Carol Burnett
Carol Creighton Burnett (born April 26, 1933) is an American comedian, actress, and singer. Her comedy-variety show The Carol Burnett Show, which originally aired on CBS, was one of the first to be hosted by a woman.[1][2] She has performed on Broadway, on television, and in film of varying genres, including dramatic and comedic roles. She has received numerous accolades, including seven Primetime Emmy Awards, a Tony Award, a Grammy Award, and seven Golden Globe Awards. Burnett was awarded 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.[3][4]
This article is about the entertainer. For her TV show, see The Carol Burnett Show. For the 30 Rock character, see List of 30 Rock characters § Carol Burnett.
Carol Burnett
- Comedian
- actress
- singer
- writer
1955–present
- Film
- television
- theatre
- writing
- Parody
- satire
- slapstick
The Carol Burnett Show
Miss Agatha Hannigan in Annie
Eunice Harper Higgins on Mama's Family
See also full list
Burnett was born and raised in San Antonio, Texas, until her family moved to Hollywood, living a block away from Hollywood Boulevard.[5] She attended Hollywood High School and eventually studied theater and musical comedy at UCLA. Later, she performed in nightclubs in New York City and had a breakout success on Broadway in 1959 in Once Upon a Mattress, for which she received a Tony Award nomination. She soon made her television debut, regularly appearing on The Garry Moore Show for the next three years, and won her first Emmy Award in 1962. Burnett had her television special debut in 1963 when she starred as Calamity Jane in the Dallas State Fair Musicals production of Calamity Jane on CBS.[6]
Eventually, Burnett moved back to Los Angeles and began an 11-year run as star of The Carol Burnett Show on CBS television from 1967 to 1978. With its vaudeville roots, The Carol Burnett Show was a variety show that combined comedy sketches with song and dance. The comedy sketches included film parodies and character pieces. Burnett created many memorable characters during the show's run, and both she and the show won numerous Emmy and Golden Globe Awards. During and after her variety show, Burnett appeared in many television and film projects.
Burnett’s film roles include Pete 'n' Tillie (1972), The Front Page (1974), A Wedding (1978), The Four Seasons (1981), Annie (1982), Noises Off (1992), and Horton Hears a Who! (2008). She has acted in the dramas 6 Rms Riv Vu (1974) and Friendly Fire (1979); in guest roles such as in Mad About You, for which she won an Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series; and in various specials with Julie Andrews, Dolly Parton, and Beverly Sills. She returned to Broadway in Moon Over Buffalo (1995), receiving another Tony Award nomination. She returned to acting taking roles in the AMC drama series Better Call Saul (2022) and in the Apple TV+ comedy series Palm Royale (2024).
Burnett has written and narrated several memoirs, earning Grammy nominations for almost all of them, including a win for In Such Good Company.[7][8] In 2019, the Golden Globes named an award after her for career achievement in television, the Carol Burnett Award, and Burnett received her first award.[9] She was honored with an NBC special Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love celebrating her 90th birthday.
Personal life[edit]
Marriages and family[edit]
Burnett married her college sweetheart Don Saroyan on December 15, 1955. They divorced in 1962.[67]
On May 4, 1963, Burnett married television producer Joe Hamilton, a divorced father of eight and brother of actress Kipp Hamilton[68] who had produced her 1962 Carnegie Hall concert. He later produced The Carol Burnett Show, among other projects.[69] The couple had three daughters:
Recording appearances as a singer:[82]
Solo/duet albums
Other recordings
Memoirs
Burnett and her oldest daughter, Carrie Hamilton, co-wrote Hollywood Arms (2002), a play based on Burnett's bestselling memoir, One More Time (1986). The show was developed at the 1998 Sundance Theatre Lab and The Goodman Theatre before arriving on Broadway, directed by Harold Prince.[99][100] Sara Niemietz and Donna Lynne Champlin shared the role of Helen (the character based on Burnett), while Michele Pawk played Louise, Helen's mother, and Linda Lavin played Helen's grandmother. For her performance, Pawk received the 2003 Tony Award for Best Performance by a Featured Actress in a Play.[101] The show received a staging at New York's Merkin Concert Hall in 2015.[102]
Burnett has written and recorded three memoirs, each voice recording receiving a nomination for Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album. In Such Good Company won the Grammy for Best Spoken Word at the 59th Grammy Awards. [103]
Books