Comedian Gallagher, well known for his watermelon-smashing performance passed away on Friday morning. He was 76.

the comedian died "after a brief health fight" and "went away in Palm Springs, California, accompanied by his family."

the comedian died "after a brief health fight" and "went away in Palm Springs, California, accompanied by his family."

The "Sledge-O-Matic," a homemade sledgehammer that Gallagher used to crush food on stage and spray the audience with it.

The obituary stated that physically involving the audience in that way was "another thing he liked to claim credit for.

Gallagher, a native of Fort Bragg, North Carolina, graduated from the University of South Florida with a degree in chemical engineering.

 before relocating to Los Angeles and honing his comedy act at renowned venue The Comedy Store on the Sunset Strip.

When he showcased his own brand of prop comedy on Johnny Carson's renowned "The Tonight Show" in 1975.

He had a lot of success on television, including appearances on "The Mike Douglas Show" in 1978 and "The Merv Griffin Show" in 1979.

He would go on to produce more than a dozen comedy specials for the network over a 27-year period.

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