Carol Burnett: Photos Of The Comedy Legend Over The Years

By:

Medina Lynn, Sara Whitman

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Trailblazing Carol Burnett

Trailblazing Carol Burnett — Carol Burnett, 89, has enjoyed an illustrious career that began in 1955. She is admired as a trailblazer for women, having been the first female to lead a comedy variety show when ‘The Carol Burnett Show’ debuted in 1967. In 2018, the Hollywood Foreign Press Association created an award in her honor. Impressively, she has five Golden Globe Awards, six Primetime Emmy Awards, a Special Tony Award and Stephen Sondheim Award, and a Grammy to her name.

Even more impressive, she became a mom in the 1960s. She has three daughters — Carrie, Jody, and Erin — with her ex-husband, Joe Hamilton. Sadly, Carrie passed away in 2002 at the age of 38 due to cancer complications.

Carol was not always the glamorous woman she is today, though. She was born in Texas to alcoholic parents and was raised in Hollywood by her grandmother. She and her late daughter wrote a dramedy based on her childhood called ‘Hollywood Arms’, which debuted on Broadway in 2002 just months after Carrie’s death.

Scroll through the gallery to see photos of the iconic Carol Burnett throughout her career.

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Carol Burnett For ‘The Wedding’

Carol Burnett For ‘The Wedding’ — Carol Burnett is photographed for the 1978 film, ‘A Wedding’, in which she played Tulip Brenner. The film follows the family drama that ensues after the daughter of a Louisville truck driver marries into an extremely wealthy family.

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Carol Burnett For ‘Annie’

Carol Burnett For ‘Annie’ — One of Carol Burnett’s most famous roles is the mean orphanage caretaker, Miss Hannigan, in the 1982 remake of ‘Annie’.

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Carol Burnett For ‘Moon Over Buffalo’

Carol Burnett For ‘Moon Over Buffalo’ — Carol Burnett played Charlotte Hay in Broadway’s ‘Moon Over Buffalo’ from 1995 to 1996. This was the first Broadway show Carol starred in after a 30-year hiatus.

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‘Dolly and Carol In Nashville’

‘Dolly and Carol In Nashville’ — Dolly Parton and Carol got together for a 1979 television special titled ‘Dolly and Carol in Nashville’. It was a variety show featuring songs and skits with the talented stars.

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Carol Burnett And Daughter Carrie Hamilton

Carol Burnett And Daughter Carrie Hamilton — Carol Burnett And her late daughter Carrie Hamilton embraced each other in this photo from the late 1990s.

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‘The Carol Burnett Show’

‘The Carol Burnett Show’ — Vicki Lawrence looked like Carol’s twin while starring on ‘The Carol Burnett Show’ in 1968.

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Carol Burnett Arrives At The Paley Honors

Carol Burnett Arrives At The Paley Honors — Carol Burnett was invited to The Paley Honors: Celebrating Women in Television in New York City in 2017. The May 17 show included a tribute to her.

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Carol Burnett Arrives At ‘Prince Of Broadway’

Carol Burnett Arrives At ‘Prince Of Broadway’ — Carol Burnett attended the Broadway debut of ‘Prince of Broadway’ at the Samuel J. Friedman Theatre in New York City on Aug. 24, 2017. The show previously premiered in Japan.

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‘A Little Help With Carol Burnett’

‘A Little Help With Carol Burnett’ — Carol Burnett hosted a streaming series called ‘A Little Help with Carol Burnett’ for one season in 2018. The show entailed a panel of very blunt children offering adults real-world advice.

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Carol Burnett Won At The 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards

Carol Burnett Won At The 76th Annual Golden Globe Awards — As mentioned above, Carol Burnett is no stranger to the Golden Globes. In 2019, she received the first-ever Carol Burnett Award. ‘My thanks to the Hollywood Foreign Press Association. I’m really gobsmacked by this,’ she said in her heartfelt speech.

She told the audience that she first fell in love with movies, but then fell head over heels for television production when she first visited a set as a teenager. As she got older, she said she simply enjoyed anything that made her ‘laugh or cry or both.’ She added, ‘I wished or hoped that maybe someday I could have the chance to do the same.’

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Carol Burnett Celebrates 55

Carol Burnett Celebrates 55 — Carol Burnett blew out her 55th birthday candles in 1989 with her three daughters by her side. From left to right are Carrie Hamilton, Carol, Erin Hamilton, and Jodie Hamilton. This was taken on the set of ‘Superstars and Their Moms’.

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Carol At The 50th Annual Golden Globes

Carol At The 50th Annual Golden Globes — Carol Burnett spent the night at the 1993 Golden Globes with her youngest daughter Erin Hamilton.

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The Carol Burnett 50th Anniversary Special

The Carol Burnett 50th Anniversary Special — Carol Burnett smiled wide on the red carpet for ‘The Carol Burnett 50th Anniversary Special’ taping in 2017. The two-hour special featured special guests, including original cast members.

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22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards

22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards — Carol Burnett looked gorgeous in green at the 22nd Annual Screen Actors Guild Awards in Los Angeles, Calif. in 2016.

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