Korman Was a Cartoon Vet

Friday, May 30, 2008
By: Ryan Ball

Actor Harvey Korman, best known for The Carol Burnette Show and such Mel Brooks films as Blazing Saddles and High Anxiety, passed away Thursday at the age of 81. In addition to his live-action roles, he racked up credits on numerous cartoons including The Flintstones, in which he lent his voice to the alien character The Great Gazoo. He died at UCLA Medical Center four months after an aneurysm ruptured in his abdomen.

A nightclub performer, Korman got his break in television in 1963, appearing in sketches on The Danny Kaye Show. A couple years later he would join the cast of The Flintstones for several episodes as The Great Gazoo, a little, green, toublemaking spaceman banished to Earth’s prehistoric age. He later returned to the franchise to voice the CG-animated Dictabird in the 1994 live-action Flintstones movie, and appeared in the 2000 sequel The Flintstones in Viva Rock Vegas. He voiced The Great Gazoo one last time for the 2000 video game Flintstones Bedrock Bowling from SouthPeak Interactive.

Korman also voiced characters in such animated projects as Garfield and Friends (1994), The What a Cartoon Show (1995), The Secret of NIMH 2: Timmy to the Rescue (1998), Hey Arnold! (1997-1999), Baby Huey’s Great Easter Adventure (1999), The Wild Thornberrys (1999), Buzz Lightyear of Star Command (2000) and The Ruby Princess Runs Away (2001).

The actor received four Emmy awards in the for his contributions to The Carol Burnett Show, which ran from 1967 to 1978. His most memorable work on the variety program involved fellow cast member Tim Conway. The comedy partnership continued for many years after the show ended.

Reader Comments

• Jim Wickey : Writer-Director : Vistavox Entertainment

  Friday, May 30, 2008

  What a loss. Mr. Korman had perfect comedic timing. His work on The Carol Burnett Show in particular was beyond brilliant. It must have been a joy to write for someone who had the ability to go beyond the page and invest so much of himself in a character. And who can forget his turn as Professor Auguste Balls in The Pink Panther Strikes Again! He will live forever with comedy writers.

• shakeem winn : writer and artist : winn ltd.

  Saturday, May 31, 2008

  I used to watch this guy on the carol burnett show when I was a kid. He was hilarious especially when he would laugh during the performances. He was also hysterical in blazing saddles. He will be sorely missed.