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Early life -

Carol Creighton Burnett was born on April 26, 1933, in San Antonio, Texas. Soon afterwards, her family moved to California. She attended Hollywood High School and eventually studied theater and musical comedy at the University of California, Los Angeles (UCLA) in the early 1950s.

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'Once Upon a Mattress' (1959) -

After graduating, Burnett relocated to New York. Her breakout performance in 'Once Upon a Mattress' marked her Broadway debut, for which she received a Tony Award nomination.

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'The Garry Moore Show' (1959-62) -

Soon afterwards, the young comedian made her television debut, becoming a regular cast member on 'The Garry Moore Show.' In 1962, she won her first Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Musical Program or Series.

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'Julie and Carol at Carnegie Hall' (1962) -

In the same year, 1962, Burnett shared top billing with Julie Andrews in 'Julie and Carol at Carnegie Hall.' For this musical comedy television special, she took home a second Emmy Award. The two performers became lifelong friends. Burnett also met her future second husband on the show, Joe Hamilton.

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New York, New York -

Burnett thrived ensconced in the Big Apple. Broadway musical appearances included 'Fade Out – Fade In,' while her 1964 variety series 'The Entertainers' matched her with the likes of Bob Newhart. She's pictured clowning around in her New York apartment.

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Television star -

With her star in the ascent, Carol Burnett was kept busy with a string of television appearances, including 'The Twilight Zone' episode 'Cavender is Coming' (pictured), broadcast in 1962.

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Marriage to Joe Hamilton -

Previously married to Don Saroyan (they had divorced in 1962), Carol Burnett tied the knot for the second time on May 4, 1963, with Joe Hamilton, who directed the Carnegie Hall TV special the previous year. The couple had three children together, Carrie, Jody, and Erin. Hamilton died of cancer in 1991.

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'Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed?' (1963) -

In 1963, the comedian made the jump from small screen to big screen in 'Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed?' Starring opposite Dean Martin and Elizabeth Montgomery, she later dismissed the experience as "boring," and missed working in front of a live audience.

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Friend and mentor -

Another great friend and mentor was Lucille Ball. They had worked together in the 1960s, first on Burnett's CBS-TV special 'Carol + 2' and later 'The Lucy Show.' The pair are seen sharing a joke in 1971 during the International Radio and TV Society Gold Medal Awards at Waldorf Astoria in New York City.

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'The Carol Burnett Show' (1967–1978) -

Carol Burnett reached the pinnacle of her success with her groundbreaking comedy variety show, 'The Carol Burnett Show.' First broadcast in 1967, the production was one of the first of its kind to be hosted by a woman.

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Signature character -

Burnett's loud, sloppy slapstick style of comedy was an instant hit, and the show established her as a television superstar. One of her signature characters was an unnamed charwoman (pictured), who often appeared in a musical number.

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Good luck charm -

Actor, singer, and comedian Jim Nabors (pictured with Burnett), best known for his signature character Gomer Pyle, was the guest star on every season premiere of the show. Burnett considered him to be her annual good luck talisman.

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Star-studded lineup -

In fact, 'The Carol Burnett Show' was celebrated for its star-studded guest star lineup. In this image, Burnett adjusts the bow tie of the king of the one-liners, Rodney Dangerfield.

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Celebrity names -

Other notable big-name celebrity guests included Maggie Smith, Gloria Swanson, Betty Grable, Rock Hudson, Steve Martin, and Liza Minnelli. Pictured with Burnett is Rita Hayworth, dressed as the famous charwoman.

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Winning ways -

'The Carol Burnett Show' remains one of the most successful comedy series in television history. It won numerous Emmy and Golden Globe awards. The comedian is pictured with husband Joe Hamilton at the Golden Globes awards ceremony in Los Angeles in February 1971.

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'Pete 'n' Tillie' (1972) -

'The Carol Burnett Show' ran until 1978. Between series, Burnett revisited cinema with films that included 'Pete 'n' Tillie.' The comedy-drama was well received by critics, with Walter Matthau picking up a BAFTA award and Burnett receiving a Golden Globe nomination.

