When Tim Conway walked onto a soundstage, everyone knew the plan was about to go out the window. The Emmy-winning comedian, who passed away on May 14, 2019, at age 85, built a career on controlled chaos, turning rehearsed sketches into improvisational masterpieces that left audiences—and his fellow performers—gasping for breath between fits of laughter.
For more than a decade, Conway served as the secret weapon of The Carol Burnett Show, television’s premier sketch comedy program long before Saturday Night Live revolutionized the format. From 1967 through 1978, the CBS variety series captivated millions of viewers, earning 25 Primetime Emmy Awards and cementing its place among the greatest television programs ever produced. Conway, who transitioned from frequent guest star to series regular in 1975, became the show’s unpredictable element—a performer whose gentle demeanor masked a mischievous talent for demolishing his castmates’ composure.

A Master of Misdirection
Born Thomas Daniel Conway in Willoughby, Ohio, in 1933, the future comedy legend grew up in nearby Chagrin Falls during the Great Depression. After graduating from Bowling Green State University with a degree in television and radio—where he earned the nickname “Phantom” for his late-night golf ball diving expeditions—Conway served in the U.S. Army before launching his entertainment career at Cleveland television stations.
His breakthrough came in the 1960s with McHale’s Navy, where he portrayed the bumbling Ensign Charles Parker for 138 episodes. But it was his work alongside Carol Burnett, Harvey Korman, and Vicki Lawrence that would define his legacy. The chemistry between Conway and Korman proved particularly electric, with Conway freely admitting that his primary objective during tapings was to make his co-star crack up on camera.
The Dentist Sketch That Became Legend
Among Conway’s extensive catalog of memorable moments, one sketch stands apart as the epitome of his comedic philosophy: “The Dentist.” In this nine-minute masterpiece, Conway portrays a freshly graduated dentist attempting to extract a tooth from Korman’s nervous patient. The premise was simple enough, but Conway’s secret weapon—completely unknown to Korman until the cameras rolled—transformed a straightforward scenario into comedy history.
The inspiration came from Conway’s real-life dentist, who had accidentally injected novocaine into his own thumb while working on a patient as a dental student. Conway recreated this mishap repeatedly throughout the sketch, each injection affecting a different body part: first his hand, then his cheek, finally his leg. As Conway’s limbs progressively failed him, Korman fought valiantly to maintain his composure before surrendering to uncontrollable laughter.
The breakdown was so complete that Conway later revealed to Conan O’Brien what viewers couldn’t see on camera: Korman had literally wet his pants from laughing. Carol Burnett herself ran offstage to avoid breaking character, while the studio audience roared their approval at the genuine chaos unfolding before them.

A Career Built on Versatility
While “The Dentist” showcased Conway’s physical comedy skills, his repertoire extended far beyond slapstick. His recurring character “The Oldest Man” demonstrated his ability to inhabit broad concepts while maintaining nuanced performance choices. In sketches like “The Oldest Man: The Captain,” Conway combined exaggerated physical limitations with understated characterization, making even the most absurd situations feel grounded and relatable.
The “Mr. Tudball and Mrs. Wiggins” sketches paired Conway’s Romanian-accented boss with Burnett’s dim-witted secretary, creating comedy through contrasting communication styles. In “Sleep No More My Lady,” Conway attempted to prepare breakfast quietly, failing spectacularly in a display of physical comedy genius. As a vacuum salesman in another memorable sketch, he manipulated Vicki Lawrence into doing his demonstration for him—keeping the change in the process.
Beyond The Carol Burnett Show, Conway maintained successful partnerships with fellow comedians. His collaboration with Don Knotts produced a series of Disney films, including The Apple Dumpling Gang in 1975, blending Knotts’s boisterous energy with Conway’s quieter approach to physical comedy. After Harvey Korman departed The Carol Burnett Show in 1978, the two continued working together in films, stage productions, and touring shows for three decades until Korman’s death in 2008.
Preserving Television History
Today’s audiences can experience Conway’s comedic brilliance through the official Carol Burnett Show YouTube channel, launched by Time Life with Burnett’s approval. The channel hosts more than twenty full-length sketches from the series, with regular additions ensuring the show’s legacy remains accessible to new generations. These high-quality uploads have introduced millions of viewers to classic variety television, a format that dominated American entertainment before giving way to modern sketch comedy programs.
The show’s enduring popularity stems partly from what made it unique during production: Carol Burnett’s insistence on maintaining a “live” feel. Rather than editing out mistakes, breaks in character, or unexpected moments, the production team embraced these imperfections as essential elements of the show’s charm. This approach transformed potential bloopers into beloved moments, with Conway’s ability to crack up his colleagues becoming a signature feature rather than a flaw.

Recognition and Remembrance
Conway’s contributions to television earned six Emmy Awards from thirteen nominations across his career. Beyond The Carol Burnett Show, he won for guest appearances on Coach in 1996 and 30 Rock in 2008. He also provided the voice of Barnacle Boy in SpongeBob SquarePants from 1999 until his retirement from the role in 2012.
When news of Conway’s death spread on May 14, 2019—following complications from normal pressure hydrocephalus, a form of dementia—tributes poured in from across the entertainment industry. Bob Newhart, a close friend who shared regular Tuesday dinners with Conway, stated simply: “We lost one of the greatest today—Tim Conway may be the greatest ever.”
Carol Burnett’s response captured the dual nature of Conway’s impact: “I’m heartbroken. He was one in a million, not only as a brilliant comedian but as a loving human being.”

The Art of Spontaneous Comedy
What made Tim Conway exceptional wasn’t just his technical skill or perfect timing—though he possessed both in abundance. His true genius lay in understanding that comedy’s greatest moments often emerge from the unexpected. By deliberately sabotaging rehearsed sketches with surprise elements, he created authentic reactions that no amount of scripting could replicate.
In an industry increasingly dominated by carefully edited content, Conway’s approach seems almost radical: embrace imperfection, trust your instincts, and never be afraid to make your scene partner laugh so hard they lose control on live television. This philosophy produced some of variety television’s most memorable moments, proving that sometimes the best comedy comes not from following the plan, but from knowing exactly when—and how—to deviate from it.

For eleven years, Tim Conway entered scenes on The Carol Burnett Show knowing something special was about to unfold. More than four decades after the show’s original run ended, those moments continue delivering the same joy they brought to millions of Saturday night viewers, ensuring that Conway’s legacy as one of television’s finest comedic talents remains secure for generations to come.