History of Tim Conway in Timeline
"Tim" Conway was an American entertainer involved in acting, comedy, writing, and directing. He was best known for his role on the TV show "The Carol Burnett Show", where he played characters such as Mister Tudball and the Oldest Man. His work in the entertainment industry earned him several awards and recognition including five Primetime Emmy Awards, a Golden Globe Award, a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame, and induction into the Television Hall of Fame.
1927: Tim Conway's Father Emigrates to the United States
Tim Conway's father emigrated from Ireland to the United States in 1927.
December 15, 1933: Birth of Tim Conway
Tim Conway was born in Willoughby, Ohio on December 15, 1933.
1956: Tim Conway Enlists in the US Army
Following his graduation from Bowling Green State University, Tim Conway enlisted in the United States Army in 1956.
1958: Tim Conway Begins Working at KYW-TV
After his military service, Tim Conway returned to Cleveland and started working with Ernie Anderson at KYW-TV in 1958.
1958: Tim Conway's Discharge from the US Army
Tim Conway was discharged from the US Army in 1958.
1959: Tim Conway Continues Working at KYW-TV
Tim Conway continued his work at KYW-TV with Ernie Anderson into 1959.
1960: Tim Conway Starts at WJW-TV
Tim Conway began working at WJW-TV in 1960.
1961: Rose Marie Mentors Tim Conway
Comedienne Rose Marie saw potential in Tim Conway and took him under her wing in 1961.
1961: First Marriage
Conway was married to Mary Anne Dalton from 1961 to 1978.
1962: Tim Conway Lands Role in "McHale's Navy"
Tim Conway began his role as Ensign Parker in the TV comedy "McHale's Navy" in 1962.
1962: Tim Conway Dismissed from WJW-TV
Tim Conway was let go from WJW-TV in 1962, partly due to misleading the station about his directing experience.
1962: Tim Conway Continues Working at WJW-TV
Tim Conway's work at WJW-TV continued into 1962.
1963: Tim Conway Guests on "Channing"
Tim Conway made a guest appearance on the television show "Channing" in 1963.
1966: Tim Conway's Run on "McHale's Navy" Ends
Tim Conway's time on "McHale's Navy" concluded in 1966.
1966: Meeting Harvey Korman on "The Danny Kaye Show"
Conway first met Harvey Korman in 1966 while making his first of three appearances on "The Danny Kaye Show," where Korman was a regular performer.
1966: Comedy Albums with Ernie Anderson and "The Steve Allen Show" Debut
Conway and Ernie Anderson recorded their first comedy album together, "Are We On?", in 1966. This is also the year Rose Marie discovered Conway and helped him land a role on "The Steve Allen Show."
1967: Second Comedy Album with Ernie Anderson
Conway and Ernie Anderson released their second comedy album together, titled "Bull," in 1967.
1967: Tim Conway Stars in "Rango"
Tim Conway took on the lead role in the television series "Rango" in 1967.
1967: Joining "The Carol Burnett Show" and Beginning a Lifelong Friendship with Harvey Korman
With the end of "The Danny Kaye Show" in 1967, Korman joined the cast of "The Carol Burnett Show." Conway appeared as a guest on the show that season, marking the beginning of his long-lasting comedic partnership with Korman.
1968: Tim Conway Makes Guest Appearances on "That's Life"
Tim Conway appeared as a guest on the TV show "That's Life" in 1968.
February 5, 1969: "Turn-On" Premieres and is Cancelled
Tim Conway was part of the television program "Turn-On," which premiered and was cancelled by ABC on February 5, 1969 after only one episode.
January 1970: The Tim Conway Show Premieres
In January 1970, Tim Conway starred in "The Tim Conway Show" alongside Joe Flynn from "McHale's Navy." The sitcom revolved around their comedic escapades as owner-pilots of a single-plane airline.
June 1970: End of "The Tim Conway Show" and Premiere of "The Tim Conway Comedy Hour"
"The Tim Conway Show" aired its final new episode in June 1970. That fall, Conway got his own hour-long variety show, "The Tim Conway Comedy Hour" (also known as "The Tim Conway Comedy House"), which, unfortunately, only lasted for 13 weeks.
