Sherry Cohen: The Private Life and Lasting Legacy of Buddy Hackett’s Devoted Wife

Sherry Cohen is a name that may not quite ring as quickly as her late husband’s, but whose story is rich in depth, resilience, and humble work in the entertainment industry. As wife to comedy legend and actor Buddy Hackett, Sherry spent almost five decades with one of the most familiar faces in comedy. Not only did they have a long marriage, but it was also built on mutual respect, love, and strong partnership—something that few get to enjoy in the fast-paced environment of Hollywood.

Though Sherry Cohen preferred not to be in the limelight, her input behind it and personal achievement are worth mentioning. She left her own imprint working in films and stood by Buddy during the peaks and troughs of his extremely fruitful career. This article delves into the life of Sherry Cohen—her history, career, family, and legacy—and sheds light on the woman who helped make one of the most legendary eras in American comedy.

Quick Bio

Who Is Sherry Cohen?

Sherry Cohen is best known as long-time wife to comedian and actor Buddy Hackett, a widely considered to be one of the all-time greats of 20th-century comedy performance. But that she is an actors’ wife isn’t the only thing about her that is fascinating. Sherry played a major movie role in the 1970s, albeit not on the screen, as a behind-the-scenes member of several movie projects. These comprised productions such as titles of Blood & Guts (1978), The House by the Lake (1976), and Fast Company (1979), which signaled her concentration towards story-telling as well as production.

Though she never hungered for public fame, Sherry Cohen was a rock and important figure in the world of entertainment. She was a steady source of strength and dependability in Buddy Hackett’s life. Her story is a reminder that the people who stand behind well-known artists also have their own contributions, even if they do not dominate in the limelight.

Early Life

Unfortunately, little is known about Sherry Cohen’s early life. Details about her birthplace, childhood, and education are not found in established sources. This might have been a design, as Sherry appeared to value her privacy and had a conscious decision to live away from the celebrity culture gaze. At a time when celebrities’ personal lives are splash-page headlines, Sherry’s decisions to live a low-key life are respectable and rare.

What we do know is that by the time she met Buddy Hackett, she already had a quiet confidence and independence. Her achievement in the rough game of show business without selling out is eloquent testimony to the character. Although the gaps in her personal history leave all sorts of questions still to be answered, the dignity of her discretion is the very essence of who she is.

Career Beginnings

Sherry Cohen’s introduction to the world of film was in the 1970s, when women’s roles in entertainment were only just beginning to shift. While she never emerged as a camera presence, she worked on the production side of a series of films, providing her services to such films as Fast Company and Blood & Guts. These were fairly low-key Canadian productions, yet they provided her with the freedom to pursue her own professional growth separate from her husband’s career.

Her performance in these films was evidence that she wasn’t just Buddy Hackett’s wife—she had dreams of the artistic kind as well. These lesser-known films affirm she was intrigued by hard-edged, character-driven movies, and her work added worth to the production behind the scenes. Even if she didn’t sustain a long-term career, her brief stint demonstrates she had both the capacity and the desire to work in an industry that’s highly competitive.

Who Is Sherry Cohen’s Husband?

Sherry Cohen married Buddy Hackett, a comedy legend and actor who starred in iconic movies like The Music Man, The Love Bug, and It’s a Mad, Mad, Mad, Mad World. The couple was married in 1955 and remained together until Buddy died in 2003—nearly 50 years of marriage. Their long marriage was something of an oddity in Hollywood, where marriages were short-term and had been well-publicized.

Buddy Hackett attributed his wife on numerous occasions with providing him with the emotional stability he needed in a business usually hectic and stressful. They had three children, Sandy, Ivy Julie, and Lisa Jean Hackett. Sandy Hackett also became an actor and comedian in his own right, continuing his father’s tradition through Sandy Hackett’s Rat Pack Show, which was nationally recognized. Sherry’s commitment to her family was unshakeable, and her role as wife and mother is perhaps the most enduring aspect of her legacy.

Sherry Cohen’s Physical Appearance

As Sherry Cohen stayed out of the limelight, not a lot of evidence is available from the public on what she looks like. However, photos of public appearances with her husband show a dignified and poised lady who conducted herself with grace and dignity. She was predominantly seen in elegant clothes, appropriate for red carpet events or Hollywood social functions. She had old-fashioned taste in fashion that complemented Buddy Hackett’s affable and charming public persona.

Sherry’s appearance said volumes about her character and benevolent personality. She was warm and kind, in photographs as well as through the testimonies of those around her. Her fashion sense and attitude might never have rendered her an easy celebrity in her own right, but Sherry’s gentle and placating presence went to humanize the generally toxic realm of celebrity existence, making her a great and potent figure in her own world.

Net Worth

Sherry Cohen’s personal net worth has not been disclosed. Her husband Buddy Hackett, however, had an estimated net worth of $10 million at the time of his death in 2003. There is a good chance that Sherry inherited all or most of his estate and left her kids and herself financially well off. That money would have included residuals on Buddy’s decades-long career on television and film, real estate investments, and investments.

As an aside, Sherry’s own film work, though short in duration, might have provided her with some independent income. Her simple lifestyle and need for secrecy suggest that she lived quite well but not extravagantly. Her financial decisions likely were the same plain-sensible decisions that she made in every aspect of her life.

Legacy

Sherry Cohen’s legacy is also all about her role as a steady and committed partner to Buddy Hackett. Behind every great performer is typically someone with love and support through the maelstrom of fame, and for Buddy, that person was Sherry. Her devotion, her quiet strength, and her commitment to family left a lasting mark on everyone who knew her.

In furtherance, Sherry’s memory is preserved through her children—most significantly Sandy Hackett—who continue to leave their stamp within the entertainment industry. Although never pursuing the spotlight, Sherry Cohen laid the foundation for an industry presence that endures through numerous generations. Her unsung efforts within both the set and family life ensures her name will never be overlooked.