'At Least I Have Them': Remembering Harvey Korman

Comedian and character actor [Harvey Korman] passed away last week at the age of 81. Most famous for his work on The Carol Burnett Show and in Mel Brooks’ comedies—such as Blazing Saddles and History of the World: Part 1—Korman was a master of the double-take. His sniveling, hand wringing and eye-bulging Snidely-Whiplash-type villains are some of the funniest and most memorable straightmen in Brooks’ films and easily among the most imminently quotable.

In High Anxiety, Brooks’ send-up of all things Hitchcock, there’s a great moment when he’s locked up in a closet in a bizarre BDSM contraption whimpering, “Too much bondage, too much bondage, not enough discipline!” or when he nervously bellows, “Enjoy yourself, for God's sake! Get your mind off the Wentworth murder... accident! Accident!” He had an unassuming presence that always drew you to him, regardless of if he had the best lines or the funniest costume. Auguste Balls, an otherwise inconsequential bit part in Blake Edwards’ worst entries in the Pink Panther series (at least, the worst of the ones starring Peter Sellers), was always a treat to watch even if it was only to chirp, “Inspector Clouuuuseau! My dear Chief Inspector Clooouseeau!”

Just rattling off the names of his characters’ brings a smile to my face: Count de Monet (History of the World: Part 1), Hedley Lamarr (Blazing Saddles), Baron Hinterstoisser (The Wild Wild West…the TV show), Rhett Butler (The Carol Burnett Show) and, of course, The Great Gazoo (The Flintstones). He was great with a grimace and even better with a smirk.