Comedian Vicki Lawrence got her big break in show business with a prominent role on the 70's sketch comedy series The Carol Burnette Show. The California native was particularly popular for her recurring character of "Mama," which earned her a successful spin-off, the sitcom Mama's Family, which ran from 1986 to 1990. She would go on to also enjoy runs on shows like Hannah Montana, and also had a career as a successful singer, reaching number one in 1973 with the song "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia".
Vicki Lawrence
Share on
Biography by AllMovie
Movie Highlights
Factsheet
- Was voted Most Likely to Succeed by her graduating class in 1967.
- Sang with the Young Americans musical group from 1965 to '67.
- Met future husband Al Schultz in 1968 when he was hired to be the head make-up artist on The Carol Burnett Show.
- Had a No. 1 hit in 1973 with "The Night the Lights Went Out in Georgia," written by then-husband Bobby Russell, who originally offered it to Cher.
- Autobiography, Vicki!: The True-Life Adventures of Miss Fireball, was published in 1995.
- Has been nominated for Daytime Emmys for her game-show and talk-show hosting work.
- Is a yacht-racing enthusiast.