Harvey Korman, 1927-2008. R.I.P.

I have just read of the passing of comedian Harvey Korman. He died today at the UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles of complications from a rupture caused by an abdominal aortic aneurysm that he suffered 4 months ago. He was 81. Korman is best remembered as a cast member on The Carol Burnett Show. But Korman's finest hour came in 1974 when he played the villianous Hedley Lamarr in Mel Brooks' Blazing Saddles. I saw Blazing Saddles on TV earlier this year for probably the twentieth time. I never tire of it and Korman was a big reason for it. Sadly, nearly all of the principle actors in that film are no longer with us - Cleavon Little, Madelaine Kahn and now Korman. Of course, Richard Pryor co-wrote Blazing Saddles and has too passed. Brooks and Gene Wilder are still alive but aren't getting any younger. At least the medium of film does have the positive consequence of having history permanently recorded and every so often some of that history is priceless.