The Character
The Oldest Man is known for his signature shuffle, created by his absurdly slow movements. As the Oldest Man, Conway wears a rumpled white wig, typically along with a suit, and speaks in a slurred, droning voice. The character was created by writer and actor Tim Conway, who began as a recurring guest on The Carol Burnett Show before becoming a series regular beginning with the 1975-1976 season.
The Oldest Man appears in a variety of situations, performing a new type of role in each sketch. Some of the most notable including a slave in a galley ship, a fireman, a clock-maker, a butcher, and a shoe store clerk. Most often, the character plays opposite straight-man Harvey Korman, who reacts with frustration and anger to the Oldest Man's lingering pace and unhelpful charades.
The Oldest Man is a strong example of slapstick comedy and clown acting, as the character typically performs exaggerated physical stunts and often injures himself comically in the process. For example, playing the grandfather character to Marion, Conway takes a drastically slow tumble down the stairs in one "As the Stomach Turns" sketch, aired Oct. 20, 1976, or in “The Oldest Torturer” sketch, aired Dec. 6, 1975, he slowly burns himself with a hot iron.
The Oldest Man appears in a variety of situations, performing a new type of role in each sketch. Some of the most notable including a slave in a galley ship, a fireman, a clock-maker, a butcher, and a shoe store clerk. Most often, the character plays opposite straight-man Harvey Korman, who reacts with frustration and anger to the Oldest Man's lingering pace and unhelpful charades.
The Oldest Man is a strong example of slapstick comedy and clown acting, as the character typically performs exaggerated physical stunts and often injures himself comically in the process. For example, playing the grandfather character to Marion, Conway takes a drastically slow tumble down the stairs in one "As the Stomach Turns" sketch, aired Oct. 20, 1976, or in “The Oldest Torturer” sketch, aired Dec. 6, 1975, he slowly burns himself with a hot iron.