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Carol Burnett Opens Up About Teaching Herself the Art of Slapstick at 93

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May 7, 2026
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Carol Burnett Opens Up About Teaching Herself the Art of Slapstick at 93

Carol Burnett, who recently turned 93, continues to look back on her incredible journey in comedy.

In a new interview, she shared how she taught herself slapstick humor while building one of the most enduring legacies in entertainment.

During a sit-down with journalist Chris Nicholas for Los Angeles Magazine, Burnett reflected on her early years in show business. The conversation touched on her creative beginnings and the work ethic that helped shape her comedic brilliance.

Nicholas mentioned her role in the 1962 episode of The Twilight Zone titled “Cavender Is Coming.” After pointing out that Burnett’s fall in the episode looked like the work of a professional slapstick comedian, he asked how she learned to do it.

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“I taught myself,” Burnett answered simply. “I just learned that you don’t stiffen up when you’re gonna fall down.”

She added with a smile, “Perhaps most surprisingly, I never broke anything.”

Before long, Burnett was perfecting her craft on The Garry Moore Show, a variety program she appeared on from 1959 to 1962. That experience became the training ground for her signature mix of timing, grace, and physical humor.

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“I remember when I first got on The Garry Moore Show we did a sketch where I had to jump out of a window,” she recalled. “I said, ‘Sure’ because I wanted the job. I landed on a mattress and stupidly said ‘Thanks.’”

Laughing about it now, Burnett admitted she had no idea what would happen next. “I just thought I was gonna go splat,” she said.

One of her colleagues on the show, Jerry Lewis, was also known for his elaborate pratfalls. Burnett remembered Lewis being concerned for her, asking, “Are you sure you know what you’re doing?” His question came from genuine care and an understanding of the toll that physical comedy could take.

Despite the tumbles and falls, Burnett emerged from the experience unhurt—and with a brand new skill set that would define her career. Her work on The Garry Moore Show went on to earn her an Emmy Award in 1962.

Looking back, Burnett credits her childhood energy for her natural ability with physical comedy. Growing up in Hollywood, she led an active life full of outdoor adventures. “I used to fly kites and roller skate up the sidewalks,” she shared. “We would climb the Hollywood Sign with the neighborhood kids. The boards were rickety, and you’d get splinters, but at the top you could lean over and just look at Hollywood.”

That sense of adventure carried into everything she did. “I feel like I’ve lived a charmed life with so many wonderful coincidences that have happened,” she said.

Her landmark series, The Carol Burnett Show, which ran from 1967 to 1978, cemented her place in television history. As the first woman to host her own comedy-variety series, Burnett redefined what was possible in entertainment and became a household name.

On her show, Burnett continued to demonstrate her fearless approach to physical humor. Whether taking a punch in a sketch or collapsing in a hilarious accident scene, she committed fully to every performance.

Over the course of its run, The Carol Burnett Show earned 25 Primetime Emmy Awards. Burnett herself received seven Emmy Awards, seven Golden Globes, a Grammy, and a Tony, along with the Presidential Medal of Freedom and the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

Fans and colleagues alike continue to celebrate her mastery of comedy. Her talent, determination, and self-taught fearlessness remain an inspiration.

Even at 93, Burnett’s reflections remind audiences why her work is timeless. Her journey from Hollywood’s hills to worldwide fame shows that laughter—and a willingness to take a fall—is often the secret to an extraordinary life.

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