1970: Tim Conway Begins Guest Appearances on "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In"
Tim Conway began making guest appearances on the comedy show "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" in 1970.
1970: Premiere of "The Tim Conway Comedy Hour"
Tim Conway's variety show, "The Tim Conway Comedy Hour," premiered in 1970.
1971: Tim Conway Continues Guest Appearances on "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In"
Tim Conway's guest appearances on "Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In" continued into 1971.
1973: Voice Acting and Disney Collaboration
Tim Conway lent his voice to "The New Scooby-Doo Movies" in 1973 for the episode "The Spirited Spooked Sports Show." The same year, he starred in the Disney film "The World's Greatest Athlete," marking the start of a successful partnership with Disney.
1973: Conway Stars in "The World's Greatest Athlete"
Tim Conway starred in the Disney film "The World's Greatest Athlete" in 1973.
1974: Appearance in "The Crazy Comedy Concert"
In 1974, Tim Conway showcased his comedic talents in an episode of the ABC Afterschool Special titled "The Crazy Comedy Concert," playing the role of a janitor.
1975: Collaboration with Don Knotts and "The Apple Dumpling Gang"
Beginning in 1975, Tim Conway frequently collaborated with Don Knotts in numerous Disney family films, including the popular "The Apple Dumpling Gang."
1975: The Start of a Comedic Duo: "The Apple Dumpling Gang"
In 1975, Conway and Don Knotts were paired by Disney Studios for "The Apple Dumpling Gang," marking the beginning of their successful comedic partnership.
1975: Tim Conway Joins "The Carol Burnett Show"
Tim Conway became a regular cast member on "The Carol Burnett Show" in 1975.
1975: Tim Conway Becomes a Regular on "The Carol Burnett Show"
Tim Conway officially joined "The Carol Burnett Show" as a regular cast member in 1975.
1975: Tim Conway Stars in "The Apple Dumpling Gang"
Tim Conway starred alongside Don Knotts in the Disney film "The Apple Dumpling Gang," released in 1975.
1975: Conway Stars in "The Apple Dumpling Gang"
Tim Conway starred in the Disney film "The Apple Dumpling Gang" in 1975.
1976: Conway Stars in "Gus"
Tim Conway starred in the Disney film "Gus" in 1976.
1976: Release of "Gus"
Tim Conway starred in the Disney film "Gus," released in 1976.
1977: Conway Stars in "The Billion Dollar Hobo"
Tim Conway starred in the comedy film "The Billion Dollar Hobo" in 1977.
1978: End of "The Carol Burnett Show"
"The Carol Burnett Show", on which Tim Conway was a regular cast member, ended its run in 1978.
1978: End of First Marriage
Conway's first marriage, to Mary Anne Dalton, ended in 1978.
1979: Conway Stars in "The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again" and "The Prize Fighter"
Tim Conway starred in two films in 1979: The Disney film "The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again" and the comedy "The Prize Fighter" with Don Knotts.
1979: Release of "The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again"
Tim Conway reprised his role in the sequel to "The Apple Dumpling Gang," titled "The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again," released in 1979.
1979: Sequel Success: "The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again"
The success of "The Apple Dumpling Gang" led to a sequel in 1979, "The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again," solidifying Conway and Knotts' comedic chemistry.
1979: "The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again" and "The Prize Fighter"
In 1979, Conway reunited with Don Knotts for the sequel, "The Apple Dumpling Gang Rides Again." That same year, they also starred together in "The Prize Fighter," an independent boxing comedy.
1979: Collaboration on "The Prize Fighter"
Conway wrote and starred alongside Don Knotts in the independently produced film "The Prize Fighter" in 1979, which became one of the highest-grossing independent films of the year.
March 22, 1980: The Second "Tim Conway Show" Premieres on CBS
Airing on CBS, "The Tim Conway Show" premiered on March 22, 1980, featuring a variety show format akin to "The Carol Burnett Show."
1980: Success with "The Private Eyes"
In 1980, Conway wrote and starred with Don Knotts in "The Private Eyes," another independently produced film that achieved significant box office success.
