Tim Conway, the comedian who regularly stole scenes on The Carol Burnett Show, has died. As reported by People, a representative for Conway confirmed his Tuesday morning passing from complications of Normal Pressure Hydrocephalus. He was 85.
Though younger viewers might recognize him from his guest spots on Glee, Hot In Cleveland, and 30 Rock—the latter of which scored him one of his six Emmy Awards—Conway enraptured viewers with his memorable turns on The Carol Burnett Show, which, after a number of guest appearances, he joined as a regular in 1975.
“I’m heartbroken,” Burnett said in a statement. “He was one in a million, not only as a brilliant comedian but as a loving human being. I cherish the times we had together both on the screen and off. He’ll be in my heart forever.”
In a piece on the sketch series, we lauded Conway as being the embodiment of what Burnett’s show could be, praising him for having “the instincts of a comic who can always find a laugh hidden between the lines.” His ad-libbing on the series, as any cast member would tell you, was the stuff of legend. Just see the below skit, one of the show’s most beloved.
Conway had his own show in 1970, The Tim Conway Show, and performed in a variety show of the same name in the early ‘80s. He also starred in ‘60s sitcom McHale’s Navy—where Conway was able to draw upon his own experiences in the military—and lent his voice to SpongeBob SquarePants, voicing Barnacle Boy.
“My favorite comedian, of course, is Tim Conway,” Burnett said in a 2009 interview. “He has a way about him—being that belly-laugh kind of funny, and he has the improvisational skills too. I’ve never seen anybody better. I remember Johnny Carson saying that Tim made him laugh more than anybody.”