Carol Burnett

Attended but did not complete her degree from the UCLA School of Theater, Film and Television in 1954.

Mother, with Joe Hamilton , of actress Carrie Hamilton , Jody Hamilton and singer Erin Hamilton.

Born at 4:00am-CST

Was forced to drop out of the 1964 Broadway musical "Fade Out, Fade In" after sustaining a neck injury in a taxi accident. The shows producers sued her for breach of contract, but the suit was later dropped.

In 1981, she successfully sued the "National Enquirer" for libel, prompted by its article describing her alleged public drunkenness during an altercation with then-Secretary of State Henry Kissinger while in a Washington restaurant. The case remains a landmark in the study of libel cases involving celebrities, even though the unprecedented $1.6 million verdict (including $300,000 in personal damages and $1.3 million in "punitive" damages) was later reduced on appeal and the case was eventually settled out of court. Burnett donated the money to charity. She said she pursued the lawsuit because, as the daughter of two deceased alcoholics, the gossip papers fabrication wounded her emotionally and that they should be punished for their irresponsibility when writing lies about celebrities.

Daughter Erin Hamilton was Miss Golden Globe 1993.

Considered Jim Nabors to be her good luck charm. He appeared as a guest on the first episode of "The Carol Burnett Show" , and when the show took off, she had him back on the first episode of every season.

When asked, on her show, who her favorite actor was, she replied, "Anthony Hopkins - you know, the little English guy?"

One of 5 recipients of the 2003 Kennedy Center Honors; other recipients were James Brown , Loretta Lynn , Mike Nichols and Itzhak Perlman.

Biography in: "Whos Who in Comedy", by Ronald L. Smith, pg. 74-76. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387

Lost her daughter, Carrie Hamilton , on January 20, 2002 to lung and brain cancer.

Ex-sister-in-law of Will Hutchins , Dave Geisel and Kipp Hamilton.

Once worked as an usherette at the Warner (now Pacific) Theater on Hollywood Blvd. One night, the movie playing was Alfred Hitchcock s Strangers on a Train , a film Carol had seen and loved. She advised a late arriving couple to wait until the next show, because the film was so good, it should be seen from beginning to end. The manager overheard her, rudely fired her on the spot, and humiliated her by ripping the epaulets off her usherette uniform. Decades later, when she was to receive a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, she was asked by the Hollywood Chamber of Commerce where she would like it placed. Carol asked that her star be placed in front of the Pacific Theater. In her memoir "One More Time", she states the name of the manager who so rudely fired her, followed by an epithet that wont be repeated here. The star is at 6433 Hollywood Blvd.

1985: Inducted into the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences Hall of Fame.

Received a Special Tony Award in 1969. She was also twice nominated for the Tony Award - in 1960, as Best Actress for "Once Upon a Mattress" and in 1996, as Best Actress (Play) for "Moon Over Buffalo.".

Was a good friend of Lucille Ball , with whom she appeared several times on "The Lucy Show" and "Heres Lucy" .

At age 10, comedian Jim Carrey sent her his resume.

Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom by President George W. Bush on 9 November 2005. Other recipients were Frank Robinson , Muhammad Ali , Gen. Richard Myers , Paul Rusesabagina , Andy Griffith , Aretha Franklin , Vint Cerf and his Internet codeveloper Robert Kahn, Jack Nicklaus , Alan Greenspan, and former congressman G.V. "Sonny" Montgomery.

Lucille Ball gave Carol her first baby shower.

Has appeared in three different television adaptations of "Once Upon A Mattress", the Broadway version of the fairy tale "The Princess and the Pea." In the 1964 and 1972 versions, she played Princess Winnifred. 33 years later, she played Queen Aggravain in the 2005 Disney adaptation.

Best friends with Julie Andrews , Vicki Lawrence , and the late Beverly Sills.

Bob Mackie is her favorite designer. He designed all of the costumes for "The Carol Burnett Show" .

Godmother of Emma Walton Hamilton , daughter of best friend Julie Andrews.

On the morning of her fifty-sixth birthday, her good friend Lucille Ball died - April 26, 1989. That afternoon, Burnett received the flowers that Ball had ordered for her birthday.

In 1965, Carol broke her right leg playing softball.

Most familiar to children as the show-stealing "Miss Hannigan" in Annie .

Nominated for the 1960 Tony Award (New York City) for Actress in a Musical for "Once Upon a Mattress".