1980: Collaboration with Don Knotts in "The Private Eyes"
Tim Conway and Don Knotts teamed up once more in 1980 for the mystery comedy film, "The Private Eyes."
1980: The Second "Tim Conway Show" Premieres
Tim Conway returned to television with another variety show titled "The Tim Conway Show" in 1980.
1980: Debut of "The Tim Conway Show"
Tim Conway starred in "The Tim Conway Show," which debuted in 1980.
1980: Conway Stars in "The Private Eyes"
Tim Conway starred in the comedy film "The Private Eyes" with Don Knotts in 1980.
August 1981: The Second "Tim Conway Show" Concludes
"The Tim Conway Show" which had been shortened to a half-hour in the summer of 1980, ended in August 1981.
1981: End of "The Tim Conway Show" (1980)
"The Tim Conway Show" (1980) concluded in August 1981. It outlasted Conway's previous self-titled series.
1981: Conclusion of "The Tim Conway Show"
"The Tim Conway Show," starring Tim Conway, ended in 1981.
1983: Conway Stars in "Ace Crawford, Private Eye"
Tim Conway took on the lead role in the detective show spoof, "Ace Crawford, Private Eye." The sitcom, however, only ran for a month.
May 18, 1984: Marriage to Charlene Fusco
Conway married Charlene Fusco on May 18, 1984. This marriage lasted until his death.
January 3, 1986: Debut of the Dorf Character
On January 3, 1986, Tim Conway introduced his iconic character, Dorf, a diminutive, dark-haired Scandinavian, during an episode of "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson." He played a horse jockey.
1986: Collaboration on "The Longshot"
Conway wrote the 1986 film "The Longshot" specifically for himself and Korman to star in.
1986: Conway Stars in "The Longshot"
Tim Conway starred in the equestrian comedy film "The Longshot" in 1986.
1987: "Dorf on Golf" Released
Tim Conway's Dorf character hit the big screen in the 1987 film "Dorf on Golf."
1987: Guest Appearance in "Faerie Tale Theatre"
In 1987, Tim Conway appeared as a mayoral candidate in an episode of "Faerie Tale Theatre" titled "Rip Van Winkle."
1987: Tim Conway Begins Dorf Film Series
Tim Conway began his series of films featuring the character "Dorf" in 1987.
1990: Dorf Appears on "Tim Conway's Funny America"
During the summer of 1990, Tim Conway's Dorf character made an appearance on his show "Tim Conway's Funny America," leading an aerobics class with his comically short legs.
1990: Guest Appearance on "Newhart"
In 1990, Tim Conway made a guest appearance as himself on an episode of the sitcom "Newhart" titled "Dick and Tim."
1990: Conway Stars in "Tim Conway's Funny America"
In a short-lived series during the summer of 1990, Tim Conway starred in "Tim Conway's Funny America," where he played pranks on unsuspecting people while hidden cameras captured their reactions.
1991: Cameo in "Carol & Company"
Tim Conway made a brief cameo appearance as an audience member in a 1991 episode of the comedy series "Carol & Company" titled "That Little Extra Something."
1995: Recurring Role on "Married... with Children"
Tim Conway landed a recurring role as Ephraim Wanker, Peg Bundy's hillbilly father, on the sitcom "Married... with Children," appearing in four episodes between 1995 and 1996.
1996: Guest Role on "Coach" and Emmy Win
Tim Conway received critical acclaim for his guest role as Kenny Montague in a 1996 episode of the sitcom "Coach" titled "The Gardener." His performance earned him a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series.
1996: Conway Stars in "Dear God"
Tim Conway starred as postal worker Herman Dooly in the film "Dear God" in 1996.
1996: Tim Conway Wins Emmy for "Coach" and Conclusion of Dorf Series
Tim Conway won a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his role in "Coach" in 1996. This year also marked the end of his "Dorf" film series.
1997: Tim Conway Makes Guest Appearances at "Ghoulardifest"
Following Ernie Anderson's death in 1997, Tim Conway made guest appearances at "Ghoulardifest" events held by WJW-TV in tribute to Anderson.
