OBITUARIES / PASSINGS / Jon Hager

Jon Hager, 67, who performed in the musical comedy duo the Hager Twins on the television show “Hee Haw,” was found dead in his Nashville apartment Friday. Hager had apparently died in his sleep, said Sam Lovullo, who produced the syndicated TV show. Hager had been in poor health and had been depressed since the death of his identical twin brother in May 2008.

The twins were in the original cast of the show, which debuted in 1969 satirizing country life with a mixture of music and comedy. Both were guitarists and drummers.

Lovullo said they were originally hired for their musical talent, but as the show went on they incorporated more comedy into their act.

‘Hee Haw’ comedian, musician

The Hagers left the program in the mid-1980s and continued to perform together.

The twins were born in the Chicago area and served in the Army together. They said in 1998 that they had been together all their lives except for 3 1/2 years, after Jon left Los Angles and moved to Nashville. Jim remained on the West Coast but eventually followed.