Carol Burnett

Carol Burnett, award-winning actress and best-selling author, is widely recognized by the public and her peers for her work on stage and screen, most notably The Carol Burnett Show. Named in 2007 by TIME magazine as one of “100 Best Television Shows of All Time,” The Carol Burnett Show ran for 11 years, averaged 30 million viewers per week, and received 25 Emmy Awards, making it one of the most honored shows in television history. But it is Carol’s artistic brilliance, her respect and appreciation of her fans, and her graciousness, integrity, warmth, and humor on and off screen that have made her one of the most beloved performers in entertainment and one of the most admired women in America.

As a highly-acclaimed actress for her comedic and dramatic roles on television, film and Broadway, Carol has been honored with 12 People’s Choice Awards, more than any other actress in the award show's history, eight Golden Globes, six Emmy Awards, the Horatio Alger Award, the Peabody Award for "Friendly Fire," and the Ace Award for "Between Friends" with Elizabeth Taylor. She has received the Presidential Medal of Freedom, is a Kennedy Center honoree, and has been inducted into the Television Hall of Fame.

Carol has penned two New York Times Bestsellers, This Time Together: Laughter and Reflection and her autobiography, One More Time, for which, on both accounts, she received national critical acclaim for her writing skills and story-telling talent. The audiobook for This Time Together earned Carol her first Grammy nomination in 2010 for Best Spoken Word. That same year, she costarred alongside Jane Lynch, creating the role of Sue Sylvester’s mother in FOX television’s smash-hit Glee.

In 2000, Carol added playwright to her credits when she and her daughter, Carrie Hamilton, began writing a play together based on Carol’s autobiography. Sadly, her daughter passed away from cancer four months prior to the play’s premiere at the Chicago Goodman Theatre in April 2002. But Carrie’s dream was fulfilled when Hollywood Arms, directed by Hal Prince, premiered on Broadway at The Cort Theatre on October 31, 2002. Carol has since established The Carrie Hamilton Foundation to honor her daughter’s memory and her passion for the performing arts.

Born in San Antonio, Texas, Carol moved to a less-than-glamorous section of Hollywood, where her grandmother raised her and her younger sister. Living in reduced circumstances but dreaming of college, Carol received an anonymous donation of $50 to pay for her tuition to UCLA. While studying journalism, Carol took an acting class, and the rest is history.       

She became a permanent cast member on The Garry Moore Show from 1959-1962. She also garnered her first Emmy Award. While on Garry Moore,

CBS took notice of this emerging new talent and signed her to a 10-year contract. On September 11, 1967, The Carol Burnett Show premiered on CBS, the show became a hit.

When not performing or occasionally touring the country in her Q & A format "Laughter & Reflection," she enjoys spending time with her husband Brian, her two daughters Erin and Jody, her grandchildren, and her cat Mabel. As a passionate supporter of the arts and education, she has also established several scholarships around the country, including “The Carol Burnett Musical Theatre Competition” at her alma mater, UCLA.