Kelly Conway, the eldest child and only daughter of the legendary comedian Tim Conway, often teased her dad about his favorite child. “He’d always say, ‘I can’t pick just one. I have six of you,’” Kelly recalls with a smile. “Dad was great at dividing his time equally among us, but there’s always something special about the bond between a dad and his daughter. We spent so much time together, it was unforgettable.”
Throughout his storied career, Tim Conway graced over 100 TV shows and films, creating unforgettable characters like Dorf. But it’s his role as the lovable sidekick on The Carol Burnett Show that cemented his place in comedy history. Despite his fame, Kelly’s childhood was anything but extravagant. Growing up in the then-quiet San Fernando Valley, her life was surprisingly normal. “My dad was such a down-to-earth guy that we didn’t even realize how famous he was until we were older,” Kelly shares. Her memoir, My Dad’s Funnier Than Your Dad: Growing Up With Tim Conway in the Funniest House in America, dives deep into her experiences growing up with a comedic legend. “He came from Cleveland, and my mom from Detroit. They raised us like Midwestern kids — simple, grounded, and without the Hollywood glitz. No one got a car on their 16th birthday!”
One of the perks of having a famous father was attending the Thursday night dress rehearsals at CBS. “Those nights were magical,” Kelly reminisces. “We’d hang out with the kids of Carol Burnett and Harvey Korman, and sneak peeks at shows like The Sonny & Cher Show and Three’s Company. It was like a backstage pass to the golden age of comedy. I truly had the best, luckiest childhood.”
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Every season’s end meant a family trip to Hawaii with the entire Carol Burnett Show crew. “Dad loved the Kahala Hotel. That’s where he seemed most at peace,” Kelly fondly remembers. “He’d unwind there, soaking in the beauty of the islands and just being Tim Conway — no cameras, no scripts, just pure relaxation.”
Life at Home: The Conway Family Legacy
Back at home, Tim was a man of many talents. He spent countless hours in his den, tapping away at the typewriter, crafting sketches that would later become comedy gold. “His mind was a nonstop comedy machine,” Kelly says. “He was always imagining scenarios, observing the world around him, and figuring out how to make it funny. He had a genius for humor.” Beyond writing, Tim, a skilled carpenter and tailor, built much of the furniture in their home and crafted his own props and costumes. “He had a workshop in the backyard where he taught us how to build things. We grew up surrounded by creativity and laughter.”
When it came to parenting, Tim let his wife handle the tough stuff. He preferred being the fun dad, often surprising the kids with unexpected adventures. “We practically grew up at the racetrack,” Kelly reveals. “Dad would sneak us out of school for opening day at Santa Anita Park, right before Christmas, without telling Mom. Those were some of the best memories.”
Even when he was out with his family, Tim made time for his fans. “What you saw on TV was exactly who he was in real life. People weren’t intimidated by him; they felt like they could approach him,” Kelly explains. “Fans would often comment on how well-behaved we were, and Dad would laugh and say, ‘Oh, they’re wild! You just don’t see it.’” Losing her dad in 2019 at the age of 85 was devastating, but Kelly cherishes the legacy he left behind. “He was a one-of-a-kind man who brought joy to so many people. I’m so grateful for the time we had together.”
