Harvey Korman, the Tongue Twister

One of the funniest people in the world passed away yesterday at the age of 81. Mel Brooks may have written and directed films like Blazing Saddles (1974) and High Anxiety (1977), but Harvey Korman had a lot to do with why many of the films’ best scenes worked so beautifully. He was perfect as the comic villain, the arrogant schemer who loved the idea of being the most evil person in the world (but was always too crazy or childish to succeed). One beautiful example is the YouTube clip from Blazing Saddles that also shows his character’s unfortunate tendency to pick the most lame-brained help to carry out his plans. The following Mel Brooks statement says something about Korman’s talent: “I gave him tongue twisters because I knew he was the only one who could wrap his mouth around them. Harvey was such a good solid actor that he could have done Shakespearean drama just as well and easily as he did comedy.”

Audiences also loved him on The Carol Burnett Show (1967-1978) where he formed popular partnerships with both Carol Burnett and Tim Conway. The following clip is from the show, a skit where Korman and Burnett play a royal couple; Maggie Smith is a guest actor. Very funny (“Well, I’ll be dipped in porridge”).