Judy Carne | 'Laugh-In' star, 76

Judy Carne, 76, a star of the comedy show

Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In

, has died in a British hospital.

She was famous for popularizing the "sock it to me" phrase on the hit TV show, which ran from 1967 to 1973.

Her death was confirmed Tuesday in an email by Eva Duffy, spokeswoman for Northampton General Hospital, who said Carne died in the hospital on Sept. 3. Newspaper reports said she had suffered from pneumonia.

Ms. Carne shot to fame with the rise of Laugh-In, a smash hit on NBC that often featured her doused in water, taking pratfalls, or suffering other humiliations after uttering her signature phrase.

Carne left the show in its third season and her acting career faltered afterward as she became heavily involved with drugs.

Carne was born Joyce Botterill in Northampton, England, and started performing on TV shows in the late 1950s, building a reputation in England before moving to the United States.

She was married twice, including once to the actor Burt Reynolds, and spent her later years with her two dogs living in the village of Pitsford in Northamptonshire. - AP