Harvey Korman
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Born Name:
Harvey Herschel Korman
Born Date: February 15, 1927
Born Place: Chicago, Illinois
Died Date: May 29, 2008
Died Place: UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
Occupations: Actor, comedian
Brief Biography: Harvey Korman was universally celebrated for his impeccable timing, versatility, and decade-long tenure as a core ensemble member on The Carol Burnett Show. He won four Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe for his sketch-comedy brilliance alongside Carol Burnett and Tim Conway. Korman was also famous as the pompous villain Hedley Lamarr in the Mel Brooks classic Blazing Saddles (1974) and as the voice of The Great Gazoo in The Flintstones.
Early Life and Struggles:
Military Service: Served in the United States Navy Reserve during World War II.
Dramatic Training: Studied acting at the Goodman School of Drama at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Early Hardships: Spent nearly a decade struggling in New York. He supported himself as a restaurant cashier and gas station attendant while enduring failed Broadway auditions.
Television Breakthroughs:
Early Guest Spots: Moved to Hollywood and landed minor roles on The Donna Reed Show and The Munsters.
The Flintstones: Provided the distinctively arrogant voice of the alien The Great Gazoo in 1965.
The Danny Kaye Show: Gained his first steady major exposure as a sketch player from 1963 to 1967.
The Carol Burnett Show Era (1967–1977):
Korman achieved his greatest fame on The Carol Burnett Show. He spent ten seasons executing brilliant physical comedy and broad satire.
Awards: Earned four Primetime Emmy Awards and one Golden Globe Award for his work.
Tim Conway Partnership: Forged a legendary comedy duo with Tim Conway. Their chemistry was defined by Conway's relentless unscripted antics trying to make Korman break character and laugh on air.
Memorable Roles: Played the recurring character Ed Higgins in the "The Family" sketches, which later spun off into the sitcom Mama's Family.
Film and Mel Brooks Collaborations:
Korman transitioned his sharp satirical style to the big screen, becoming a favorite actor of director Mel Brooks.
Blazing Saddles (1974): Played his most famous film role as the villainous, conniving bureaucrat Hedley Lamarr.
High Anxiety (1977): Starred as the deeply twisted Dr. Charles Montague.
History of the World, Part I (1981): Portrayed the snobbish Count de Monet.
Born Date: February 15, 1927
Born Place: Chicago, Illinois
Died Date: May 29, 2008
Died Place: UCLA Medical Center, Los Angeles, California
Occupations: Actor, comedian
Brief Biography: Harvey Korman was universally celebrated for his impeccable timing, versatility, and decade-long tenure as a core ensemble member on The Carol Burnett Show. He won four Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe for his sketch-comedy brilliance alongside Carol Burnett and Tim Conway. Korman was also famous as the pompous villain Hedley Lamarr in the Mel Brooks classic Blazing Saddles (1974) and as the voice of The Great Gazoo in The Flintstones.
Early Life and Struggles:
Military Service: Served in the United States Navy Reserve during World War II.
Dramatic Training: Studied acting at the Goodman School of Drama at the Art Institute of Chicago.
Early Hardships: Spent nearly a decade struggling in New York. He supported himself as a restaurant cashier and gas station attendant while enduring failed Broadway auditions.
Television Breakthroughs:
Early Guest Spots: Moved to Hollywood and landed minor roles on The Donna Reed Show and The Munsters.
The Flintstones: Provided the distinctively arrogant voice of the alien The Great Gazoo in 1965.
The Danny Kaye Show: Gained his first steady major exposure as a sketch player from 1963 to 1967.
The Carol Burnett Show Era (1967–1977):
Korman achieved his greatest fame on The Carol Burnett Show. He spent ten seasons executing brilliant physical comedy and broad satire.
Awards: Earned four Primetime Emmy Awards and one Golden Globe Award for his work.
Tim Conway Partnership: Forged a legendary comedy duo with Tim Conway. Their chemistry was defined by Conway's relentless unscripted antics trying to make Korman break character and laugh on air.
Memorable Roles: Played the recurring character Ed Higgins in the "The Family" sketches, which later spun off into the sitcom Mama's Family.
Film and Mel Brooks Collaborations:
Korman transitioned his sharp satirical style to the big screen, becoming a favorite actor of director Mel Brooks.
Blazing Saddles (1974): Played his most famous film role as the villainous, conniving bureaucrat Hedley Lamarr.
High Anxiety (1977): Starred as the deeply twisted Dr. Charles Montague.
History of the World, Part I (1981): Portrayed the snobbish Count de Monet.