"Carol Burnett Show" actor Harvey Korman dies at 81

[Laurent]

Harvey Korman of ‘Carol Burnett Show’ dies
Actor and comedian, 81, suffered aortic aneurysm 4 months ago

LOS ANGELES - Actor and comedian Harvey Korman, who was a regular on "The Carol Burnett Show" and appeared in a string of Mel Brooks films such as "Blazing Saddles" and "High Anxiety," died Thursday at age 81 at UCLA Medical Center, according to the hospital. Korman suffered a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm four months ago, according to hospital officials.

"It was a miracle in itself that he survived the incident at all," his daughter, Kate Korman, said in a statement. "Everyone in the hospital referred to him as 'miracle man' because of his strong will and ability to bounce right back after several major operations."

"Tragically, after such a hard-fought battle he passed away," she said.

He is survived by his wife Deborah; adult children Kate, Laura, Maria and Chris; and three grandchildren.

Memorial services will be private.

Harvey Korman of ‘Carol Burnett Show’ dies - Celebrities - MSNBC.com

Awww, I loved him. R.I.P.

[NicoleWasHere]

Rest in peace.

[Pippin]

That is so very sad. I loved him, too.

I just watched a program about Carol Burnett on PBS the other week and later watched snippets of her old show on YouTube. I thoroughly enjoyed myself that evening.

I loved it when Harvey Korman couldn't contain himself and had to almost turn himself inside out so that he wouldn't burst out laughing, especially when Tim Conway was in the skit.

R.I.P.

[buttmunch]

NOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO.....This is one of the few deaths recently that tryuly makes me sad. He was a comic genius. I loved the old CArol Burnett show (pre-chin implant). RIP Harvey...you made me laugh my ass of more times than I can remember.

[LynnieD]

No fucking way. I adored this man. I mean.....OMG this SUCKS.

I just logged on for shits and giggles and I didn't know this. OMG.

I am truly saddened by this.

RIP Harvey. You were loved!

[buttmunch]

I may have to check youtube. I feel the need to see the classic GONE WITH THE WIND sketch. Anyone else remember that one?

[buttmunch]

Gah...found it:

YouTube - Carol Burnett - Gone With The Wind Part 1

[LynnieD]

Thank you butt!! THANK YOU!

[buttmunch]

Christ, when she rips down the curtains....I still laugh my ass off...

[LynnieD]

I'm enjoying a vodka while watching some of the greatest artists at work...

Doesn't get much better than that does it?

Unfortunately Harvey isn't here to be toasted any longer.

***********TOAST TO HARVEY!**** ****

EVERYONE NOW!!!!!!

[Moongirl]

MSNBC.com


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Harvey Korman of ‘Carol Burnett Show’ dies
Actor and comedian, 81, suffered aortic aneurysm 4 months ago
The Associated Press
updated 4:08 p.m. PT, Thurs., May. 29, 2008


LOS ANGELES - Harvey Korman, the tall, versatile comedian who
won four Emmys for his outrageously funny contributions to “The Carol Burnett Show” and on the big screen in “Blazing Saddles,” died Thursday. He was 81.

Korman died at UCLA Medical Center after suffering complications from the rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm four months ago, his family said in a statement released by the hospital.

His daughter, Kate Korman, said in the statement that it was a “miracle” that her father had survived the aneurysm at all, and that he had several major operations.

“Tragically, after such a hard fought battle he passed away,” she said.

Second banana
A natural second banana, Korman gained attention on “The Danny Kaye Show,” appearing in skits with the star. He joined the show in its second season in 1964 and continued until it was canceled in 1967. That same year he became a cast member in the first season of “The Carol Burnett Show.”

Burnett and Korman developed into the perfect pair with their burlesques of classic movies such as “Gone With the Wind” and soap operas like “As the World Turns” (their version was called “As the Stomach Turns”).

