CBS via Getty The iconic comedy-variety show couldn't have been fronted by a funnier girl. WithCarol Burnettacting, singing, dancing and more for laughs,The Carol Burnett Showdebuted in 1967 and kept audiences entertained for 11 seasons. Cast members and guest stars included Tim Conway, Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence, Lyle Waggoner and, for a half of a season, Dick Van Dyke. ThoughThe Carol Burnett Showwould become a Saturday night staple until the series ended in 1978, Burnett said, on an episode oftheDear Multi-Hyphenatepodcast, that she initiallyhad to fight to get her own comedyseries after leavingThe Gary Moore Show. Burnett said her 10-year contract with CBS included a stipulation that, if she chose to do a variety show within the first five years, the network would agree to air it for 30 episodes. However, when she decided to "push that button," the then-vice president claimed he didn't remember that clause and tried to shut her down. "He called me back the next day and said, 'Comedy variety is a man's game...it's not for you, girl,'" she recalled. Nonetheless, Burnett insisted they "had to put us on the air," and 287 episodes later, Burnett's sketch comedy show was an undeniable success, winning 25 Emmys during its 11-year run. Almost 60 years later, find out what happened to Burnett, Conway, Korman and more of the performers that brought skits to life onThe Carol Burnett Show. CBS Photo Archive/Getty; JC Olivera/Getty Though well remembered for helming the sketch comedy series,The Carol Burnett Show, was only the beginning of Carol Burnett's successful six-decade run in television, movies and more. While reflecting on her career in 2018, Burnetttold PEOPLEthat she always "knew [her] turn would someday come. And it did." Related:A Look Back at Carol Burnett's Life in Photos as the Legendary Actress Turns 92 After becoming a household name thanks to her eponymous series, Burnett, 92, kept acting and hasn't stopped. Her movie credits includeThe Four Seasonsin 1981,Anniein 1982 and 1992'sNoises Off, to name a few. In 2018, she returned to TV hosting with the Netflix seriesA Little Help with Carol Burnett. Then, in 2024, she scored an Emmy nomination for her role inPalm Royale, an Apple TV+ series featuringKristen Wiig,Ricky MartinandJosh Lucas. Related:From Julie Andrews to Julia Louis-Dreyfus: Carol Burnett's Famous Friends Toast Her 90th Birthday The comedian, actress, and singer's influence and achievements earned her the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2005, the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2013, and the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award in 2015. InJune 2024, her hand and footprints were cementedat the famous TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywoodalongside pal Dick Van Dyke. Commemorating her 90th birthday in April 2023, Burnett told PEOPLE how she wants to be remembered in the history books. "I made people laugh, made them feel good when they might have been down," she said. Burnett hasthree daughters, Carrie, Jody and Erin, whom she shares with her second husband and producer onThe Carol Burnett Show, Joe Hamilton.Carrie died of cancer-related pneumoniaat 38, and Burnett told PEOPLE in a 2018 interview, "I think of her every day." After marrying her college sweetheart in 1955 and divorcing in 1962, Burnett married Hamilton in 1963, and they split in 1984. Hamilton died in 1991. In 2001, Burnett entered her third marriage to musicianBrian Miller, who is over 20 years her junior. CBS Photo Archive/Getty; John M. Heller/Getty Tim Conway made his mark with one-of-a-kind characters, Mister Tudball and the Oldest Man, onThe Carol Burnett Show. After guest-starring for eight seasons, Conway became a regular from 1975 until 1978. Conway earned a Golden Globe for his performance in the show in 1976, along with Emmys in 1973, 1977, and 1978. Conway launched his own sitcom,The Tim Conway Show,in 1970, but it only lasted one season. He tried to launch another variety show of the same name 10 years later, but it ended after two seasons. He also played "Dorf" in eight films between 1987 and 1996, where he starred alongside Don Knotts. By 1999, Conway received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and he was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 2002. Related:Tim Conway's Life in Photos Like Burnett, he was in no rush to leave show business. Between 1999 and 2012, Conway voiced Barnacle Boy inSpongebob Squarepants, and he appeared on the second season of30 Rock, earning an Emmy in 2008. Conwaydied in 2019 at age 85. In his final days, his daughter