Tim Conway, star of 'Carol Burnett Show,' dies at 85

Tim Conway, who once made viewers and castmates on "The Carol Burnett Show" weep with laughter over his deadpan comic delivery, has died at the age of 85, his publicist Howard Bragman confirms.

He died at 8:45 a.m. PDT Tuesday after a long illness, Bragman said.

Conway's celebrated comedy career included acclaimed performances on such programs as Burnett's variety show and "McHale's Navy." Conway won four Emmys for his work on "Burnett" and two more for guest appearances on "Coach" and "30 Rock."

Conway performed often in Reno, most recently in the early 2000's with "Carol Burnett" co-star Harvey Korman at the Silver Legacy.

Conway's daughter, Kelly Conway, and five sons announced his death in a news release sent to USA TODAY by Kelly's publicist, Roger Neal. 

"The love he gave us, and the laughter he gave the world will never be replaced but will be remembered forever," Kelly Conway said in a statement. "He is at peace now but I will miss him every second of every day until we meet again in heaven. We knew he would have to leave us someday but that day came too soon."

She added that her father used to say, when he would hear the song “Angel Flying Too Close to the Ground,” that he wanted that song "played at his funeral."

Neal, who was Conway's former publicist for nearly decades, added in a statement to USA TODAY that Conway was a joy to work with.

"He was off screen what the world saw on screen," Neal said. "We had so many laughs… what a pure joy to have had the privilege of working with one of the true masters of comedy… there will never be another one like him."

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Conway had declined into dementia in the last months of his life, leading to a legal struggle last year between Kelly Conway and his wife, Charlene Conway, over guardianship and which one would decide his medical care and nursing facility.

That battle was settled in March when Charlene Conway was granted conservatorship over her ailing husband. 

Kelly Conway had gone to court to prevent Charlene Conway from transferring him from an "excellent skilled nursing facility" to one she worried provided fewer services. She also complained she was prevented from seeing her father.

But Kelly Conway said she was "very happy" with the outcome of the case. She said she was allowed to see him and to meet with his carers, according to a statement sent to USA TODAY by Neal.

Conway is best known for his comic turns in skits, often in partnership with comic actor Harvey Korman, on Burnett's sketch comedy/variety show in the 1970s. The duo spent the rest of their careers often performing together until Korman's death in 2008.

But they are best remembered for their 10 years on "Burnett," when Korman hilariously struggled to contain his laughter at Conway's antics, even in the middle of their skits.

Conway's acting credits span six decades. He made a comic splash as Ensign Charles Parker on "McHale's Navy," the 1960s series about the wacky crew of a PT boat during World War II. After that, he was a regular guest star on dozens of TV comedy series and sitcoms until as recently as 2015.

His work on "Burnett" yielded him four Emmys and a Golden Globe. He also won two other Emmys for more recent guest roles on "Coach" and "30 Rock."

Conway's 2013 memoir, "What's So Funny? My Hilarious Life" (with co-author Jane Scovell), looked back on 50 years in show business.

Conway, who largely retired in 2016, was unable to appear in the 50th-anniversary celebration of "The Carol Burnett Show," which aired in December 2017.