Harvey Korman dies at 81

[James"Thunder"Early]

http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5h...rmEIwD90VJF900

Actor Harvey Korman dies in Los Angeles

9 minutes ago
LOS ANGELES (AP) — A UCLA Medical Center spokeswoman says actor Harvey Korman has died.
Hospital spokeswoman Roxanne Moster said Korman died Thursday but she released no details.
The Emmy-winning star of such TV programs as "The Carol Burnett Show" and films such as "Blazing Saddles," was 81.

[Ireneparalegal]

I just heard this on our local news. I am deeply sad to hear abt this. I had no idea he was even ill.


THANK YOU HARVEY FOR THE LAUGHS!!!!!!!!!!

[AKA]

http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20080529/.../obit_korman_3

[Chocolate Moose]

Oh................

[PlayOn]

what? oh, man. that's sad. i loved him on 'The Carol Burnett Show.' May he

[Zoneboy]

Link


LOS ANGELES — Harvey Korman, the tall, versatile comedian who won four Emmys for his outrageously funny contributions to "The Carol Burnett Show" and was seen to hilarious effect 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.

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.

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."

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.

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.

[Jude The Obscure]

One of the best comedy sketch performers ever!

[phoebe7165]

There it is, the 3rd celebrity. First, Dick Martin, then Sydney Pollack, now Harvey.

I loved Harvey, as did my dad and a few years ago, as a Father's Day gift, I got him tickets to see Harvey & Tim Conway when they were doing shows together. Of course, they did the skit that they did on the Carol Burnett show where Tim played the dentist and Harvey was the patient. I mean, who didn't love all those skits where Tim had Harvey "losing it"?

Also, a funny part in "History of the World Part 1" was he played Count de Monet, and everybody kept calling him Count de Money!!

Harvey

[Ireneparalegal]

Harvey as Rhett in the parody of Gone With the Wind on the Carol Burnett Show:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Tjhtx...eature=related

God, that is still hilarious. Harvey was just marvelous. What a comedic genius.

[PlayOn]

i can picture nobody else playing Ed Higgins. him and Carol worked so well together. , Harvey.

[Mr. Television]

Oh God no.

One of the funniest comedians I ever saw. He and Tim Conway were a great team. I used to like how they would make each other laugh on the Burnett Show. And I watched them every week. . They always made me laugh. God bless him.

[Mr. Television]

Harvey and Tim.

[JT]

WTF!

Two of the funniest men from the golden age of the musical/variety shows are now gone. Two of my absolute favorites, too!

RIP Harvey!

[wkomorow]

Harvey Korman died today of heart failure. RIP. I think his funniest role was in Mama's Family. The ever foil to Tim Conway.

Sorry I just noticed the posting in the 1980's forum - please delete this one.

[robyrob]

man, Harvey was a LEGEND, R.I.P.