Kelly and second wife Charlene fought over the nature of his care. Kellyfiled to be appointed conservator of her fatherand thensought a temporary restraining order, before Charlene, whom Conway married in 1984, was ultimately appointed conservator. Related:Tim Conway Recalls Early Showbiz Beginnings and Changing His Name in Final On-Camera Interview "I'm heartbroken. He was one in a million, not only as a brilliant comedian but as a loving human being,"Burnett said in a statement to PEOPLEafter his death. "I cherish the times we had together both on the screen and off. He'll be in my heart forever." Conway is survived by seven children, Jaime, Tim Jr., Pat, Corey, Shawn, Jackie and Kelly, whom he shares with Mary Anne Dalton, his wife from 1961 to 1978. CBS Photo Archive/Getty; Gregg DeGuire/WireImage Harvey Korman starred for 10 memorable seasons onThe Carol Burnett Show.He was known for his many recurring characters, most notably Ed Higgins. Korman also famously played Conway's patient in the rookie dentist sketch, in which his costar claimed Korman "wet his pants from laughing," according to theLos Angeles Times. Korman collected four Primetime Emmys and a Golden Globe for his performance on the sketch comedy series. Afterward, he launchedThe Harvey Korman Showin 1980 and joined his former castmates on their projects, includingThe Tim Conway Showand Vicki Lawrence'sMama's Familyspinoff. Korman also scored leading roles in multipleMel Brookscomedies, includingHistory of the World, Part 1in 1981 andDracula: Dead and Loving Itin 1995. Along with Conway, Korman was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 2002. Offscreen, Korman was married to Donna Ehlert from 1960 to 1977, and they had two children, Maria and Christopher Korman. Then, he married Deborah Korman in 1982, and the pair welcomed daughters Kate and Laura Korman. Harvey died in 2008 at age 81. CBS Photo Archive/Getty; Steve Granitz/FilmMagic Vicki Lawrence slipped on a curly gray wig and pearls for her debut as Mama on the first episode ofThe Carol Burnett Show. Besides Burnett, Lawrence, 76, was the sole actor to last all 11 seasons. Her Emmy-winning performance as the comically cold mother to Burnett's character, Eunice, marked her career years after the variety show ended. In 1982, CBS revived Mama and the rest of the family, including Burnett and Korman's characters, on the TV movieEunice,andBetty Whitewas added to the cast. The film led to the spinoff seriesMama's Family,which starred Lawrence and featured Burnett in several episodes. The sitcom ran from 1983 to 1985 before it was renewed from 1986 to 1990. Related:Vicki Lawrence Remembers Friend Betty White 1 Year After 'Golden Girls' Star's Death: 'You Taught Me So Much' In 1987, Lawrence followed Burnett's trailblazing path into the male-dominated realm of hosting with the game showWin, Lose or Draw. Then, in 1992, Lawrence launched a talk show calledVicki!that aired until 1994. She hosted over 400 episodes, featuring Burnett, White, and other guests. Forever Mama, Lawrence went on to play Mamaw Ruthie, the titular character's grandmother, from 2006 to 2011 on Disney Channel'sHannah Montana. Lawrence is a real-life mother to Garrett Shultz and Courtney Schultz with her second husband, Al Schultz, whom she wed in 1974. She was briefly married to singer-songwriter Bobby Russell before her marriage to Al, who died in 2024. CBS via Getty; Bobby Bank/Getty Lyle Waggoner spent seven years onThe Carol Burnett Showas an announcer and performer before leaving in 1974. Though his shoes were soon filled by Conway, he scored his next role just one year later. In 1975, Waggoner began playing Steve Trevor and then Steve Trevor Jr. inWonder Woman.While on set for the superhero series in the latter half of the '70s, Waggoner saw a business opportunity. He began buying up motorhomes to rent to Hollywood productions and retired from on-screen roles to start Star Waggons. He later expanded the business to include Zio Studio Services, an adjacent rental service for the entertainment industry. In 2020, Waggoner died at age 84. He is survived by his wife, Sharon Waggoner, whom he married in 1960, and their two sons, Jason and Beau Waggoner. "He was funny, kind and multi-talented. But even more than that, a loving friend," Burnett said in astatement after Lyle's death. "I will miss him." After their father's death, Jason and Beau Waggoner took over his businesses, and, in 2021, they sold Star Waggons and Zio Studio Services in a $222 million deal, according to theHollywood Reporter. Jason remains president of Star Waggons and Beau is an adviser. Read the original article onPeople
