Harvey Korman

Harvey Herschel Korman (February 15, 1927  May 29, 2008) was an American actor and comedian who performed in television and film productions. He is best remembered as a main cast member alongside Carol Burnett, Tim Conway and Vicki Lawrence on the CBS sketch comedy series The Carol Burnett Show (1967–1977) for which he won four Primetime Emmy Awards and a Golden Globe Award.

Harvey Korman
Born
Harvey Herschel Korman

(1927-02-15)February 15, 1927
Chicago, Illinois, U.S.
DiedMay 29, 2008(2008-05-29) (aged 81)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
Resting placeWoodlawn Memorial Cemetery in Santa Monica, California
Occupation(s)Actor, comedian
Years active1950–2008
Spouses
Donna Ehlert
(m. 1960; div. 1977)
    Deborah Fritz Korman
    (m. 1982)
    Children4

    His early roles were on The Danny Kaye Show and The Lucy Show. Korman briefly starred in his own sitcom The Harvey Korman Show (1980) and continued to work with his The Carol Burnett Show cast mates in projects such as The Tim Conway Show (1980), and Mama's Family (1983–1984). He starred in several comedy films by Mel Brooks including Blazing Saddles (1974), High Anxiety (1977), and History of the World, Part 1 (1981). His other notable films include Herbie Goes Bananas (1980), Trail of the Pink Panther (1982), and Curse of the Pink Panther (1983).

    Korman is known for his voice work, taking on roles such as The Great Gazoo in The Flintstones (1965–1966). He is also known for voice roles in Garfield and Friends, Alice in Wonderland, Dumb and Dumber, Hey Arnold!, The Wild Thornberrys, and Buzz Lightyear of Star Command.

    Early life and education

    Korman was of Russian-Jewish descent and born in Chicago, the son of Ellen (née Blecher) and Cyril Raymond Korman, a salesman.[1][2][3] He served in the United States Navy during World War II.[4] After being discharged, he studied at the Goodman School of Drama at the Art Institute of Chicago (now at DePaul University) and at HB Studio.[5][6] He was a member of the Peninsula Players summer theatre program during the 1950, 1957, and 1958 seasons.[7]

    Career

    1959–1966: Early years

    Korman's first television role was as a head waiter in The Donna Reed Show episode, "Decisions, Decisions, Decisions". He appeared as a comically exasperated public relations man in a January 1961 episode of the CBS drama Route 66. He was seen on numerous television programs afterwards including the role of Blake in the 1964 episode "Who Chopped Down the Cherry Tree?" on the NBC medical drama The Eleventh Hour and a bartender in the 1962 Perry Mason episode, "The Case of the Unsuitable Uncle." He frequently appeared as a supporting player on The Danny Kaye Show from 1963 through 1967. He was cast three times, including the role of Dr. Allison in "Who Needs Glasses?" (1962), on ABC's The Donna Reed Show. He also guest-starred on Dennis the Menace and on the NBC contemporary western series Empire.

    From 1964 to 1966, he appeared three times in consecutive years on the CBS comedy The Munsters starring Fred Gwynne and Yvonne De Carlo. During the 1965–1966 season, Korman appeared regularly on ABC's The Flintstones as the voice of The Great Gazoo in its final season on network television.

    1967–1977: The Carol Burnett Show

    Carol Burnett, guest star Madeline Kahn, and Harvey Korman in one of a series of "The Family" sketches on The Carol Burnett Show, 1976

    The 1967 debut of The Carol Burnett Show gave Korman his greatest recognition. Korman starred alongside Carol Burnett, Vicki Lawrence, and Tim Conway. During his ten-year run on the show, he received six Primetime Emmy Award nominations and winning four, in 1969, 1971, 1972, and 1974. The exact name of the category changed slightly during the period, but the award was for "Outstanding Achievement by a Supporting Performer in Music or Variety show". He was also nominated for four Golden Globes for the series, winning that award in 1975. In 1977, he left The Carol Burnett Show to headline his own sitcom on ABC, The Harvey Korman Show, which lasted only five episodes.

    While appearing on The Carol Burnett Show, Korman gained further fame by appearing as the villainous Hedley Lamarr in the 1974 Mel Brooks film Blazing Saddles starring Cleavon Little, Gene Wilder, and Madeline Kahn. Ron Pennington of The Hollywood Reporter praised his performance writing, "The performances are all comedy gems, with Korman especially delightful as Hedley Lamarr, scheming and plotting with all the finesse of a precocious brat."[8] He also starred in Brooks' High Anxiety (1977) as Dr. Charles Montague.

