Carol Burnett is a legendary American comedian, actress, and writer best known for her groundbreaking 1960s–70s variety series The Carol Burnett Show , one of the most influential comedy shows in TV history. She remains active into her 90s and continues to be honored for a career that reshaped television comedy.

Who is Carol Burnett?

Carol Burnett (born April 26, 1933, in San Antonio, Texas) is an American comedian and actress whose warm, self-deprecating style made her a beloved TV icon. She is widely regarded as one of the most important figures in sketch and variety comedy, especially for women in entertainment.

  • Raised largely by her grandmother in Hollywood after a difficult childhood with parents struggling with alcoholism.
  • Studied theater and musical comedy at UCLA before heading to New York to pursue acting.
  • Broke through on Broadway in 1959 with Once Upon a Mattress , earning a Tony nomination.

The Carol Burnett Show

Burnett’s signature achievement is The Carol Burnett Show , a weekly comedy–variety program that ran on CBS from 1967 to 1978. It blended sketch comedy, musical numbers, and movie parodies, anchored by her famous opening audience Q&A and closing ear-tug tribute to her grandmother.

  • She became the first woman to host and headline a network comedy–variety series.
  • The show amassed more than 20 Emmy Awards in its original run, with some sources counting 23–25 depending on categories and specials.
  • Regulars included Tim Conway, Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence, and Lyle Waggoner, whose chemistry helped create enduring sketches like “The Family” and “Went With the Wind!”.

Career beyond the show

Carol Burnett has worked across TV, film, and stage for decades, often shifting between broad comedy and serious drama.

  • Starred in films such as Pete ’n’ Tillie , Annie , and the TV movie Friendly Fire.
  • Returned to Broadway in shows including Putting It Together and co-wrote the play Hollywood Arms about her childhood.
  • Authored several bestselling memoirs, including One More Time and This Time Together , reflecting on her life and career.

Recent and “latest news”

Even in her 90s, Burnett continues to appear on-screen and receive major honors.

  • She has made guest appearances on series like Glee and Law & Order: SVU, showing her range beyond pure sketch comedy.
  • In 2024 she was highlighted as a 91-year-old Emmy nominee for Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series, underlining her ongoing relevance in contemporary TV.
  • She remains a frequent subject of interviews, retrospectives, and podcast conversations that revisit her legacy and influence on modern comedy.

Honors and legacy

Burnett’s legacy is defined both by awards and by the way later comedians cite her as a blueprint.

  • Honors include multiple Emmys and Golden Globes, the Kennedy Center Honors, the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, and the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
  • The Golden Globes created the Carol Burnett Award for lifetime achievement in television, named in her honor and first presented to her.
  • Many contemporary performers, from sketch comedians to late-night hosts, credit her fearlessness, physical comedy, and emotional openness as a model for their own work.

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