1997: Guest Role on "Diagnosis: Murder" and Reunion
In 1997, Tim Conway reunited with Dick Van Dyke and Harvey Korman for a guest appearance on the crime drama series "Diagnosis: Murder." In the episode "Comedy Is Murder," Conway and Korman played former comedy partners.
1998: Guest Appearance on "Ellen"
Tim Conway made a guest appearance as a comedian in a 1998 episode of the talk show "Ellen" titled "Ellen: A Hollywood Tribute, Part 1."
1998: Conway Stars in "Air Bud: Golden Receiver"
Tim Conway co-starred alongside Dick Martin in the film "Air Bud: Golden Receiver" in 1998.
1999: Tim Conway Receives Star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame
In recognition of his contributions to the entertainment industry, Tim Conway received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1999.
1999: Voice Acting Debut in "SpongeBob SquarePants"
Tim Conway and Ernest Borgnine teamed up to voice the iconic characters Mermaid Man and Barnacle Boy in the animated series "SpongeBob SquarePants" in 1999.
1999: Tim Conway Begins Voicing Barnacle Boy in "SpongeBob SquarePants"
Tim Conway began voicing the character Barnacle Boy in the animated series "SpongeBob SquarePants" in 1999.
2001: Recurring Role on "Yes Dear"
Tim Conway took on a recurring role as Tom Warner, Greg's father, in the sitcom "Yes Dear" from 2001 to 2005. He shared the screen with Vicki Lawrence, his former "Carol Burnett Show" co-star.
2002: Tim Conway Inducted into the Television Hall of Fame
Tim Conway's lasting impact on television was cemented in 2002 when he was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame.
2003: Voice Acting in "Hermie and Friends"
From 2003 to 2010, Tim Conway lent his voice to the animated video series "Hermie and Friends." He voiced the character Hermie alongside Don Knotts, who voiced Wormie.
2003: Collaboration with Harvey Korman and Don Knotts
In 2003, Conway and Harvey Korman released a comedy sketch DVD, "Together Again." Conway also began voicing characters for the children's series "Hermie and Friends" alongside Don Knotts.
2004: Conway's Thoughts on Harvey Korman
In a 2004 interview, Conway shared his thoughts on his friendship with Korman, acknowledging their bond and Korman's intelligence.
2004: Conway Receives Disney Legend Award
Tim Conway's contributions to Disney were recognized in 2004 with the prestigious Disney Legend award.
2005: Conclusion of Role on "Yes Dear"
Tim Conway concluded his recurring role as Tom Warner on the sitcom "Yes Dear" in 2005.
2006: Continuing "Hermie and Friends" After Don Knotts' Passing
Following Don Knotts' death in 2006, Conway continued to lend his voice to the "Hermie and Friends" series.
2007: "Dorf on Golf" Remastered for DVD
The popular "Dorf on Golf" film, starring Tim Conway's beloved Dorf character, was remastered and released on DVD in 2007.
2007: Meeting Pasquale Murena
Conway began working with filmmaker Pasquale Murena in 2007, starting with Murena directing additional scenes for Conway's direct-to-DVD film, "Legend of the Paddle."
2007: Hosting "Thou Shalt Laugh 2: The Deuce"
Conway hosted the collection of Christian stand-up comedians in "Thou Shalt Laugh 2: The Deuce" in 2007.
April 17, 2008: Emmy Award Win for "30 Rock" Guest Appearance
On April 17, 2008, Conway won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his portrayal of Bucky Bright in the "30 Rock" episode "Subway Hero."
2008: Continuing "Together Again" Until Korman's Passing
Conway and Korman toured their stage show, "Together Again with Tim and Harvey," for over a decade until Korman's passing in 2008. The DVD release features a recording of this show.
2008: End of a Comedic Era: Harvey Korman's Passing
Harvey Korman passed away in 2008, marking the end of his decades-long comedic partnership with Conway.
2008: Tim Conway Wins Emmy for "30 Rock"
Tim Conway received a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series for his role on the sitcom "30 Rock" in 2008.