Nominated for the 1996 Tony Award (New York City) for Actress in a Musical for "Moon Over Buffalo".

Former stepmother of Jeffrey Hamilton.

Older sister of Chrissie Burnett.

Mother-in-law of Kurt West.

Fan of Jane Lynch , Tina Fey , and Amy Poehler.

Discovered her protg Vicki Lawrence when Vicki was age 17 and became a acting mentor to her. Vicki was discovered when she wrote Carol a fan letter and Carol went to see her contest and told her she will get back to her and they will discuss her career, Vicki was later cast in "The Carol Burnett Show" . The story how they met has become known as show business legend. Carol has always felt that it was fate that lead to her discovering Vicki.

Named recipient of the 2013 "Mark Twain Prize for American Humor" by the Kennedy Center [May 21, 2013].

Mentor and best friend of Vicki Lawrence.

Is a registered Democrat.

She and Vicki Lawrence often get mistaken for sisters because of their close resemblance.

Mama from the famous The Family sketches of her show and Mamas Family was originally written for Carol, but Carol felt more of connection towards Eunice and passed Mama to her protge Vicki Lawrence the role would become Vickis most iconic character.

Carols favorite character she did was from The Family Sketches off the The Carol Burnett Show Eunice. Interestingly Vicki Lawrence who played her Mama was 16 years younger than Carol.

Is a big gamer, she was known to have gone on a lot of game shows like Password and was known to throw games at her house parties like mysteries game and others with friends like Vicki Lawrence , Tim Conway , and Betty White.

For a short while she lived in Hawaii. She lived across the street from her good friend and Protege Vicki Lawrence who was also living Hawaii at the time. Vicki was the first to move back to California, Carol followed shortly after because of getting homesick. Actor Jim Nabors was also a neighbor.

Gave best friend and protge Vicki Lawrence a trip to Hawaii as a wedding gift, when Vicki married makeup artist Al Schultz in 1974.

In a All-Star Party for Carol Burnett her protg Vicki Lawrence copied her breakout song I Made a Fool of Myself over John Foster Dulles that Carol did on the "Tonight Starring Jack Paar" in 1957.

Her acting mentors were Garry Moore and Lucille Ball.

Vicki Lawrence s kids Courtney and Garret Shultz were known to hang out with Carol at her house as kids, especially when they lived in Hawaii.

She has made guest appearance on "The Twilight Zone" , "Get Smart" , "Gomer Pyle: USMC" , "Mamas Family" , "Magnum, P.I." , "Mad About You" , "Desperate Housewives" , and "Law & Order: Special Victims Unit" . As well as the soap opera "All My Children" .

Big fan of the soap opera "All My Children" .

Took care of her sister, Chrissie Burnett , for a while when she lived in New York.

Both her parents were alcoholics and after their marriage ended. She was raised by her maternal grandmother, Mabel Eudora White.

In 2012 reunion of "The Carol Burnett Show" her protg Vicki Lawrence successfully copied her famous Tarzan Yell.

Is an avid animal lover and owns many pets, especially dogs.

In 2007, she sued 20th Century Fox for copyright infringement, trademark violation, invasion of privacy, and misappropriation of name and likeness over the use of an altered version of her signature closing song and the portrayal of her cleaning lady "charwoman" character in an episode of "Family Guy" .The lawsuit was dismissed by a federal judge. The judge used Hustler Magazine v. Falwell as the general basis for the decision, ruling that the cartoon was a permissible parody of a public figure.

She was the first woman to have own variety TV Show.

Her mentoring Vicki Lawrence is in The Mentor Hall of Fame in 2013.

Went on her Protge Vicki Lawrence own television show, at least five times more than any other celebrity.

In a recent interview stated that she still lives in Southern California.

Known to have taken Comedian Vicki Lawrence under her wing when she was 17 years old, their friendship has lasted for over 50 years so far.

As of 2013 her Net Worth is estimated to be $25 million.

Wrote the foreword for her friends Florence Henderson and Tim Conway autobiographies.

Her daughter Carrie Hamilton had a drug problem for three years when she was a teen, Carol put her through rehab and Carrie successfully overcame her addiction and started a career in the entertainment business like her mother.

Helped Actress and Singer Bernadette Peters get her first break.

Acting mentor to Comedian Vicki Lawrence.

When she was age 12, she used to fool a boy by saying she was a twin and she would sneak out of the window pretending be both twins, this went on for two days.

Is still very close to Vicki Lawrence.

