LOS ANGELES — Harvey Korman, the tall, versatile comedian who won four Emmys for his hilarious contributions to “The Carol Burnett Show,” died Thursday. He was 81.
Korman, who also was on the big screen in “Blazing Saddles,” died at UCLA Medical Center after suffering complications from the rupture of an abdominal aortic aneurysm four months ago, his family said in a statement released by the hospital.
His daughter Kate Korman said in the statement that it was a “miracle” that her father had survived the aneurysm at all and that he had several major operations.
“Tragically, after such a hard fought battle, he passed away,” she said.
A natural second banana, Kor man gained attention on “The Danny Kaye Show,” appearing in skits with the star. He joined the show in its second season in 1964 and continued until it was canceled in 1967.
That year, he became a cast member in the first season of “The Carol Burnett Show.” Burnett and Korman developed into the perfect pair with their burlesques of classic movies such as “Gone With the Wind” and soap operas such as “As the World Turns” (their version was called “As the Stomach Turns”).
After 10 successful seasons, he left in 1977 for his own series. Dick Van Dyke took his place, but the chemistry was lacking and the Burnett show was canceled two years later. “The Harvey Korman Show” also failed, as did other series starring the actor.
Burnett was devastated by the news, said her assistant, Angie Horejsi.
“She loved Harvey very much,” Horejsi said.
Korman’s most memorable movie role was as the outlandish Hedley Lamarr in Mel Brooks’ 1974 Western satire, “Blazing Saddles.”
He also appeared in the Brooks comedies “High Anxiety,” “The History of the World Part I” and “Dracula: Dead and Loving It” as well as two “Pink Panther” moves, “Trail of the Pink Panther” in 1982 and “Curse of the Pink Panther” in 1983.
