Tim Conway was 85 years old.
By Bernadette Giacomazzo — Written on May 14, 2019
He was a comedian and an actor who was well beloved by both his contemporaries and the comedians that would follow in his wake. However, today, Hollywood lost another "good one" when it was announced that he'd passed away at the age of 85. How did Tim Conway die?
Earlier today, “Tim Conway” became a top Twitter trending topic when it was announced that he’d passed away at the age of 85. Conway, who was best known for his role on The Carol Burnett Show, was surrounded by his family in Los Angeles when he entered into eternal repose.
Let’s look at the life and death of this beloved actor and comedian.
1. He won several awards for his work on The Carol Burnett Show.
According to People Magazine, Tim Conway won a Golden Globe Award for his part in The Carol Burnett Show in 1976, along with Emmys in 1973, 1977 and 1978. He was, according to the outlet, best known for his work as Oldest Man and Mr. Tudball. Conway would later say that Tudball’s thick accent was inspired by his Romanian mother.
Additionally, according to the outlet, he was best known for his ability to ad-lib many of his scenes — to the point that his stage partners were often “surprised” by his antics.
2. He got his start in the entertainment industry in the 1960s.
According to Yahoo News, Tim Conway was involved in the entertainment industry from the 1960s. His first-ever role was in McHale’s Navy, for which he’d received his first-ever Emmy nomination. Although he didn’t win, he would go on to win several Emmys and Golden Globes, and starred in such shows as Coach, Married…With Children, The Apple Dumpling Gang, and 30 Rock.
3. Carol Burnett said that she was “heartbroken” about his death.
According to CNN, Carol Burnett immediately released a statement upon finding out about the death of her longtime friend and collaborator.
“I'm heartbroken. He was one in a million, not only as a brilliant comedian but as a loving human being," Burnett said about Conway in a statement to CNN on Tuesday. "I cherish the times we had together both on the screen and off. He'll be in my heart forever."
Vicki Lawrence, another longtime Conway co-star, also issued a statement expressing her grief.
“Hysterical, crazy, bold, fearless, humble, kind, adorable... all synonyms for Tim Conway," Lawrence said in a statement. "I am so lucky to ever have shared a stage with him. Harvey and Tim are together again...the angels are laughing out loud tonight."
4. He died of water on the brain.
According to Fox News, Tim Conway’s family made clear that he was not suffering from Alzheimer’s or any other neurological disorder at the time of his death. Rather, Tim Conway died from water on the brain (also known as hydrocephalus).
He is survived by his wife of 35 years, his children, a stepdaughter, and several grandchildren.
Conway’s former publicist, Roger Neal, encapsulated everyone’s thoughts in his heartfelt statement to the outlet.
“It was my high honor to represent Tim Conway as his manager and publicist from 2012-2017,” he shared. “The guest star roles I had him do, and the press tour for his NY Times bestselling book, and spending time in his home, were truly some of the best times in my 38-year career. He was off-screen what the world saw on screen. 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. RIP my friend.”
Bernadette Giacomazzo is an editor, writer, and photographer whose work has appeared in People, Teen Vogue, Us Weekly, The Source, XXL, HipHopDX, The Los Angeles Times, The New York Post, and more. She is also the author of The Uprising series. Find her online at www.bernadettegiacomazzo.com and www.longlivetheuprising.com.