2009: Collaboration on iSpotSanta Sketches
Beginning in 2009, Conway and Murena collaborated on comedic sketches for the website iSpotSanta, featuring Dorf, which garnered millions of viewers.
2009: Dorf Joins iSpotSanta
In 2009, Tim Conway's Dorf character began making appearances on the website iSpotSanta, bringing his unique brand of humor to the holiday season.
June 2010: Supporting Chagrin Valley Little Theatre
Conway returned to his hometown of Chagrin Falls, Ohio, in June 2010 to participate in fundraising performances for the Chagrin Valley Little Theatre's capital campaign.
2010: Dorf DVD Collection Released
A comprehensive DVD collection featuring all of Tim Conway's Dorf films was released in 2010, complete with behind-the-scenes footage and commentary by Conway himself.
2010: Guest Appearances on Various Television Shows
Between 2010 and 2014, Conway made guest appearances on several TV shows, including "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "Hot in Cleveland," "WordGirl," "Batman: The Brave and the Bold," "Wizards of Waverly Place," "Mike & Molly," "Major Crimes," "Two and a Half Men," and "Glee."
2010: Conclusion of Voice Role in "Hermie and Friends"
Tim Conway finished recording for the animated series "Hermie and Friends" in 2010.
2012: Retirement as Barnacle Boy
Tim Conway retired from playing the character Barnacle Boy in 2012 following the death of his longtime friend and comedy partner, Ernest Borgnine.
2012: Tim Conway Concludes Role in "SpongeBob SquarePants"
Tim Conway concluded his voiceover work as Barnacle Boy in "SpongeBob SquarePants" in 2012.
2012: Voice Acting in "DreamWorks Dragons"
From 2012 to 2013, Conway provided the voice for the character Mulch in the "DreamWorks Dragons" series, specifically the "Riders of Berk" episodes.
November 20, 2013: Conversion to Catholicism
In an interview on November 20, 2013, Conway revealed his conversion to Catholicism.
2013: Appearance at Ghoulardi Fest
In 2013, Conway attended the Ghoulardi Fest to promote his book and pay tribute to his friend, Ernie Anderson, who created the Ghoulardi character.
2014: Guest Appearances on Various Television Shows
Between 2010 and 2014, Conway made guest appearances on several TV shows, including "CSI: Crime Scene Investigation," "Hot in Cleveland," "WordGirl," "Batman: The Brave and the Bold," "Wizards of Waverly Place," "Mike & Molly," "Major Crimes," "Two and a Half Men," and "Glee."
2014: Conway's Role in Murena's "Chip & Bernie's Zomance"
Pasquale Murena cast Conway in his debut feature film, the award-winning "Chip & Bernie's Zomance," released in 2014, where Conway brought his comedic style to the zombie genre.
2015: The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water
Tim Conway lent his voice to the character of the seagull in "The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water," which was released in 2015. This was one of his final acting roles.
2016: Role in "Chip & Bernie's Zomance"
Conway portrayed Professor VanVanguard, an expert on zombies, in the award-winning film "Chip & Bernie's Zomance" in 2016.
2016: Retirement from Acting
Tim Conway officially retired from acting in 2016 due to health issues.
September 2018: Health Issues and Retirement
In September 2018, it was revealed that Tim Conway had experienced health issues while recording for "The SpongeBob Movie: Sponge Out of Water" in 2015. These issues ultimately led to his retirement from acting in 2016.
2018: Promoting Classic Television on MeTV
In 2018, Conway appeared on the MeTV television network, promoting "The Carol Burnett Show" and other classic television series.
2018: Dementia Diagnosis and Legal Battles
Tim Conway was diagnosed with dementia related to normal pressure hydrocephalus in 2018. He underwent surgery for a ventricular shunt. Following his diagnosis, a legal battle ensued between his wife, Char, and his daughter, Kelly, regarding his conservatorship.
March 2019: Conservatorship Granted to Wife
In March 2019, a judge ruled in favor of Tim Conway's wife, Char, granting her conservatorship over his health. This decision followed a legal dispute with his daughter, Kelly, who had advocated for Conway to remain in home care.
May 14, 2019: Death of Tim Conway
Tim Conway passed away on May 14, 2019.