RIP Lyle Waggoner

1935-2020

Lyle Wesley Waggoner was born in Kansas City, Kansas. A former model, he was best known for his work on “The Carol Burnett Show” from 1967 to 1974, and for playing the role of Steve Trevor on “Wonder Woman” from 1975 to 1979.

Waggoner worked with Lucille Ball for all four of Ball’s appearances on “The Carol Burnett Show.” The first was on October 2, 1967, Carol’s fourth show of the series. Lucy and Carol stand in front of the curtain for some banter. At Lucy’s insistence, Carol introduces her to Lyle Waggoner. Much to Carol’s dismay, the two share a prolonged kiss and leave together. 

Waggoner was also the show’s announcer. He appeared with the cast at the end of each episode as Carol tugged on her ear and said goodnight. 

A year later, on November 4, 1968, Lucy returned to Carol’s show. Eddie Albert and Nancy Wilson were also guest stars. Lyle played the handsome stranger at the door in “As The Stomach Turns”, the show’s soap opera satire.

Carol (as Marion) and Lucy (as Laura Peterson) are widows and funeral groupies. They get a visit from Julia (Nancy Wilson), the town’s first negro. [Note: This the exact word used. This episode was aired at the height of the civil rights movement and also satirizes the TV show “Julia” starring Diahann Carroll, the first black woman to play a lead in a sitcom.]

On November 24, 1969 Lucille Ball was again on “The Carol Burnett Show”.  George Carlin was also a guest. A highlight was a spoof of Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, a controversial 1969 film about two couples who end up in bed together. Bob was played by Lyle Waggoner, Carol was Carol Burnett, Ted Harvey Korman, and Alice was played by Lucille Ball.  Finally, Lucy gets Lyle into bed!  

Ted: “I’m afraid the neighbors will talk.”
Alice:“No, they won’t.”
Carol:“Why not?”
Alice:“We’re the neighbors.”

In the final sketch, Lucy and Carol play the Rock Sisters, a vaudeville duo who finally get work again as senior citizens. Lyle Waggoner played the theatre manager who fired the act from his vaudeville theatre. 

The fourth and final time Lucy and Lyle performed together on “The Carol Burnett Show” was on October 19, 1970. Lucille Ball and Carol Burnett portray stage mothers pushing their precocious offspring in an audition, and star in a spoof of Some Like It Hot. Mel Torme is the musical guest.

Their final appearance on the same show was on “Dinah’s Place” hosted by Dinah Shore on June 24, 1974, although Lyle and Lucy were in different segments. Ball talks about her role in Mame and demonstrates ballet-barre exercises. Waggoner shows how to construct an art deco table.

Although Lucille Ball was not involved, Lucie Arnaz and Lyle Waggoner performed together on “The Magical World of Disney” celebrating the opening of Space Mountain on March 23, 1975. He was just about to start shooting “Wonder Woman” and she was a few months into playing Kim Carter on “Here’s Lucy.” 

In 1979, he left acting and founded Star Waggons, a company that leases customized location trailers for use by the entertainment industry.  Since 1961, he was married to Sharon Kennedy, with whom he had two children.  He died on March 17, 2020 at age 84