Most people know Harvey Korman as the man who made them laugh on The Carol Burnett Show and in Blazing Saddles. But to Chris Korman, he was simply Dad, the one who helped with homework, encouraged him through learning struggles and made sure laughter never left their home.
Seventeen years after Harvey’s passing, Chris has shared his story in a new memoir, OMG! It’s Harvey Korman’s Son! It’s more than just memories of a famous father. It’s a tribute to their bond and the everyday moments behind the spotlight.
Harvey Korman was a dad before anything else
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In interviews and in the book, Chris talks about how his father always put family first. Harvey supported him through a learning disability, often reminding him, “The only time in life you fail is when you don’t try.” He didn’t allow the learning challenges to become excuses; instead, he broke lessons into small parts and made learning feel natural.
Chris shares that Harvey also taught him to record and listen to lines when he struggled to remember things. These methods helped Chris grow, and he later realized how much his father’s own work habits influenced those techniques, especially during last-minute changes on The Carol Burnett Show.
Harvey Korman was the spokesperson for the Learning Disabilities Association
Harvey Korman also used his fame to support causes that mattered to him. In the ’70s, he became a spokesperson for the Learning Disabilities Association. Chris didn’t know the full impact of this until he attended a conference years later and was told, “If it wasn’t for your father, we wouldn’t be on the map.” One of the most touching stories is how Harvey got the nickname “Mr. Happy Go Lucky.” During a rough patch, Carol Burnett asked him to keep his personal life separate from work. She even put a sign on his dressing room that read: “Mr. Happy Go Lucky.” It stuck, and years later, Chris wanted to use it as the title of his memoir, but Carol insisted he keep that name alive in spirit, not just in print.
Chris is now working on turning his book into a one-man stage show. He also hopes to return to elder care, a field he’s passionate about. For him, this journey is about honoring his father’s legacy and sharing a story that shows there was much more to Harvey Korman than what fans saw on screen.