Carol Burnett Becomes Oldest Female Emmy Nominee at Age 91

Carol Burnett attends the premiere of "Bob Mackie: Naked Illusion" at the Directors Guild of America in Los Angeles, Calif. on May 13, 2024. (Valerie Macon/AFP via Getty Images)

Comedienne and actress Carol Burnett has received an Emmy nomination, making her the oldest female comedy nominee.

The 91-year-old was nominated for her role in the Apple TV + series “Palm Royale.”

This marks Ms. Burnett’s first nomination in the comedy supporting actress category and her first for a regular role on a non-sketch series.

But this nomination is her 24th overall. Her last acting Emmy win was in 1997 for guest actress in a comedy for “Mad About You,” and she recently won her seventh Emmy for co-producing her birthday special, “90 Years of Love + Laughter”.

Ms. Burnett stars in all 10 episodes of the first season of “Palm Royale” as Norma Dellacorte, the comatose aunt-in-law to Kristen Wiig’s character.

She is up against fellow nominees Liza Colón-Zayas (“The Bear”), Hannah Einbinder (“Hacks”), Janelle James (“Abbott Elementary”), Sheryl Lee Ralph (“Abbott Elementary”), and Meryl Streep (“Only Murders in the Building”).

Comedy Trailblazer

Ms. Burnett’s career began with her breakout role in the 1959 Broadway musical “Once Upon a Mattress,” which earned her a Tony Award nomination.

She soon gained national attention on “The Garry Moore Show,” winning her first Emmy Award in 1962.

In 1967, she launched “The Carol Burnett Show” on CBS, a variety program featuring comedy sketches, musical numbers, and guest stars, which ran for 11 years and became one of the most beloved shows in television history. The show garnered numerous Emmy and Golden Globe Awards, solidifying Ms. Burnett as a household name.

Her film appearances include notable roles in “Pete ‘n’ Tillie” (1972), “Annie” (1982), and “Noises Off” (1992), while her television roles include a memorable performance in “Mad About You,” for which she won an Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series.

Comedian and actress Carol Burnett puts her hands into the block of cement during her Hand and Footprint ceremony in the courtyard of the TCL Chinese Theater in Hollywood, Calif., on June 20, 2024. (Frederic J. Brown/AFP via Getty Images)

Her accolades include seven Primetime Emmy Awards, a Tony Award, a Grammy Award, seven Golden Globe Awards, the Presidential Medal of Freedom (2005), the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor (2013), and the Screen Actors Guild Life Achievement Award (2015).

She continues performing guest appearances on various TV shows, including “Better Call Saul” and “Glee.”

Nonagenarian Emmy Nominees

Ms. Burnett’s potential Emmy win would break new ground as she would become the first nonagenarian to secure an acting award in any category.

Betty White, who passed away in 2021, still holds the title of the oldest Emmy winner in an acting category, having clinched a fifth award at the age of 88 for guest hosting “Saturday Night Live” in 2010.

Regardless of the outcome this fall, Ms. Burnett joins a prestigious group of nonagenarian Emmy nominees. The only other actress to have achieved this feat in her 90s is Cicely Tyson, who received five nominations for her role as a guest actress in a drama for “How to Get Away with Murder,” with her most recent nod at age 95.

Among male actors, Eli Wallach was nominated twice in his 1990s: first for guest actor in a comedy for “Studio 60” on the Sunset Strip at 91, and later for guest actor in a drama for “Nurse Jackie” at 94.

Additionally, Ernest Borgnine was nominated at 92 for his guest actor role in a drama for “ER” in 2009.

In a related highlight, at age 98, Dick Van Dyke became the oldest Daytime Emmy winner last month, earning an award for his guest performance on “Days of Our Lives.”

The 2024 Emmys will be broadcast live on Sept. 15 at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on ABC.