She wrote an endorsement for Vicki Lawrence s album The Night the lights went out in Georgia.

Fan of the TV Show "Modern Family" , "Breaking Bad" , and "House of Cards" .

Appeared a lot on the Game Show Password through the 1960s to the early 1980s.

Despite that "The Carol Burnett Show" charwoman was the trademark for the show Carol has stated that she did not much care for the character as she thought the character was empty.

Often called her protge Vicki Lawrence by the nickname Wicks and wicki.

Vicki Lawrence s children call her Aunt Carol.

Fan of Actors James Stewart and Anthony Hopkins.

Has said if she could go back and learn something she would learn to read music and taken dance classes.

Carol grew up in Green Apartments, one block off Hollywood Boulevard.

Ralph Helfer , renowned animal trainer, Hollywood animal behaviorist and author of several compassionate books about animals, was Carols best friend growing up in Green Apartments. As children they would played Tarzan and Jane but Carol could always do the Tarzan yell better then Ralph.

Discovered Comedy Legend Vicki Lawrence in 1966 when Vicki was only 17 years old and Still in High School.

During the first couple seasons of "The Carol Burnett Show" her Protg Vicki Lawrence admitted that she idolize and looked up to Carol so much, even stating that she had Carol on a Pedestal that she could barely say two words to her at first. She still admires her.

Childhood friend of Alan Alda.

When Carol and one cousin were children they played Tarzan and Jane, Carol would play Tarzan since she can do the Tarzan yell.

Friends with: Vicki Lawrence , Shirley Jones , Angela Lansbury , Florence Henderson , Betty White , Alan Alda , Ralph Helfer , Carol Channing , Gavin MacLeod , Debbie Reynolds , Julie Harris , Carroll OConnor , Wink Martindale , Bob Barker , Andy Griffith , Dick Van Dyke , Michele Lee , Jim Nabors , Elizabeth Taylor , Marla Gibbs , Della Reese , Harvey Korman , Maggie Smith , Tim Conway , Robert Conrad , Larry Manetti , Julie Andrews , Steve Lawrence , Joan Rivers , Whoopi Goldberg , Mary Tyler Moore , Chita Rivera , Petula Clark , James Stewart , Lucille Ball , Liza Minnelli , Bob Hope , Frank Sinatra , Sammy Davis Jr. , Dean Martin , Jerry Lewis , Tony Randall , James Garner , Ken Berry , Walter Matthau , Dinah Shore , Mickey Rooney , Lauren Bacall and Paul Dooley.

Surrogate mother of Vicki Lawrence.

Graduated from Hollywood High School in Hollywood, California, in 1951.

Comedic partner is Vicki Lawrence.

Born in Texas, but grew up in Hollywood.

Liked to make weekend visits to Ralph Helfer s, Africa U.S.A. Ranch in Soledad Canyon, California where together they rode his Indian elephant Modoc.

Surrogate grandmother of: Courtney Allison Schultz and Garrett Lawrence Schultz, both of Vicki Lawrence s children.

John Barrowman, Susan Egan and she awarded the 1998 Back Stage Garland Award for Performance for "Putting It Together" at the Mark Taper Forum Theatre in Los Angeles, California.

Comedian Vicki Lawrence is her protegee and share a very close friendship.

[about her youth] Sometimes a guy would ask me to jitterbug, but nine,times out of ten, they were not only a foot shorter than I was, but,geeks to boot.

Comedy is tragedy -- plus time.

I was once asked to do my Tarzan yell at Bergdorf Goodman, and a guard,burst in with a gun! Now I only do it under controlled circumstance.

God bless the theatre. And please let there be a way for it to,thrive. . forever.

The best advice that I could give is be kind.

Comedy is tragedy plus time.

Comedy is tragedy - plus time.

My mother was very funny. My dad had a great sense of humor. My grandmother, too.

Words, once they are printed, have a life of their own.

Celebrity was a long time in coming it will go away. Everything goes away.

Adolescence is just one big walking pimple.

Comedy is tragedy - plus time.

My grandmother and I saw an average of eight movies a week, double features, second run.

Funny is funny. I dare anyone to look at Tim Conway and Harvey Korman doing the dentist sketch, which is more than 40 years old, and not scream with laughter.

Only I can change my life. No one can do it for me.

I wish my mother had left me something about how she felt growing up. I wish my grandmother had done the same. I wanted my girls to know me.

I loved the Kennedy Center Honors because you just sit there, smile, wave, and cry.