The Carol Burnett Show Cast: Where Are They Now? (2025 Update) And The Comedy Legends We Lost

The Carol Burnett Show remains one of the most beloved and influential television programs in history, a foundational pillar of modern sketch comedy that ran for 11 seasons on CBS. As of December 2025, the enduring laughter and genius of the ensemble cast continue to resonate with new generations, a testament to the timeless chemistry between its stars.

The iconic lineup—Carol Burnett, Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence, Lyle Waggoner, and later, Tim Conway—created a comedy dynasty, earning 25 Emmy Awards and setting the standard for variety shows. While the show concluded its original run in 1978, the lives and careers of its principal players have continued to evolve, featuring new projects, significant milestones, and, sadly, the passing of three key members whose comedic contributions are irreplaceable.

The Complete Cast Profile and Biography (Who Is Still With Us?)

The main cast of *The Carol Burnett Show* was a powerhouse of comedic talent, each bringing a unique energy to the weekly sketch comedy format. Today, only two of the five principal stars are still alive, carrying the torch of the show’s legendary status. Here is a look at the lives and careers of the core ensemble.

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• Carol Burnett (Host/Star)
  • Born: April 26, 1933 (Currently 92 years old)
  • Role: Host, various characters (The Charwoman, Eunice Higgins)
  • Key Achievements: Presidential Medal of Freedom, Kennedy Center Honoree, six Emmy Awards, five Golden Globe Awards, Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.
  • Latest Update (2025): Starred in the 2024 Apple TV+ series *Palm Royale* alongside Kristen Wiig. She was also honored with the star-studded *Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love* television special in April 2023.
• Vicki Lawrence (Cast Member)
  • Born: March 26, 1949 (Currently 76 years old)
  • Role: Various characters (Thelma Harper / Mama, Chrissy)
  • Key Achievements: Emmy Award winner, Golden Globe nominee, successful recording artist ("The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia").
  • Latest Update (2025): Continues to tour extensively with her popular one-woman show, *Vicki and Mama: A Two-Woman Show*, with dates scheduled into 2026. She also starred in the FOX sitcom *The Cool Kids*.
• Tim Conway (Cast Member)
  • Born: December 15, 1933
  • Died: May 14, 2019 (Age 85)
  • Role: Various characters (Mr. Tudball, The Old Man, Mickey Hart)
  • Key Achievements: Six Emmy Awards (four for *The Carol Burnett Show*), Golden Globe Award. Known for his improvisational genius that often broke his co-stars.
• Harvey Korman (Cast Member)
  • Born: February 15, 1927
  • Died: May 29, 2008 (Age 81)
  • Role: Various characters (Ed, The Newscaster, various movie parody roles)
  • Key Achievements: Four Emmy Awards. Starred in Mel Brooks films including *Blazing Saddles* and *High Anxiety*.
• Lyle Waggoner (Cast Member/Announcer)
  • Born: April 13, 1935
  • Died: March 17, 2020 (Age 84)
  • Role: Announcer, various supporting characters, "straight man" to the comedy.
  • Key Achievements: Starred as Steve Trevor in the *Wonder Woman* television series (1975–1979). Founded a successful business, Star Waggons, which supplied customized trailers to the entertainment industry.

The Enduring Careers of Carol Burnett and Vicki Lawrence

The two surviving core cast members, Carol Burnett and Vicki Lawrence, have maintained highly active careers that continue to evolve with the modern entertainment landscape. Their recent work proves that comedic talent has no expiration date, solidifying their status as television legends.

Carol Burnett, the show's namesake and star, made a highly anticipated return to a major television series with the 2024 Apple TV+ dramedy *Palm Royale*. In the series, she plays a central, complex character, demonstrating her dramatic range while still delivering her signature wit. This recent project follows her massive 90th birthday celebration special, *Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love*, which aired on NBC in April 2023 and featured an array of Hollywood stars paying tribute to her monumental career.

Burnett has also been developing a new series for Apple TV+ based on her experiences living at the Rehearsal Club, a legendary New York boarding house for aspiring actresses in the 1950s. Her continued work in both comedic and dramatic roles ensures her legacy is not just historical, but current and relevant in the 2020s.

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Vicki Lawrence, who began her career on the show at the age of 18, successfully spun off her most famous character, Thelma "Mama" Harper, into the hit sitcom *Mama's Family*. Her commitment to the character and the show's legacy is clear in her ongoing touring schedule. She performs *Vicki and Mama: A Two-Woman Show*, a stand-up comedy routine that has been running since 2001 and has dates scheduled well into 2026. This live show allows her to connect directly with fans of the original *The Family* sketches and share behind-the-scenes stories from the variety show era. Lawrence's continued success is a powerful example of the show's enduring topical authority.

Remembering the Beloved Comedic Geniuses We Lost

The show’s comedic engine was fueled by the brilliant interplay between Carol Burnett, Harvey Korman, and Tim Conway. The loss of Korman, Conway, and Waggoner in recent years marks the end of an era, but their contributions to comedy remain legendary.

The Unscripted Genius of Tim Conway

Tim Conway, who became a regular cast member in 1975, was famous for his ability to improvise and surprise his co-stars, most notably Harvey Korman. His characters, such as the clumsy, hard-of-hearing Old Man and the diminutive Mr. Tudball (opposite Korman’s Mrs. Wiggins), are considered masterpieces of physical comedy. Conway won six Emmy Awards throughout his career, four of which were for his work on *The Carol Burnett Show*, underscoring his pivotal role in the show’s success. He passed away in 2019, leaving behind a legacy of unscripted moments that became television gold.

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The Versatile Talent of Harvey Korman

Harvey Korman was the quintessential straight man and a versatile character actor, often playing the foil to both Burnett and Conway. His commitment to his roles, even while Tim Conway was causing him to break character, was a cornerstone of the show's humor. Korman was a four-time Emmy Award winner for his variety show work and had a successful film career, most famously in Mel Brooks’ classics like *Blazing Saddles*. Korman passed away in 2008 due to complications from a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm.

Lyle Waggoner: The Handsome Straight Man

Lyle Waggoner was the original "straight man" and announcer for the first seven seasons, providing a handsome counterpoint to the wild comedy. After leaving the variety show in 1974, he immediately landed a starring role as Steve Trevor in the popular *Wonder Woman* television series. Beyond acting, Waggoner was a shrewd businessman, founding Star Waggons, a highly successful company that provides customized trailers for the entertainment industry. Waggoner passed away in 2020.

The Enduring Legacy: Sketches, Characters, and Topical Authority

The topical authority of *The Carol Burnett Show* is cemented by its unforgettable recurring sketches and characters, which are still referenced and streamed today. The show was a masterclass in ensemble comedy, allowing the cast to dive deep into a repertoire of memorable personalities.

The most famous sketch series, The Family, introduced the world to Mama (Vicki Lawrence) and her daughter Eunice Higgins (Carol Burnett), a dysfunctional Southern family whose domestic squabbles were a perfect blend of humor and pathos. This sketch was so popular it led directly to the *Mama's Family* spin-off. Other iconic recurring bits included the hapless duo of Mr. Tudball and Mrs. Wiggins, a boss and his dim-witted secretary played by Tim Conway and Carol Burnett, respectively.

The show was also known for its elaborate movie parodies, such as the legendary Went with the Wind! sketch, a send-up of *Gone with the Wind*, which featured Carol Burnett's iconic curtain-rod dress. These sketches, along with the silent, philosophical appearances of Burnett's signature character, The Charwoman, ensure that *The Carol Burnett Show* remains a vital part of television history, influencing every major sketch comedy series that followed.