Don Saroyan was an American actor and film worker. He is best known as the first husband of Carol Burnett. He also worked in film, television, production, and sound.
He met Burnett while both studied theater at UCLA. They married in 1955. Their marriage lasted until 1962.
Quick Bio
| Detail | Information |
|---|---|
| Full name | Don Saroyan |
| Date of birth | October 4, 1928 |
| Birthplace | Omaha, Nebraska, United States |
| Nationality | American |
| Profession | Actor, production worker, sound department worker |
| Education | Studied theater arts at UCLA |
| Known for | Acting work and marriage to Carol Burnett |
| Spouse | Carol Burnett |
| Marriage date | December 15, 1955 |
| Divorce | 1962 |
| Film credits | Cuban Rebel Girls, Blast of Silence |
| TV credits | The Fugitive, McHale’s Navy, Airwolf |
| Date of death | November 24, 1990 |
| Place of death | Los Angeles, California |
| Age at death | 62 |
Early Life of Don Saroyan
Don Saroyan was born on October 4, 1928. His birthplace was Omaha, Nebraska. Public records give little detail about his early childhood.
He later moved into theater and acting. He studied theater arts at the University of California, Los Angeles. UCLA played a key part in his early life.
The school also brought him close to other young actors. One of them was Carol Burnett. Their friendship soon became a romance.
How Did Don Saroyan Meet Carol Burnett?
Saroyan met Carol Burnett at UCLA. Both were studying theater. They shared an interest in acting and stage work.
Burnett was still years away from major fame. She was a young student who wanted to work in entertainment. Saroyan had the same goal.
Their relationship grew during college. They later became a couple and planned a life together. Both were still trying to build careers at that time.
Don Saroyan and Carol Burnett’s Marriage
Don Saroyan married Carol Burnett on December 15, 1955. They were both young and still building their careers. Burnett had not yet become a national star.
The marriage covered some of Burnett’s early years in New York. She worked hard to find stage and TV jobs. Her career soon began to grow.
The couple stayed married for about seven years. Their divorce became final in 1962. They did not have children together.
Carol Burnett’s Rise to Fame
Carol Burnett started to gain wide notice during her marriage to Saroyan. Her stage work helped people see her strong comic skill. Her voice and timing also drew praise.
One major step came with Once Upon a Mattress. The Broadway musical opened in 1959. Burnett’s role helped raise her profile.
She also became known through The Garry Moore Show. Her work on television brought her into homes across the country. By the early 1960s, her name was much better known.
Carol Burnett After Her First Marriage
Burnett’s career kept growing after the divorce. She later became the star of The Carol Burnett Show. The series began in 1967.
The show became one of the best known comedy programs on American TV. Burnett worked with stars such as Harvey Korman, Vicki Lawrence, and Tim Conway. Her mix of comedy, music, and sketches made the show a major hit.
Her marriage to Saroyan belonged to an earlier part of her life. It ended before her biggest TV success. Still, it remains part of her early history.
What Movies Did Don Saroyan Appear In?
Don Saroyan worked in film during the late 1950s and early 1960s. One of his known credits was Cuban Rebel Girls. The film came out in 1959.
The movie starred Errol Flynn. It was one of Flynn’s final films. Saroyan played Johnny in the production.
He also appeared in Blast of Silence in 1961. The crime film was directed by Allen Baron. Saroyan played a character named Petey.
Don Saroyan in Blast of Silence
Blast of Silence follows a hitman named Frank Bono. The story takes place in New York during the Christmas season. It has a dark and tense style.
Saroyan appears as Petey. His role is part of the film’s small group of characters. The movie later gained notice among fans of crime films.
The film gave Saroyan another screen credit during his early career. It also placed him in a movie that later gained a cult following.
Don Saroyan’s Television Career
Don Saroyan also worked on television. His credits include The Fugitive. The drama was one of the best known TV shows of the 1960s.
The Fugitive starred David Janssen as Dr. Richard Kimble. Saroyan appeared in the series during its early run. The show mixed crime, drama, and suspense.
He also had work linked to McHale’s Navy. The comedy series was popular in the 1960s. It followed a group of Navy men during World War II.
Later Television Work
Saroyan kept working in television years after his divorce. One of his later credits came in Airwolf. The action series began in the 1980s.
