Comedian Tim Conway Dies At 85

BEVERLY HILLS, CA — Tim Conway, the unassuming comic actor best known for his dry-as-dirt delivery that routinely forced his fellow performers on "The Carol Burnett Show" to break out of character in unintentional laughter, died at his Los Angeles home Tuesday. He was 85.

Famous for his deadpan delivery, Conway inspired a generation of comedians and mastered sketch comedy in its heyday. The actor, who also voiced Barnacle Boy in “Spongebob Squarepants,” largely retired in 2016, missing out on the 50th anniversary celebration of The Carol Burnett Show which aired in December 2017 due to dizziness and other ailments. He underwent brain surgery in September but never regained his speech.

"Sad to read of the passing of Tim Conway. Both Tim and Harvey Korman couldn't have been any nicer and funnier. Now together again making each other laugh. RIP," Academy Award-winning actress Marlee Matlin tweeted.

Conway was famous for his comedy supporting roles. He often played the inept fool alongside the comedy greats of his era. His credits include some of the most cherished television comedies of the 60s and 70s. At the peak of his fame, the Ohio native even had his own show the "The Tim Conway Comedy Hour," but it was his selfless style that made him a favorite in ensemble casts.

The actor, writer, director and comedian transcended generations with his sense of humor, from his early work in the 1950s to his various voice-overs and guest spots on shows like “Two and a Half Men,” “Glee,” “Mike and Molly,” and even “SpongeBob SquarePants,” where he provided the voice for Barnacle Boy.

A tongue-in-cheek bio on his official website, attributed to Conway himself, says: "I was born and then I did 'The Carol Burnett Show' for eleven years. What else is there to know? I have six Emmy's. Big deal. I am also in The Comedy Hall of Fame, it was a natural since I spent a lot of my time in grade school out in the hall. I went to Bowling Green State University for eleven years. A very slow lerner (I proofread my bio). I was in the army (ours) for two years and was in 'McHales Navy' for three years. That is a total of five years of service. My ambition was to be a jockey, but at my weight, even the horses were asking me to get off. I have seven children, two grandchildren and a puppy. I have been married since 1984, a record for Hollywood. I do not have a serious thought in my head. Enjoy the show."

Conway was born on December 15, 1933 in Cleveland, Ohio. He attended Bowling Green State University, and after graduation, he served in the army to fulfill his military obligation. In the 1950s, he landed at NBC affiliate KYW-TV working with television personality Ernie Anderson, and eventually WJW-TV, a then-CBS affiliate, where he wrote comedy skits in between filming.

Conway wrote a comedy album with Anderson, but the two were eventually fired from WJW, in part because they misled station management into thinking he had directing experience. The actor moved to New York City with the help of comedic actress Rose Marie in 1961, where he landed a regular role on "The Steve Allen Show." Conway, who by this point had changed his first name to Tim, continued on the show through its entire run.

Conway starred in "The Tim Conway Show" which debuted in January 1970, a sitcom about a one-plane airline operated by two pilots, but by June of the same year the show was canceled. In fall of the same year, Conway was given his own variety show, "The Tim Conway Comedy Hour", which was quickly canceled after only 13 weeks. The comedian ordered his car’s license plate to reflect his luck, typical of his self-deprecating sense of humor. The license plate read “13 WKS.”

Just five years later, Conway became a regular on "The Carol Burnett Show" after he was a frequent guest on the show for eight seasons, and was known for making his co-stars laugh uncontrollably in situations when they should have been composed. It was some of his most recognized work, and earned him four Emmy Awards – one for writing, and three for performance.

In 1980, Conway was given a one-hour variety show, again called "The Tim Conway Show," with several regular stars performing in comedy sketches, with the occasional guest musical performance. Although it was cut to half an hour in the Summer of 1980, it was the longest running of any of his self-titled shows, lasting through August 1981.

Friends and fans alike shared their grief on Twitter.

Though he continued to work into his 80s, the last year of his life was beset with health problems.

In August 2018, People Magazine reported that Conway was suffering from dementia and was being cared for in a nursing home.

He was hospitalized in September and underwent brain surgery before he was transported to a rehabilitation facility in Santa Monica. On Oct. 31, his court-appointed lawyer Michael Harris announced the actor was still largely taciturn.

"Mr. Conway remains unable to engage in verbal communications of any kind," Harris said. "When I was there, his wife tried to demonstrate for me that while he does not talk, he can express himself through his eyes and facial expressions."

Conway married to his first wife, Mary Anne Dalton, in 1961; the couple had six children together before their divorce in 1978. He then married his second wife, Charlene Fusco, on May 14, 1984.

Related: Comic Tim Conway Still Unresponsive After Brain Surgery: Attorney