The dashing but dastardly Hedley Lamarr in Blazing Saddles. The manic, masochistic Doctor Montague in High Anxiety. The all-purpose madman of The Carol Burnett Show. In fact, you'd be surpised at how far and wide Mr. Harvey Korman reaches across TV Land.
Comedic giant Harvey Korman passed away yesterday at the age of 81.
I can tell you right here and now, his career gave us very good years.
In addition to performing on the Carol Burnett Show 136 times (for which
he received four Emmys and a Golden Globe) and playing key roles in Mel Brooks' film craziness, Mr. Korman also played the recurring role of
The Great Gazoo on the Flintstones, Bud Abbott opposite Lou Costello in
Bud and Lou, and even a role in the old
Untouchables series, with Robert Stack as Eliot Ness.
And that's just scratching the surface.
Like I said, he's all over
TV Land.
Here is a list of his
amazing credits, awards and nominations from The Internet Movie Database, or
IMDB.
Somehow, it is always his roles in
Mel Brooks movies that stand out in my mind.
The irascible Hedy Lamarr (
No, that's Hedley!) in
Blazing Saddles, a film
the likes of which may never be made in Hollywood again.
The twisted Dr. Charles Montague in the
Hitchcock parody
High Anxiety, in leather and being strung up in a closet by the malevolent Nazi-garbed
Nurse Diesel (as played by
Cloris Leachman, another Brooks fave).
When he got the chance to jump into a Brooks villain's character, look out.
But Harvey Korman always seemed to be on his game.
Mr. Korman may be gone, but his comedic legacy will live on for a long time to come.
RIP, Harvey. We'll miss ya.
Op-Ed: Harvey Korman, a True Comedy Genius
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