How Vicki Lawrence got her sparkle back!
Known for her iconic characters on The Carol Burnett Show and her hilarious hit sitcom, Mama’s Family, it’s no wonder Emmy Award–winner Vicki Lawrence, 69, is one of the most beloved actresses and comedians of her generation. But not long ago, career setbacks, depression and a chronic illness threatened to dim her sparkle. Here, Vicki reveals what carried her back to joy… and how she’s now having the last laugh
Ever since her gumption and humor caught the eye of comedy legend Carol Burnett in 1967, Vicki Lawrence has been using her razor-sharp wit, memorable characters and uncensored joy to make audiences laugh for more than 50 years. From her breakout role on The Carol Burnett Show to her beloved sitcom Mama’s Family, and most recently touring the country with her “two-woman” show, Vicki Lawrence & Mama, Vicki has built a true legacy of laughter. But behind the scenes, her story hasn’t always been as funny as it seemed: Vicki experienced a major career setback after being fired from her talk show in her mid40s, and it took its toll on her mental and physical health. “That was the toughest thing I’ve ever faced,” Vicki tells Woman’s World. “My career has always been a gift, and I love it—but I experienced so much abuse behind the scenes that when I was ultimately let go, I fell into a deep depression.” Soon, despair began to weave its way into Vicki’s daily life. “I couldn’t wait for it to get dark so I could just crawl back into bed every day,” she admits. “I lost touch with my friends, and worst of all, I lost all of my joy…and sense of humor.”
But after three years of struggling, one day Vicki came across a sign that changed her life. “I was walking along a beach and in the sand, staring up at me like the Ten Commandments, was this book called Your Body Believes Every Word You Say,” she recalls. “The book was written by a doctor, and it was like a light switch went on in me. I thought, I need to do something to take care of myself before I do something really bad. And that changed everything. I decided I wanted to laugh again—i wanted to make people laugh again!” Slowly Vicki healed and returned to the stage feeling stronger than ever. Read on for her tips to finding joy and laughter—no matter what seems to stand in your way.