Korman, Harvey Herschel

▪ 2009

      American comedian

born Feb. 15, 1927, Chicago, Ill.

died May 29, 2008, Los Angeles, Calif.

delighted television viewers with the screwball roles he created as part of the ensemble cast of The Carol Burnett Show. During Korman's 10 seasons (1967–77) with the program, he garnered four Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award. He was most closely identified with the parts he played in recurring skits. One lampooned a TV soap opera (“As the Stomach Turns”); another was a spoof of the film Gone with the Wind; and a number of others featured him with Burnett as her spouse (notably the characters Ed and Eunice Higgins). Korman launched his show business career as a bit player (1964–67) on The Danny Kaye Show, which helped him gain entry to The Carol Burnett Show. He left her show to star in his own vehicle, The Harvey Korman Show (1978). The latter was canceled after three episodes, however, and Korman became a regular on The Tim Conway Show (1980–81) and a player on Mama's Family (reprising the Burnett show character Ed Higgins). Korman's film credits include Blazing Saddles (1974), High Anxiety (1977), and The Trail of the Pink Panther (1982).

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