by Tim Conway
First published 2013
Tim Conway opens his memoir by looking back at seven decades of making people laugh. The six-time Emmy winner traces his comedy journey from childhood pranks in Depression-era Ohio through his Army service to becoming a household name on television. Conway reveals how his upbringing by eccentric parents in a small town shaped his comedic sensibilities. He details his military experience that later informed his work on McHale's Navy. The book follows his rise to national stardom and the creation of beloved characters like Mr. Tudball, the Oldest Man, Mickey Hart, and Dorf. Conway shares stories from the golden age of The Carol Burnett Show and his collaborations with comedy legends Harvey Korman, Don Knotts, Dick Van Dyke, Betty White, Vicki Lawrence, Bob Newhart, and Carol Burnett herself. He includes previously untold behind-the-scenes stories from both McHale's Navy and The Carol Burnett Show. Throughout, Conway maintains his trademark humor while telling an inspiring story of rising from humble beginnings to comedy stardom.
Genres: biography, autobiography, memoir, comedy
Vibes: emotional, intimate, thought-provoking
Tropes: memoir, rise-to-fame
Setting: Ohio
Period: Depression-era, Golden Age of Television
272 pages · Hardcover · Howard Books