Another recurring skit featured them as “Ed and Eunice,” a staid married couple who were constantly at odds with the wife’s mother (a young Vickie Lawrence in a gray wig). In “Old Folks at Home,” they were a combative married couple bedeviled by Lawrence as Burnett’s troublesome young sister.

Burnett was devastated by the news, said her assistant, Angie Horejsi.

“She loved Harvey very much,” Horejsi said. She said Burnett had not yet made a statement.

Korman revealed the secret to the long-running show’s success in a 2005 interview.

“We were an ensemble, and Carol had the most incredible attitude. I’ve never worked with a star of that magnitude who was willing to give so much away.”

After 10 successful seasons, he left in 1977 for his own series. Dick Van Dyke took his place, but the chemistry was lacking and the Burnett show was canceled two years later. “The Harvey Korman Show” also failed, as did other series starring the actor.

“It takes a certain type of person to be a television star,” he said in that 2005 interview. “I didn’t have whatever that is. I come across as kind of snobbish and maybe a little too bright. ... Give me something bizarre to play or put me in a dress and I’m fine.”

Memorable roles
His most memorable film role was as the outlandish Hedley Lamarr (who was endlessly exasperated when people called him Hedy) in Mel Brooks’ 1974 Western satire, “Blazing Saddles.”

He also appeared in the Brooks comedies “High Anxiety,” “The History of the World Part I” and “Dracula: Dead and Loving It,” as well as two “Pink Panther” moves, “Trail of the Pink Panther” in 1982 and “Curse of the Pink Panther” in 1983.

Korman’s other films included “Gypsy,” “Huckleberry Finn” (as the King), “Herbie Goes Bananas” and “Bud and Lou” (as legendary straightman Bud Abbott to Buddy Hackett’s Lou Costello). He also provided the voice of Dictabird in the 1994 live-action feature “The Flintstones.”

In television, Korman guest-starred in dozens of series including “The Donna Reed Show,” “Dr. Kildare,” “Perry Mason,” “The Wild Wild West,” “The Muppet Show,” “The Love Boat,” “The Roseanne Show” and “Burke’s Law.”

In their ’70s, he and Tim Conway, one of his Burnett show co-stars, toured the country with their show “Tim Conway and Harvey Korman: Together Again.” They did 120 shows a year, sometimes as many as six or eight in a weekend.

Working his way up
Harvey Herschel Korman was born Feb. 15, 1927, in Chicago. He left college for service in the U.S. Navy, resuming his studies afterward at the Goodman School of Drama at the Chicago Art Institute. After four years, he decided to try New York.

“For the next 13 years I tried to get on Broadway, on off-Broadway, under or beside Broadway,” he told a reporter in 1971.

He had no luck and had to support himself as a restaurant cashier. Finally, in desperation, he and a friend formed a nightclub comedy act.

“We were fired our first night in a club, between the first and second shows,” he recalled.

After returning to Chicago, Korman decided to try Hollywood, reasoning that “at least I’d feel warm and comfortable while I failed.”

For three years he sold cars and worked as a doorman at a movie theater. Then he landed the job with Kaye.

In 1960 Korman married Donna Elhart and they had two children, Maria and Christopher. They divorced in 1977. Two more children, Katherine and Laura, were born of his 1982 marriage to Deborah Fritz.

In addition to his daughter Kate, he is survived by his wife and the three other children.

© 2008 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed.
URL: Harvey Korman of ‘Carol Burnett Show’ dies - Celebrities - MSNBC.com


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[msdeb]

damn this truly makes me sad. when he would just about have a seizure trying to not laugh at Tim Conway, it was just THE best TV. RIP buddy.

[buttmunch]

Unfortunately Harvey isn't here to be toasted any longer.

***********TOAST TO HARVEY!**** ****

I've just filled my glass with a fine Cabernet and yes.....


To Harvey


A true comic talent who made me laugh more times than I can remember. Damn, I am sad! how pathetic...

[Laurent]

YouTube - Tim Conway and Harvey Korman

[aabbcc]

I watched the Carol Burnett Show as a kid. Funny stuff.

RIP Harvey.