Carol Burnett

Comedian, actress, singer, dancer, and TV, musical theater and movie star Carol Burnett was born on April 26, 1933, in San Antonio. She attended college at the University of California in Los Angeles.

Her Broadway debut was in 1959, in the musical Once Upon a Matress. After appearing in several Broadway shows, Burnett became a regular on the CBS-TV variety show The Garry Moore Show from 1959 to 1962. She also appeared on CBS specials with other stars of musical theater, including a memorable performance singing duets with Julie Andrews.

She soon had her own comedy-variety show on CBS, The Carol Burnett Show, which ran from 1967 to 1979. In a signal that became one of her  trademarks, she always ended the show with a tug on her earlobe as a greeting to her family.

Burnett's feature films include Pete 'n' Tillie (1972), Annie (1982), and the TV movie Friendly Fire (1979). She brought her variety show back to TV for a brief run in 1991, with the new title Carol and Company. From 1963 to 1982, Burnett was married to TV producer Joe Hamilton. They had three daughters, Carrie, Jody, and Erin.

Bibliography: Wendy Brabner, ed., Texas Monthly Texas Characters Datebook 1985 (Austin, Texas: Texas Monthly Press, 1984). Biography.com < http://www.biography.com> [accessed Sept. 9, 1999, 1:00 PM.] Jonathan Rosenbaum, Annie Capsule Review, On Film, Chicago Reader <http://onfilm.chireader.com/MovieCaps/A/AN/00420_ANNIE.html>