    1978–2006

    In 1978 he appeared in the CBS Star Wars Holiday Special providing levity in three of the special's variety segments: a cantina skit with Bea Arthur in which he plays a barfly who drinks through a hole in the top of his head, another as Chef Gormaanda, a four-armed parody of Julia Child, and one as a malfunctioning Amorphian android in an instruction video. In 1980, he played Captain Blythe in the Disney comedy, Herbie Goes Bananas. The following year, he portrayed Count de Monet in Brooks' History of the World, Part 1. In later years he did voice work for the live-action film The Flintstones as well as for the animated The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescue. He also starred in the short-lived Mel Brooks TV series The Nutt House, and in his final Mel Brooks film, as the zany Dr. Seward, in Dracula: Dead and Loving It. In 1986, he starred in the failed CBS comedy series Leo & Liz in Beverly Hills with Valerie Perrine.[9]

    In 1982 he reunited with Carol Burnett and Vicki Lawrence in the TV movie Eunice reprising his role of Ed Higgins from “The Family” sketches from The Carol Burnett Show. He continued the portrayal on the spin-off series, Mama’s Family in addition to introducing each episode of the series during its initial two-season NBC network run, portraying fictional television host Alistair Quince as well as directing 31 episodes of the series.

    He also reunited with fellow Carol Burnett Show alumnus Tim Conway, making a guest appearance on Conway's 1980–1981 comedy-variety series The Tim Conway Show. The two later toured the U.S., reprising skits from the show and performing new material.[10] A DVD of new comedy sketches by Korman and Conway, Together Again, was released in 2006.[11] Korman and Conway had been jointly inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 2002.[12]

    Personal life

    Marriages

    Korman was married to Donna Ehlert from 1960 to 1977 and they had two children, Maria and Christopher Korman. He married Deborah Korman (née Fritz) in 1982 and was married to her until he died in 2008. They had two daughters together, Kate and Laura Korman.

    Death

    Korman died at age 81 on May 29, 2008, at UCLA Medical Center as the result of complications from a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm he had suffered four months earlier.[13][6] He is interred at Santa Monica's Woodlawn Cemetery.

    Filmography

    Film

    Year Project Role Notes
    1959Carving MagicAlIndustrial short
    1961Living VenusKen Carter
    1962GypsyGypsy's press agent
    1966Lord Love a DuckWeldon Emmett
    1966The Man Called FlintstoneChief Bouldervoice
    1968Don't Just Stand There!Merriman Dudley
    1969The April FoolsMatt Benson
    1974Blazing SaddlesHedley Lamarr
    1974Huckleberry FinnThe King
    1976The Pink Panther Strikes AgainProf. Auguste BallsScenes deleted
    1977High AnxietyDr. Charles Montague
    1978Bud and LouBud Abbott
    1979AmericathonMonty Rushmore
    1980Herbie Goes BananasCaptain Blythe
    1980First FamilyU.N. Ambassador Spender
    1981History of the World, Part ICount de Monet
    1982Trail of the Pink PantherProf. Auguste Balls
    1983Curse of the Pink PantherProf. Auguste Balls
    1984Gone Are the DayesCharlie Mitchell
    1985Alice in WonderlandWhite King
    1986The LongshotLou
    1987MunchiesCecil Watterman
    Simon Watterman
    1994The FlintstonesDictabirdVoice
    1994Radioland MurdersJules Cogley
    1995Dracula: Dead and Loving ItDr. Jack Seward
    1996Jingle All the WayPresident
    1997Diagnosis: MurderHarvey Huckaby
    1998The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the RescueFloydVoice
    1999Baby Huey's Great Easter AdventureProf. von KluppDirect-to-video
    2000The Flintstones in Viva Rock VegasCol. Slaghoople
    2006Together Again: Conway & KormanVariousDVD release