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'The Front Page' (1974) -

Two years later she again appeared alongside Matthau in 'The Front Page,' which costarred Matthau's longtime comedy collaborator, Jack Lemmon.

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'I Do! I Do!' (1974) -

Burnett made occasional returns to the stage in the 1970s and 1980s, notably in 1974 alongside Rock Hudson at The Muny theatre in St. Louis, Missouri, in 'I Do! I Do!'

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Family tragedy -

During her early teens, Carrie Hamilton, daughter of Carol Burnett and Joe Hamilton, struggled with substance and alcohol abuse. She successfully overcame the habit by the time she was 15. In 1979, she appeared on the 'Dinah! and Friends' TV chat show and spoke candidly about her narcotics nightmare. On January 20, 2002, Carrie died from pneumonia as a complication of lung cancer that spread to her brain. She's pictured in the studio with her parents and host Dinah Shore.

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'The Four Seasons' (1981) -

Back on the big screen, Burnett costarred alongside Alan Alda in the hugely successful romantic comedy 'The Four Seasons.' Her role garnered a Golden Globe nomination.

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'Annie' (1982) -

Burnett was nominated for another Golden Globe for her role in 'Annie,' the musical drama based on the 1977 Broadway musical of the same name.

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'All My Children' (1983) -

Burnett always felt at home on television, and in 1983 she won a part on the long-running soap opera 'All My Children.' She made occasional appearances on the show in each decade thereafter until 2011. She's pictured left with Darnell Williams, Debbi Morgan, Susan Lucci, and other cast members.

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Singing career -

Carol Burnett's recording career stretches back to 1959 and the original cast recording of 'Once Upon a Mattress.' In all, she's released 16 albums. Here she is duetting with operatic soprano Beverly Sills, during Sills' farewell as a performing artist in 1980. Along with Julie Andrews and Lucille Ball, Sills was another great Burnett confidant.

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Comedy Hall of Fame -

In recognition of her special talent in making people laugh, Carol Burnett was presented with the inaugural Comedy Hall of Fame award in 1993 at the Beverly Hilton Hotel.

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Marriage to Brian Miller -

With Joe Hamilton's death in 1991, Burnett floundered emotionally before finding love again with Brian Miller, a member of the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. They married on November 24, 2001.

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Kennedy Center Honoree -

In 2003, Burnett was among the celebrities acknowledged by the Kennedy Center Honors. She's pictured with fellow honorees James Brown, Loretta Lynn, Mike Nichols, and Itzhak Perlman in Washington, D.C. The annual honors are given to those in the performing arts for their lifetime of contributions to American culture.

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Presidential Medal of Freedom -

This was followed in 2005 with the entertainer receiving the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian award that recognizes exceptional meritorious service.

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'The Tonight Show' (2014) -

By 2010, Burnett was limiting her screen work to occasional guest star appearances on television shows. But she could still raise as smile with skits like the one she shared with Jimmy Fallon on 'The Tonight Show' in 2014.

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Life Achievement Award -

A proud Carol Burnett was acknowledged by the entertainment industry with a Life Achievement Award during the 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles on January 30, 2016.

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Peabody Career Achievement Award -

And the accolades continued just a couple of years later with Burnett presented with the Peabody Career Achievement Award, handed out at the 77th Annual Peabody Awards Ceremony on May 19, 2018, in New York City.

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Golden Globe Special Achievement Award -

And in 2019 the veteran comedian and actress was honored with the first-ever Golden Globe Television Special Achievement Award, named after her, during the 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in California.

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90 Years Of Laughter + Love -

Still working, Carol Burnett arrived at NBC's 'Carol Burnett: 90 Years of Laughter + Love' birthday special on March 2, 2023 in Los Angeles, to fanfare and applause.

Sources: (The Famous People) (Britannica) (Emmys)

See also: The oldest actors still working

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