Comedian Harvey Korman dies at 81

Arts and Culture

Photos of comedian Harvey Korman, of 'The Carol Burnett Show' and 'Blazing Saddles' who died at age 81.

Harvey Korman, the versatile comedian who won four Emmys for his outrageously funny contributions to 'The Carol Burnett Show' and played a conniving politician to hilarious effect in 'Blazing Saddles,' died Thursday. He was 81.

Korman, left, and fellow comedian Tim Conway created many endearing characters on 'The Carol Burnett Show' from 1967-78.

Korman revealed the secret to the long-running show's success in a 2005 interview: 'We were an ensemble, and Carol [pictured] had the most incredible attitude. I've never worked with a star of that magnitude who was willing to give so much away.'

Korman and Conway continued their outrageous sketch routines for many years, as evidenced by this 2004 photo from the University of Texas at Tyler.

After 10 successful seasons, Korman left Burnett's show in 1977 for his own series, but it lasted only three episodes.

Korman's films included 'Blazing Saddles,' two 'Pink Panther' moves, 'Gypsy,' 'Herbie Goes Bananas' and 'Bud and Lou,' with Buddy Hackett (left).

Korman once said: 'It takes a certain type of person to be a television star. I didn't have whatever that is. ... Give me something bizarre to play or put me in a dress and I'm fine.'

Mel Brooks, who worked with Korman in 'Blazing Saddles,' 'High Anxiety,' The History of the World Part I' and 'Dracula: Dead and Loving It,' described Korman as a 'dazzling' comic talent. 'You could get rock-solid comedy out of him. He could lift the material. He always made it real, always made it work, always believed in characters he was doing.'

'A world without Harvey Korman -- it's a more serious world,' Brooks told the AP on Thursday. 'It was comedy heaven to make Harvey Korman laugh.'

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Harvey Korman, the versatile comedian who won four Emmys for his outrageously funny contributions to 'The Carol Burnett Show' and played a conniving politician to hilarious effect in 'Blazing Saddles,' died Thursday. He was 81.

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