Where Are They Now? The Carol Burnett Show Cast Revisited
Nothing screams “vintage TV nostalgia” like revisiting the ragtag troupe behind The Carol Burnett Show, and yes, they’ve all scattered into the wild since bowing out in ’78. Let’s cut through the gooey sepia tones and see who actually did something with their lives—and who flat-lined off your radar. Carol Burnett herself, born in 1933, didn’t just settle for one Golden Globe and a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame; she parlayed her sketch-comedy crown into Broadway cameos, memoirs in the New York Times bestseller club (hello, This Time Together!), and sporadic guest turns on today’s sitcoms. Don’t let the serene grandma vibes fool you—Burnett’s still cashing paychecks and cracking wise into her 90s, so no early retirement for this comic queen.
Then there was Harvey Korman, the snarky straight man who fuelled so many Tim Conway punchlines. Korman continued popping up in film (Blazing Saddles, anyone?) and TV well into the ’90s, but sadly shuffled off this mortal coil in 2008 after a heart attack. If you’re hunting for new episodes, you’re out of luck—he’s strictly archived now. Tim Conway, the class-clown legend who mastered physical comedy like nobody’s business, kept guest-starring on shows from The Simpsons to SpongeBob SquarePants(voice cameo, 2006) until his passing in 2019. His Wheel of Fortune run and celebrity roast spots are proof that even superstars love a good punchline.
Vicki Lawrence dropped her Mama’s Family crown and tried daytime talk shows in the ’90s, only to discover that motherhood on a sitcom translates badly to real-time TV drama. She pivoted back to nostalgia gigs—cabaret tours, reunion specials—and claims she’s happier wearing Grandma Mama’s wig than chasing ratings. Lyle Waggoner, who left in 1974 for a Superman-esque gig on The Six Million Dollar Man, quietly traded in his sketch-comedy chops for Hallmark Channel movies before fading away and passing in 2020. He might not have hit the A-list, but he collected a decent pension from TV syndication.
So, what’s the takeaway? This bunch either cashed in their comedy stock options for memoir deals and convention circuits or exited stage left to the big beyond. No wild scandals, no secret billionaire transformations—just careers that either lingered in reruns or flickered out. And if you were expecting a conspiracy or a dramatic comeback tour, you’re sorely disappointed. But hey, at least you’ve got the truth. Nothing shocking here, folks. Let’s all act surprised.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and People Magazine, Dotdash Meredith
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
