Harvey Herschel Korman
(February 15, 1927 – May 29, 2008) was an American comedic actor who performed in television and movie productions beginning in 1960. His big break was being a featured performer on The Danny Kaye Show
, but he was probably best remembered for his performances on the sketch comedy series The Carol Burnett Show
and in the comedy films of Mel Brooks, most notably as Hedley Lamarr in Blazing Saddles
.
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HARVEY KORMAN TICKETS
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Life and career
Korman was born in
Chicago,
Illinois, the son of Ellen (
née Belcher) and Cyril Raymond Korman, who was a salesman.
[1] [2] He is
Jewish.
Korman served in the
United States Navy during
World War II.
[4] After being discharged, he studied at the
Goodman School of Drama.
[5]
He was a member of the
Peninsula Players summer theater program during the 1950, 1957, and 1958 seasons.
[6]
His early television work included
voice-over work on
Tom and Jerry
and as
the Great Gazoo on
The Flintstones
. He did voice work for the
live-action movie The Flintstones
as well as 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
. He also starred as the zany Dr. Steward in the film
Dracula: Dead and Loving It
. He appeared on numerous television programs, including the role of Blake in the 1964 episode "Who Chopped Down the Cherry Tree?" on the
NBC medical drama The Eleventh Hour
. From 1964-1966, he appeared three times in consecutive years on the
CBS's comedy
The Munsters
starring
Fred Gwynne and
Yvonne DeCarlo.
Korman was nominated for six
Emmy Awards for his work on
The Carol Burnett Show
, and won four times - in 1969, 1971 (for
"Outstanding Achievement"
by a performer in music or variety), 1972 and 1974. He was also nominated for four
Golden Globes for the series, winning in 1975.
He later toured the country with fellow
Carol Burnett Show alumnus
Tim Conway, reprising skits from the show as well as new material.
[7]
Korman died on
May 29,
2008, at
UCLA Medical Center as the result of complications from a ruptured
abdominal aortic aneurysm he had suffered four months previously.
[8] [9] He was buried at
Santa Monica's
Woodlawn Cemetery.
Personal life
He was married to Donna Ehlert from 1960 to 1977, and they had two children together (Maria and Chris) and three grandsons (Scott, Noah and Ethan). He married Deborah (née Fritz) in 1982 and was married to her until his death. They had two daughters together (Kate and Laura).
Other selected television series
- Glynis
with Glynis Johns (1963) -- Guest star
- The John Forsythe Show
(1965) -- in the episode "Duty and the Beast"
- The Flintstones
(1965-1966) — The Great Gazoo (voice)
- The Harvey Korman Show
(1978) — Eponymous lead
- The Tim Conway Show
(1980) — Regular
- Mama's Family
(1983–1984) (spin-off of The Family sketches, from The Carol Burnett Show
) — Alistair Quince/Host; Ed Higgins/Eunice's husband
- Leo And Liz In Beverly Hills
(1986) — Leo Green
- Nutt House
(1989) — Reginald Tarkington
- The Muppet Show
, Season One - Himself
Filmography
- Lord Love a Duck
(1966) - Weldon Emmett
- Blazing Saddles
(1974) — Hedley Lamarr
- Huckleberry Finn
(1974) — The King of France
- The Pink Panther Strikes Again
(1976) (deleted scene) Professor Balls
- High Anxiety
(1977) — Dr. Charles Montague
- The Star Wars Holiday Special
(1978) — Chef Gormaanda, Krelman, and Toy Video Instructor
- Americathon
(1979) — Monty Rushmore
- Herbie Goes Bananas
(1980) — Captain Blythe
- First Family
(1980) — U.N. Ambassador Spender
- History of the World, Part I
(1981) — Count de Monet
- Trail of the Pink Panther
(1982) — Professor Balls
- Curse of the Pink Panther
(1983) - Professor Balls
- The Longshot
(1986)
- Munchies
(1987) — Cecil Watterman, Simon Watterman
- Radioland Murders
(1994)
- The Flintstones
(1994) — Dictabird (voice)
- Dracula: Dead and Loving It
(1995) — Dr. Jack Seward
- Together Again: Conway & Korman
(2006) (DVD) — in various skits
References
- Harvey Korman Biography (1927-2008)
- Harvey Korman
- All About Jewish Theatre
- Carol Burnett Show' veteran Harvey Korman dies at 81
- Carol Burnett' star Harvey Korman dies at 81
- Peninsula Players 65th Anniversary Program, 1999
- http://www.nytimes.com/2008/05/30/arts/television/30korman.html? | New York Times
- Actor Comedian Harvey Korman Dead At 81
- 'Carol Burnett' star Harvey Korman dies at 81 (similar to the above)