Harvey Korman, 15 Feb 1927 - 29 May 2008

Posted: Thursday, May 29, 2008 by Travis Cody in
21

Harvey Korman died yesterday due to complications from a ruptured abdominal aortic aneurysm he suffered several months ago. He was 81.

I think the best tribute I can say about Mr Korman is that he made me laugh until I couldn't breathe. Whether he was trying to keep his composure during one of Tim Conway's numerous ad libs, or squinting his way through a Rhett Butler impression opposite Carol Burnett, Mr Korman had the gift of exquisite timing.

21 comments:

  1. Desert Songbird says:
    29 May, 2008 20:55

    Can't view the vid - the "high speed" internet connection here at the hotel is sluggish. He was indeed a great comedic talent. RIP, Mr. Korman.

  1. Sandee says:
    29 May, 2008 21:09

    He was indeed a very funny man. He will be missed. I hadn't seen this clip and I was a avid fan. Have a great evening Travis. :)

  1. katherine. says:
    29 May, 2008 21:13

    they were a riot together weren't they....talented friends who obviously cared about one another and loved their gig.

  1. Cinnamon Girl says:
    29 May, 2008 21:20

    OMG! NOOOO! Hedley Lamarr!

    That bums me out. I loved The Carol Burnett shows and I saw all of his Mel Brooks movies, in the theater. At 7. Probably why I am warped!

    Harvey, you will be missed.

  1. Charles Gramlich says:
    29 May, 2008 22:14

    I heard about this. No one did "smarmy" better than him. He was definitely a fun actor to watch.

  1. maryt/theteach says:
    30 May, 2008 06:47

    He was a funny guy, Travis! That whole bunch was - Carol Burnett et al. :D

  1. Empress Bee (of the high sea) says:
    30 May, 2008 07:17

    lovely comedy... i sure miss those old shows! tragic loss to the world there.

    smiles, bee
    xoxooxxoxooxox

  1. Sarge Charlie says:
    30 May, 2008 08:09

    I laughed out loud at this strip, I do tim conway's old man bit, maybe because it fits. nothing like this on tv today, very sad.

  1. Vinny "Bond" Marini says:
    30 May, 2008 10:55

    Not sure, but isn't that the same thing that killed John Ritter?

  1. Jeni says:
    30 May, 2008 12:02

    Oh, Trav - thanks so much for posting this video! It's a skit I've never seen before but so doggone funny. A very good friend of mine just happened to send me the video the other day of the skit with Harvey and Tim in the dentist office. It's one I'd seen before but never fails to totally crack me up! (As did this one you posted.) I loved watching Harvey struggle to keep from losing it in his scenes with Tim Conway too. Just a fantastic comedian, for sure and such a loss of that talent to those of us who loved to watch him at work.

  1. Meribah says:
    30 May, 2008 17:37

    Anything or anyone that can make you laugh until your sides hurt is a keeper. May he rest in peace.

  1. Travis Cody says:
    30 May, 2008 17:55

    Songbird: I had a lot of trouble with many Carol Burnett videos on youtube last night.

    Sandee: I remember so many times watching him lose his composure. Those were the funniest moments.

    Katherine: You said it. I think it worked so well because they did truly like each other.

    Starr: He will definitely be missed. He was versatile enough to play the straight man or go for the big laugh.

    Charles: You're right. He could do that snide accent so well.

    Teach: It's one of my favorite variety shows of all time.

    Bee: There were lots of "wink wink" innuendos, but it was never crude.

    Sarge: It is sad that we don't have this kind of talent on tv these days...not in front of the camera and not on the writing staffs of the shows that pass for comedy.

    V: I'm not sure either.

    Jeni: I didn't remember this skit either. I tried to get a Mama's Family skit too, but none of those would play right.

    Meri: Indeed.

  1. Jeff B says:
    30 May, 2008 19:24

    Dang, I hadn't heard about his passing. What a loss for the world of entertainment. I can just see him trying to hold in the laughter while Tim Conway carried on with his antics.

    Bummer man!

  1. Lana Gramlich says:
    30 May, 2008 21:51

    Korman was a classic. The world is a sadder place for his passing. <:(

  1. Anndi says:
    31 May, 2008 06:50

    A while back I was doing some research on Youtube (yes, I like to call it research) and came across this clip. Thanks for digging it out again and sharing it with us all. For me, it brings back memories of childhood and watching the Carol Burnett show with Mom and Dad.

    He was a wonderful talent and the world is a little sadder without him in it.

  1. Travis Cody says:
    31 May, 2008 10:07

    Jeff: I can remember laughing so hard with my mom and sister that we couldn't move.

    Lana: Agreed.

    Ann: There were so many clips...I actually spent about an hour just watching before I settled on the one I used. And of course that qualifies as research!

  1. DrillerAA says:
    01 June, 2008 05:06

    The Carol Burnett Show is on my list of all time favorite television shows and Harvey Korman is one of the reasons. Truly, he and Tim Conway were one of the finest comedy teams working at the time. But the entire cast was a brillant combination of talent.
    My favorite sketch involved Tim Conway as a dentist and Harvey as the patient. Tim accitently shot himself with novacane. Korman was laughing nearly has hard as the audience.
    Love the old shows.

  1. Kimmie says:
    01 June, 2008 15:40

    I loved the Carol Burnett Show and Harvey Korman and the gang. They all gave us lots of laughs for many years. May he rest with Our Father now.
    Hugs,
    Kimmie

  1. RW says:
    01 June, 2008 20:06

    I remember some of his bits, he was a Doctor of comedy because humor is the best medicine.

  1. Travis Cody says:
    01 June, 2008 21:14

    Drilleraa: My favorite is the Mama's Family sketch where Mr Conway goes off and loses everybody. Mr Korman wasn't in that one.

    Kimmie: So funny.

  1. Julie says:
    05 June, 2008 07:21

    Oh man......i forgot how good that show was! A foursome of amazing talent. Harvey will live on through these clips!

Post a Comment