Moved to Hollywood with her grandmother, where she was raised in a boarding house

Stage debut in a production of "Annie, Get Your Gun" at UCLA

Was given $1000 by a benefactor (who saw her perform at a society party) to go to New York and launch her professional career on the condition of anonymity and the promise to repay the money by helping others if she ever became a success

Moved to NYC at age 21 and performed in industrial shows

Organized "The Rehearsal Club Revue of 1955" which led to her TV debut

TV debut on th Saturday morning children's program "Paul Winchell Show" as dummy Jerry Mahoney's girlfriend

First appeared on Garry Moore's daytime variety program in the fall

Played Celia, Buddy Hackett's girlfriend, on the short-lived TV sitcom, "Stanley" (NBC)

New York nightclub debut at the Blue Angel (August)

Song she introduced in New York cabarets, "I Made a Fool of Myself Over John Foster Dulles"; landed her guest spots on the Jack Paar and Ed Sullivan shows

Was a regular panelist on TV quiz program, "Pantomime Quiz"

Broadway debut as Princess Winifred in "Once Upon a Mattress"

Joined the primetime variety series, "The Garry Moore Show" (CBS) as a regular

Offered a ten-year, $1 million contract for her exclusive services by CBS

Appeared as a klutzy usher helped by a bungling apprentice angel in "Cavender Is Coming" on the "Twilight Zone"

Co-starred with Julie Andrews on TV special, "Julie and Carol at Carnegie Hall"

Film debut, "Who's Been Sleeping in My Bed?"

Returned to Broadway to star in the musical, "Fade Out, Fade In"

Hosted variety series, "The Entertainers" on a rotating basis with Bob Newhart and Catarina Valente

Played recurring role of a tough career marine on the popular CBS sitcom, "Gomer Pyle, U.S.M.C."

Headlined (also produced) the CBS comedy-variety program, "The Carol Burnett Show" (later syndicated as "Carol Burnett and Friends")

Appeared on stage at the Huntington Hartford Theater in "Plaza Suite" (1970) and "Same Time, Next Year" (1977)

Played four roles (three sisters and their mother) in the first TV adaptation of the four-part stage comedy-drama, "Twigs"

Founded an independent production company, Kalola Productions, with Marcia Brandwynne

Published her memoir, One More Time

Starred in short-lived comedy anthology, "Carol & Company" (NBC)

Returned to TV with new CBS variety hour, "The Carol Burnett Show" (also debut as executive producer)

Returned to Broadway after 30 years in comedy with "Moon Over Buffalo"; earned a Tony nomination; show was subject of a behind-the-scenes documentary "Moon Over Broadway"

Appeared as the mother of Jamie Buchman (Helen Hunt) on the NBC sitcom "Mad About You"

Returned to Broadway musicals as the star of "Putting It Together" a revue of Stephen Sondheim songs

Co-wrote with daughter Carrie the Broadway play "Hollywood Arms" adapted from Burnett's bestselling memoir

Played the villainous Queen Aggravainin in the ABC production of "Once Upon a Mattress"

Guest-starred on ABC's "Desperate Housewives" as Bree Van de Kamp's (Marcia Cross) stepmother

Voiced Sour Kangaroo in the animated feature, "Dr. Seuss' Horton Hears a Who!"

Earned an Emmy nomination for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series for her role in "Law and Order: SVU" as faded ballet star Bridget 'Birdie' Sulloway

Played Alexis Bledel's eccentric mother in the film, "Post Grad"