When you look up Sherry Cohen Hackett obituaries, you aren't just looking for a date or a final resting place. You’re usually looking for the story of a woman who stood at the center of a very loud, very funny, and sometimes very chaotic Hollywood whirlwind.
She was more than just "the wife" of legendary comedian Buddy Hackett. Honestly, she was the anchor. If Buddy was the kite flying high and erratic in the comedy winds of the Catskills and Las Vegas, Sherry was the one holding the string.
But searching for her life story today is tricky. Information is scattered. Some sources focus entirely on her husband’s passing in 2003, while others confuse her with different people sharing similar names.
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The Woman Behind the Comedian
Sherry Cohen wasn't a stranger to the limelight, but she lived it differently. Before she became Mrs. Hackett, she was a dance teacher in Brooklyn. She went by the professional name Sherry Dubois back then.
They met in the Catskills. It’s almost a cliché of that era, isn't it? The "Borscht Belt" was where comedy royalty was born, and it's where Sherry and Buddy’s 48-year marriage took root. They married on June 12, 1955.
Think about that for a second. In an industry where marriages often have the shelf life of a carton of milk, they stayed together for nearly half a century. That doesn't happen by accident. It happens because someone—usually Sherry—had the patience of a saint and a very sharp sense of humor.
Life in the Spotlight (and Out of It)
The Hacketts didn't just live in a house; they lived in history. For a while in the late 1950s, they actually lived in the former home of Albert Anastasia, the notorious crime boss, in Fort Lee, New Jersey. Can you imagine the stories those walls could tell?
Later, they moved to Malibu. That was where the real "Hollywood" chapter happened. Sherry managed a household that included three children: Sandy, Lisa, and Ivy. While Buddy was out being the "scene-stealer" in classics like It's a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World or The Music Man, Sherry was the one keeping the gears turning.
Why the Confusion Around Sherry Cohen Hackett Obituaries?
If you've been digging through the internet lately, you might have noticed some conflicting reports. This is the downside of the digital age.
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- Name Overlap: There are several women named Sherry or Sherrie Hackett. For instance, a Sherrie Anne Harris Hackett passed away in Phoenix in August 2024. People often click on that obituary thinking it's the wife of the comedian. It isn't.
- The 2003 Focus: Because Buddy Hackett was such a massive figure, many "Sherry Hackett" search results are actually just news reports from 2003 detailing his death. She was his primary survivor, so her name is intrinsically linked to his final headlines.
- Privacy: Sherry wasn't a social media influencer. She belonged to a generation that valued a certain level of private dignity.
She was deeply involved in charitable work, particularly with the John Wayne Cancer Institute. There are even signed notes floating around in collector circles where she discusses the importance of cancer research. She used her position for good, but she didn't feel the need to shout about it from the rooftops.
The Legacy She Left Behind
What really matters when we look at Sherry Cohen Hackett obituaries isn't just a list of facts. It's the impact.
She was a mother. A grandmother. A dance teacher.
She was the person who helped Buddy Hackett navigate his transition from a Catskills waiter to one of the most recognizable faces in the world. When Buddy passed away in his Malibu home at the age of 78, Sherry was the one who had to handle the massive outpouring of grief from the public while dealing with her own.
Managing the Estate and Memory
After Buddy died, Sherry remained the guardian of his legacy. Their son, Sandy Hackett, famously carried on the comedy tradition with Sandy Hackett’s Rat Pack Show. Sherry was a fixture in that world, ensuring that the brand of humor her husband championed—bawdy, honest, and genuinely funny—wasn't forgotten.
She knew the business. You don't live with a comedian for 48 years without learning how the "funny" gets made. She understood the timing, the struggle, and the incredible highs of a successful career in entertainment.
How to Properly Research Her Life
If you are looking for specific details or wanting to pay respects, here is the best way to navigate the noise:
- Verify the Spouse: Always check if the obituary mentions Buddy Hackett. If it mentions a "Bob" or a different lineage, it’s a different Sherry.
- Check the Dates: Buddy passed in 2003. Any mention of Sherry in that window is likely related to her role as his widow.
- Look for the Children: Sandy, Lisa, and Ivy are the key names to look for in any legitimate family history or memorial notice.
Sherry Cohen Hackett represented a specific era of Hollywood. An era where the partners of stars were the unsung CEOs of the family business. She wasn't just a bystander; she was a participant in the golden age of American comedy.
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Whether she was teaching dance in Brooklyn or navigating the social circles of Malibu, she did it with a level of grace that is increasingly rare. She wasn't a character in a tabloid; she was the foundation of a family that stayed together through the most volatile years of the entertainment industry.
When you're sifting through the archives, remember that the "facts" of an obituary are just the skeleton. The real story is in the 48 years of laughter, the three kids, and the woman who kept the funniest man in the world grounded.
Next Steps for Researching the Hackett Legacy:
- Look into the archives of the John Wayne Cancer Institute to see Sherry's contributions to the organization.
- Explore Sandy Hackett’s interviews regarding his mother to get a more personal, "human" perspective on her life behind the scenes.
- Search for "Sherry Dubois" in New York dance archives if you're interested in her pre-Hollywood career.