He appeared as Coates in the episode “Fight Like a Dove.” The episode aired during the first season. Airwolf was known for its high tech helicopter and action stories.
His later credits show that his acting work lasted for many years. His career did not end when his marriage to Burnett ended.
Work Behind the Camera
Don Saroyan also held jobs behind the camera. Records list work in production and the sound department. These jobs were another part of his career.
Sound workers help manage audio for film and TV. Their work can include dialogue, sound effects, and other parts of the final track. Good sound is needed for a clear final product.
Production workers also help with daily work on a set. These jobs often get less public notice than acting. Saroyan worked in both areas.
Why Did Don Saroyan and Carol Burnett Divorce?
Don Saroyan and Carol Burnett divorced in 1962. The marriage had lasted from 1955 to 1962. Public records confirm the dates.
Burnett’s career had changed a lot by that time. She had moved from college theater into Broadway and national television. Her work schedule also became much busier.
The full private reasons for the divorce were not made public in detail. It is safer to stay with the known facts. The marriage ended in 1962, and both moved on with separate lives.
Life After the Divorce
Saroyan continued to work in entertainment after the marriage ended. His later acting credits show that he stayed connected to film and TV. He also kept doing behind the scenes work.
He did not live as a major public figure. Most public attention around his name came from his past marriage to Burnett. His own credits give a clearer view of his work.
There is little verified public detail about his private life after the divorce. For that reason, claims about later partners or family should be treated with care.
Did Don Saroyan Have Children With Carol Burnett?
Don Saroyan and Carol Burnett did not have children together. Their seven year marriage ended before Burnett started a family.
Burnett later married television producer Joe Hamilton in 1963. The couple had three daughters. Their names were Carrie Hamilton, Jody Hamilton, and Erin Hamilton.
Burnett and Hamilton later divorced in 1984. Burnett later married Brian Miller in 2001.
Don Saroyan’s Death
Don Saroyan died on November 24, 1990. He died in Los Angeles, California. He was 62 years old.
By that time, Burnett had already built a long career in comedy and television. Saroyan had remained much less famous. His own work stayed tied to acting and film production.
His death came almost three decades after his divorce from Burnett. His name still appears in records tied to film and television.
Don Saroyan’s Place in Carol Burnett’s Early Life
Saroyan was part of Burnett’s life before she became a major TV star. They met at UCLA and shared the same interest in theater. They also faced the early years of show business together.
Their marriage began in 1955. At that point, Burnett was still working to make her name. Her biggest success came after the marriage ended.
Their relationship is often noted because Saroyan was Burnett’s first husband. Yet he also had his own work in entertainment. He acted and worked on film crews for many years.
Don Saroyan’s Hollywood Career
Don Saroyan worked in more than one part of Hollywood. He appeared in films and TV shows. He also had jobs in production and sound.
His known film work includes Cuban Rebel Girls and Blast of Silence. His TV work includes The Fugitive and Airwolf. These credits cover more than one era of American screen history.
His career was smaller than Burnett’s, but it was active. He kept working long after their marriage ended. His credits remain part of his public record.
Final Thoughts
Don Saroyan was born in Omaha in 1928. He studied theater at UCLA and later worked in Hollywood. He became an actor and also worked in production and sound.
He married Carol Burnett in 1955. Their marriage lasted until 1962. Those years came during the early rise of Burnett’s career.
Saroyan died in Los Angeles in 1990 at age 62. His marriage to Burnett remains the best known part of his life. His film, TV, and crew work also form an important part of his career.
FAQs
Who was Don Saroyan?
Don Saroyan was an American actor and film worker. He is also known as the first husband of Carol Burnett.
When did Don Saroyan marry Carol Burnett?
He married Carol Burnett on December 15, 1955. Their marriage ended in divorce in 1962.
What movies did Don Saroyan appear in?
His known film credits include Cuban Rebel Girls and Blast of Silence. He played Petey in Blast of Silence.
Did Don Saroyan and Carol Burnett have children?
No. They did not have children during their marriage. Burnett later had three daughters with Joe Hamilton.
When did Don Saroyan die?
He died on November 24, 1990, in Los Angeles, California. He was 62 years old.