Carol Burnett Show icon Tim Conway dead at 85

May 14, 2019 by Ian Evans

Tim Conway, the comedy legend who is best known for his side-splitting work on The Carol Burnett Show, died this morning at the age of 85. He had been battling a longtime illness.

Conway’s work with Carol Burnett earned him three performance Emmys during its 11 year run from 1967 to 1978. He also earned an Emmy for writing on the show.

Before Burnett’s show, Conway kept audiences laughing opposite Ernest Borgnine as he played Ensign Charles Parker on the sitcom McHale’s Navy from 1962 to 1966. He was frequent guest star on other shows — earning Emmys for Coach and 30 Rock — while a younger generation would know him for his voiceover work on SpongeBob Squarepants.

Conway’s improv was famous for breaking up seasoned performers and audiences loved to see how long frequent foil Harvey Korman could go before being reduced to tears of laughter. (It wasn’t long.)

In a statement Carol Burnett said, “I’m heartbroken. He was one in a million, not only as a brilliant comedian but as a loving human being. I cherish the times we had together both on the screen and off. He’ll be in my heart forever.”

Fellow co-star Vicki Lawrence said “Hysterical, crazy, bold, fearless, humble, kind, adorable… all synonyms for Tim Conway. I am so lucky to ever have shared a stage with him. Harvey and Tim are together again…the angels are laughing out loud tonight.”