“Mama’s Family” star Vicki Lawrence lately opened up about her relationship with Carol Burnett.
The actresses co-starred on the hit selection/sketch comedy TV collection “The Carol Burnett Show” for 11 seasons, from 1967 to 1978.
Nonetheless, the 2, who shared a powerful friendship, had a falling-out through the filming of “The Carol Burnett Show’s” spinoff collection “Mama’s Family.”
Whereas talking with Display screen Rant, Lawrence mirrored on how they had been capable of mend their rift and defined that their bond has grown stronger through the years.
“I’m glad we are so close now,” Lawrence stated. “We’re closer than we ever have been, really.”
Burnett initially had a recurring position on “Mama’s Family,” which starred Lawrence as Thelma “Mama” Harper, a personality that she originated on “The Carol Burnett Show.”
Nonetheless, Burnett stopped showing on the spinoff collection amid her divorce from Joe Hamilton, an govt producer on “Mama’s Family” and “The Carol Burnett Show.”
Burnett and Hamilton, who died in 1991, tied the knot in 1963 and shared three daughters — Carrie, Jodie and Erin.
The previous couple’s marriage got here to an finish in 1984, one 12 months after “Mama’s Family” premiered.
Lawrence informed Display screen Rant Burnett started to distance herself from the “Mama’s Family” solid throughout her bitter break up from Hamilton.
“She went through a horrible divorce,” Lawrence recalled. “So, it was almost … for a while there, it was almost like she divorced all of us who were involved with [Hamilton] at all. I know it was tough for her. She spent a long time …”
“She talked to my husband one night,” the actress continued. “She known as — it was early within the ‘Mama’s Household’ run. I used to be making dinner. My son answered the telephone, and he or she stated, ‘Can I talk to your dad?’ And I stated, ‘Who is it?’ And my son stated, ‘It’s Carol.’ I stated, ‘Does she want to talk to me?’ And he stated, ‘No, she wants to talk to dad.’ And it type of broke my coronary heart.
“But she did say to Al, my husband, ‘I promise I’ll be back. I promise.’ and when she was back, she was fully back,” Lawrence remembered. “But I know it was a really tough time for her. It was more sad than anything.”
Lawrence was married to make-up artist Al Schultz for nearly 50 years till he died on the age of 82 in June.
Schultz labored as a make-up artist on “The Carol Burnett Show” and different fashionable collection, together with “All in the Family” and “Good Times.” The couple shared daughter Courtney and son Garett.
In a 2019 interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Lawrence credited Burnett with introducing her to her future partner.
“Carol found my husband for me,” Lawrence stated. “Al had just gotten into the makeup union. And Carol was sitting in her dressing room, and Al walked by. She told her secretary that he was adorable and wanted him on the show. Carol has been largely responsible for most everything in my adult life.”
Whereas talking with Display screen Rant, Lawrence famous that Burnett endured many tough instances in her life. Burnett and Hamilton’s daughter Carrie battled drug dependancy throughout her teenage years and frolicked at rehab facilities.
She grew to become sober on the age of 15, although she briefly relapsed when she was 17.
Burnett and Hamilton went public with their daughter’s struggles in an effort to assist different households and have become fundraisers for the middle the place Carrie was handled, in accordance with the Los Angeles Instances. The previous couple additionally shared that their daughter’s issues with dependancy contributed to their divorce.
In 2002, Carrie died of most cancers on the age of 38. Burnett and Hamilton’s daughter Erin has additionally struggled with drug dependancy.
In 2020, Burnett and her third husband, Brian Miller, grew to become non permanent authorized guardians of Erin’s teenage son Dylan resulting from Erin’s substance abuse points.
“I feel bad for her for all she’s been through,” Lawrence stated of Burnett.
In 2002, Carrie died of most cancers on the age of 38. Burnett and Hamilton’s daughter Erin has additionally struggled with drug dependancy. In 2020, Burnett and her third husband, Brian Miller, grew to become non permanent authorized guardians of Erin’s teenage son Dylan resulting from Erin’s substance abuse points.
“I feel bad for her for all she’s been through,” Lawrence stated of Burnett.
Along with their friendship, the seven-time Emmy Award winner additionally grew to become Lawrence’s mentor and later urged her to tackle the starring position in “Mama’s Family” regardless of the youthful actress’s hesitation.
“I think the most important thing that I learned from Carol is how the business of show business should run,” Lawrence stated. “It ought to be enjoyable, and if it’s not enjoyable, you’re doing it unsuitable.
“It’s gotten to be such a tough business,” she added. “I was just so lucky to be raised on ‘The Carol Burnett Show’ by the best teachers in the world. So, what happened to me just doesn’t happen to anybody else.”
The 2 will reunite onscreen after Lawrence was solid in a supporting position within the second season of the Apple+ TV present “Palm Royale,” which stars Burnett.
“I’ve shot a few scenes, but I have not shot with Carol yet,” Lawrence informed Display screen Rant. “But they said that I will.”
