Pat McCormick (actor)

Pat McCormick
Born	(1927-06-30)June 30, 1927 Lakewood, Ohio,U.S.
Died	July 29, 2005(2005-07-29)(aged 78) Los Angeles,California, U.S.
Alma mater	Harvard University
Occupation(s)	Actor, comedy writer
Years active	1957–1997
Height	6 ft 7 in (2.01 m)
Children	Ben McCormick

Pat McCormick(June 30, 1927 – July 29, 2005)was an American actor and comedy writer known for playing Big Enos Burdette inSmokey and the Banditand its two sequels. He wrote for a number of performers such asRed Skelton,Phyllis DillerandJohnny Carsonas well as for shows includingGet Smart.McCormick had a distinctive appearance being 6'7 "tall, weighing 250 lbs and having awalrus mustache.

Early life

McCormick was born inLakewood, Ohio,on June 30, 1927. He was a 1945 graduate ofRocky River High School.

Career

McCormick was a high school athlete and served in theUnited States ArmyduringWorld War II.He then enrolled atHarvard Universityas a freshman in the autumn of 1947 where he playedbasketballthat year. He later dropped basketball to concentrate on track (hurdles). He dropped out ofHarvard Law Schoolfor a career in advertising, but abandoned that career as well when he started writing jokes for television and standup comedians, includingJonathan Winters.Eventually, he became a writer forThe Jack Paar Show.He wrote forGet Smart,The Danny Kaye Showand wrote and appeared onCandid Camera.He was also a member of theI've Got a Secretproduction staff in the early 1960s.

McCormick was both the announcer and straight man forDon RicklesonThe Don Rickles Showin 1968. He was a regular onThe New Bill Cosby Showin 1972. Behind the scenes, he was one of the lead writers onThe Tonight Showwriting many of its most well-known lines. He wrote the line "Due to today's earthquake, the God is Dead rally has been canceled." As part of a skit on a Jonathan Winters special McCormick, as a court jester, quipped to the regally-attired Winters "Is that a scepter in your pocket, or are you just happy to see me?" a quite risque line for early 1970s television.

His first screen performance was inThe Shaggy D.A.in 1976. He played PresidentGrover ClevelandinRobert Altman'sBuffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lessonin the same year. In 1977, he appeared inSmokey and the Banditand appeared in the sequels in both 1980 and 1983, alongsidePaul Williamsas wealthy con men Big and Little Enos Burdette respectively. Pat appeared in the 1982 TV movieRooster,which also starred Williams. In 1984 he co-starred in theGeorge CarlinHBOTV showApt. 2Cof which only the pilot episode was ever made. He appeared as the Ghost of Christmas Present in a TV production in the Bill Murray comedyScroogedin 1988, with his final appearance being inTed & Venus.

On March 26, 1974, Johnny Carson's Tonight Show monologue was interrupted by McCormick streaking across the stage, done on a bet with the rest of the writing staff.

Retirement and death

Living inPalm Springs, California,in 1996, McCormick retired in 1998 after being left partly paralyzed by astroke.According to fellow writerMark Evanier,McCormick was driving to the Beverly Hilton Hotel when he suffered a stroke and crashed his car into a concrete wall. The vehicle caught fire, but a woman named Danielle Villegas pulled him out and dragged him to safety before the car exploded.McCormick was admitted to theMotion Picture and Television Country House and HospitalinWoodland Hills, California,where he spent the remainder of his life. He died there seven years later, aged 78.

He was interred inForest Lawn Memorial Parkin Hollywood Hills. He was survived by a son, Ben, and two grandsons.

Filmography

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1970	The Phynx	Father O'Hoolihan
1975	If You Don't Stop It... You'll Go Blind	Himself - Awards Emcee
1976	Buffalo Bill and the Indians, or Sitting Bull's History Lesson	President of the United States
1976	The Shaggy D.A.	Bartender
1977	Smokey and the Bandit	Big Enos
1977	Can I Do It... 'Til I Need Glasses?	Himself
1978	A Wedding	Mackenzie Goddard
1979	Hot Stuff	Man with Cigars
1979	Scavenger Hunt	Carnival Barker
1979	Mr. Horn	John Noble
1980	Smokey and the Bandit II	Big Enos
1980	The Gong Show Movie	Himself
1981	History of the World, Part I	Plumbing Salesman - The Roman Empire
1981	Under the Rainbow	Tiny
1983	Smokey and the Bandit Part 3	Big Enos Burdette
1983	Likely Stories, Vol. 3	Doctor
1984	E. Nick: A Legend in His Own Mind	Sonny Patterson
1985	Doin' Time	Fallis
1985	Bombs Away	The Dispatcher
1988	Rented Lips	Winky
1988	Scrooged	Ghost of Christmas Present (TV)
1988	Beverly Hills Vamp	Prof. Sommerset
1990	Nerds of a Feather	Professor
1990	Chinatown Connection	Flynn
1991	Ted & Venus	Marcia's Elderly Boyfriend
1992	Broadway Bound	Announcer	Voice
1992	Take It Back	Judge

External links

• Pat McCormickatIMDb