    Television

    Year Film Role Notes
    1960The Donna Reed ShowHead WaiterEpisode: "Decisions, Decisions, Decisions"
    1961HenneseyDr. Don SprightEpisode: "The Gossip Go-Round"
    1961The Red Skelton HourArtieEpisode: "Appleby's Office Party"
    1961Dennis the MenaceRealtorEpisode: "Haunted House"
    1961-1963Route 66Len Statler2 episodes
    1962Perry MasonBartenderEpisode: "The Case of the Unsuitable Uncle"
    1962I'm Dickens, He's FensterMr. RembarEpisode: "The Acting Game"
    1962The Detectives Starring Robert TaylorGibson HollyEpisode: "The Jagged Edge"
    1962EmpireBunceEpisode: "Pressure Lock"
    1963Dennis the MenaceMr. GriffinEpisode: "My Four Boys"
    1963Sam BenedictReporterEpisode: "Of Rusted Cannons and Fallen Sparrows"
    1963Saints and SinnersJerry GrantEpisode: "The Year Joan Crawford Won the Oscar"
    1963GlynisKen BradfordEpisode: "Three Men in a Tub"
    1964The MunstersJournalist Lennie BatesEpisode: "Family Portrait"
    1964–1965The Lucy ShowVarious3 episodes
    1964HazelMax DentonEpisode: "Maid for a Day"
    1965GidgetJoe HanleyEpisode: "Daddy Come Home"
    1965The John Forsythe ShowH.H. HopperEpisode: "Duty and the Beast"
    1965The MunstersDr. LeinbachEpisode: "Yes Galen, There Is a Herman"
    1966The MunstersProfessor FagenspahenEpisode: "Prehistoric Munster"
    1965–1966The FlintstonesThe Great GazooVoice; 13 episodes
    1966Alice in WonderlandMad HatterVoice; Television movie
    1966F TroopCol. Heindreich von ZeppelEpisode: "Bye, Bye, Balloon"
    1967–1977The Carol Burnett ShowVarious rolesMain cast; 244 episodes
    1968The Wild Wild WestBaron HinterstoisserEpisode: "The Night of the Big Blackmail"
    1971The Sonny & Cher Comedy HourHimselfGuest appearance
    1976The Muppet ShowHimselfEpisode: Harvey Korman
    1978America 2-NightHimselfEpisode: Celebrity Night
    1978The Harvey Korman ShowHimselfTalk series
    1978Star Wars Holiday SpecialChef Gormaanda, Krelman,
    Toy Video Instructor
    TV special
    1980-1981The Tim Conway ShowHimself8 episodes
    1982EuniceEdTelevision special
    1983The Invisible WomanCarlisle EdwardsTelevision movie
    1983CarpoolWendell BrooksTelevision movie
    1983–1984Mama's FamilyEunice's husband / Various26 episodes
    1986Leo & Liz in Beverly HillsLeo Green6 episodes
    1989Nutt HouseReginald Tarkington10 episodes
    1992The Golden PalaceBillEpisode: "Marriage on the Rocks with a Twist"
    1994Garfield and FriendsProfessor LamarVoice; 2 episodes
    1995What a Cartoon!O. RatzVoice; Episode: "Rat in a Hot Tin Can"
    1995Dumb and Dumber: The Animated SeriesOfficer DoohickeyVoice; 2 episodes[14]
    1996Hey Arnold!Don ReynoldsVoice; 2 episodes[15]
    1997Diagnosis: Murder' Guest starEpisode: "Comedy Is Murder"
    1999The Wild ThornberrysEarlVoice; Episode: "No Laughing Matter"
    1999The Brothers FlubVoice; 16 episodes
    2000Happily Ever After: Fairy Tales for Every ChildThe LionVoice; Episode: "Aesop's Fables"
    2000Buzz Lightyear of Star CommandGularisVoice

    Theatre

    Year Project Role Playwright Notes
    1950The Tower Beyond TragedyThe King's GuardRobinson JeffersANTA Playhouse, Broadway
    1950Captain Brassbound's ConversionEnsembleGeorge Bernard ShawCity Center, Broadway

    Video games

    • The Flintstones (pinball) (1994) as the Dictabird (voice)
    • The Flintstones: Bedrock Bowling (2000) as The Great Gazoo (voice)[16]

    Awards and nominations

    Year Association Category Project Result Ref.
    1969Primetime Emmy AwardsOutstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music ProgramThe Carol Burnett ShowWon
    1971Won
    1972Won
    1973Nominated
    1974Won
    1976Nominated
    1977Nominated
    1972Golden Globe AwardsBest Supporting Actor – TelevisionNominated
    1973Nominated
    1974Won
    1975Nominated

    References

    1. Bloom, Nate (December 26, 2003). "It's a Happy New Year For.. MIKE NICHOLS,ITZHAK PERLMAN,TONY KUSHNER,HARVEY KORMAN..." J. The Jewish News of Northern California. Archived from the original on 2010-12-17.
    2. Nelson, Valerie J. (May 30, 2008). "Harvey Korman, 81; versatile Emmy-winning comedian". Los Angeles Times.
    3. "Harvey Korman". The Daily Telegraph. London. June 3, 2008. Archived from the original on 2022-01-12. Retrieved 2008-06-03.
    4. Cheng, Jim (May 29, 2008). "Carol Burnett Show' veteran Harvey Korman dies at 81". USA Today. Retrieved 2008-05-29.
    5. "Alumni". HB Studio.
    6. Thomas, Bob (May 30, 2008). "Harvey Korman, 81: Carol Burnett Sidekick". Toronto Star. Associated Press. Retrieved 2019-10-19.
    7. "Harvey Korman and Bob Thompson Serve as Honorary Chairmen of Capital Campaign" (Press release). Peninsula Players. June 26, 2005. Retrieved 2019-10-19.
    8. "'Blazing Saddles': THR's 1974 Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved January 20, 2024.
    9. O'Connor, John J. (April 24, 1986). "'LEO AND LIZ' AND 'BRIDGES TO CROSS'". The New York Times.
    10. Klein, Marty; Svetkey, Benjamin (May 20, 2019). "Tim Conway's Longtime Agent Reveals Origins of Actor's Live Comedy Tours With Harvey Korman". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2019-10-19.
    11. "Tim Conway Harvey Korman Together Again DVD". Amazon. Retrieved 2019-10-19.
    12. "Television Hall of Fame Honorees: Complete List". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 2019-10-19.
    13. Berman, Marc (May 14, 2019). "I'm So Glad We Had This Time Together, Tim Conway". Forbes. Retrieved June 25, 2019.
    14. "Dumb and Dumber: The Animated Series". Behind The Voice Actors. Retrieved 2020-04-26.
    15. "Comic Actor Harvey Korman Dies:Korman voiced roles on shows like HEY ARNOLD!". Animation World Network. Retrieved September 22, 2009.
    16. "Harvey Korman". Behind the Voice Actors. Retrieved 2017-11-30.
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