Carol Creighton BurnettĀ (born April 26, 1933) is an American actress, comedian, singer and writer…. whose career spans seven decades of television….as she is best known for her groundbreaking television variety show,Ā The Carol Burnett Show….whichĀ originally aired onĀ CBS as the first of its kind to be hosted by a woman.Ā She has achieved success on stage, television and film in varying genres including dramatic and comedy roles.
Born inĀ San Antonio,Ā Texas….Burnett moved with her grandmother to Hollywood….where she attendedĀ Hollywood High School….and eventually studied theater and musical comedy atĀ UCLA.Ā Later she performed in nightclubs in New York City….and had a breakout success on Broadway in 1959 inĀ Once Upon a Mattress….for which she received aĀ Tony AwardĀ nomination. She soon made her television debut….while regularly appearing onĀ The Garry Moore ShowĀ for three years…..and won her firstĀ Emmy AwardĀ in 1962.Ā Burnett had her television special debut in 1963 when she starred as Calamity Jane in the Dallas State Fair Musicals production ofĀ Calamity JaneĀ onĀ CBS….thenĀ Burnett moved toĀ Los Angeles,Ā California….and began an 11-year run as star ofĀ The Carol Burnett ShowĀ onĀ CBSĀ television from 1967 to 1978….where with itsĀ vaudevilleĀ roots….The Carol Burnett ShowĀ was aĀ variety showĀ that combinedĀ comedy sketchesĀ with song and dance. The comedy sketches includedĀ film parodiesĀ and character pieces….when Burnett created many memorable characters during the show’s run….for whichĀ both she and the show won numerousĀ EmmyĀ andĀ Golden Globe Awards.Ā Ā