Fisher.

"The Long Goodbye" (1973) -- Gibson co-stars as Dr. Verringer in Robert Altman's take on private detective Philip Marlowe's (Elliott Gould) investigation into a woman's murder. Other stars include Sterling Hayden and Mary Rydell.

"Nashville" (1975) -- Gibson co-stars as country singer Haven Hamilton in this Altman film about the craziness and wacky characters at a political convention. Other stars include Keith Carradine, Shelley Duvall and Ned Beatty.

"Long Gone" (1987) -- Gibson co-stars as the owner of a second-rate minor league ball club in the 1950s South. Other stars include Chicagoans William Petersen as the player-manager and Virginia Madsen. Teller from Penn & Teller also co-stars as Gibson's son.

"The 'burbs" (1989) -- Gibson co-stars as Tom Hanks' new neighbor Dr. Werner Klopek in this goofy comedy about life in one messed up subdivision. Other stars include Rick Ducommun and Bruce Dern.

"Magnolia" (1999) -- Some critics said Gibson's bitter barfly character was the best thing about this Tom Cruise movie. Other stars include Julianne Moore, William H. Macy and Philip Seymour Hoffman.