BIOGRAPHY:

Gailard Sartain (born September 18, 1946) is an American comedic and serious actor, often playing characters with roots in the South. He is also an accomplished and successful painter and illustrator.
Early years and education Sartain was born in Tulsa, Oklahoma, the son of a Tulsa fire chief. He attended Cascia Hall Preparatory School, is a 1963 graduate of Will Rogers High School in Tulsa and was a member of the Epsilon Mu chapter of the Kappa Sigma Fraternity at the University of Tulsa, from which he graduated with a Bachelor of Fine Arts degree. In 1968, Gailard moved to New York City, where he worked as an assistant to illustrator Paul Davis.
Career Sartain's entry into entertainment was launched in Tulsa. Working originally as a cameraman at a local television station, he gained notoriety through the creation of a late night off-the-wall comedy program entitled The Uncanny Film Festival and Camp Meeting.[1] Dressed as a wizard, wearing a dark blue robe and pointed wizard's cap, Sartain hosted the program as "Dr. Mazeppa Pompazoidi". Other cast members included fellow Tulsans Gary Busey and Jim Millaway. The program was broadcast on the Tulsa CBS affiliate KOTV and later the ABC affiliate KTUL. It featured B-movies, with skits written and performed by Sartain, Busey and company between the movie segments.[2]
Discovered by a talent scout during his stint as Mazeppa, Sartain was hired in 1972 as a regular on the television program Hee Haw. Sartain remained as a regular cast member of the popular show for nearly 20 seasons.[3] He also served as a regular on other series including Cher (1975–76) and Shields and Yarnell (1978). Sartain played C.D. Parker for one episode during the pilot season of Walker, Texas Ranger. He also supplied the voice of a social worker in the pilot episode of the animated series King of the Hill.

TRIVIA:

'Gary Busey' (qv) got his start on the Gailard Sartain show in Oklahoma.
Was considered for the role of Otis in _Superman (1978)_ (qv).
A memorable character that he played on KOTV in Tulsa, OK was Dr. Mazeppa Pompazoidi, who hosted a late night weekend film festival of old movies. Mazeppa dressed as a wizard, wearing a dark blue robe and pointed wizard's cap. The local late-night program featured B-movies, with Sartain and Gary Busey writing and performing skits between the movie segments. Featuring characters such as Yahooudi Men-you-in (a nameplay on the famous violin afficianado, played by G.S.) and a featured Gary Busey character, Teddy Jack Eddie.....with the third member of the troupe playing "Sherman Oaks"....wearing a receding-hairlined half-mask, the Mazeppa Pompazoidi's Uncanny Film Festival and Camp Meeting met Saturday nights at 10:30pm after the local late news. There were other incidental characters, played by his then girlfriend such as "Little Dar-Leen". Local personalities instantly gained even more local fame when appearing on his program, some like the rock band "Bread". He even had local late-night competition, "Fantastic Theatre". Somewhat of a cult following started from his talented improvisational skills and there began the career of G. Ailard S. Artain.......
An accomplished artist.

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