Harvey Korman worked hard for his success on The Carol Burnett Show and in Hollywood in general. The always-funny TV star didn’t always feel that way offscreen.

According to a 1971 interview with the Calgary Herald, when Korman was young and struggling, he believed happiness would mean earning a steady $75 a week as an actor.

However, during his time on The Carol Burnett Show, when he began making far more money than he ever imagined as a young performer, he realized money was not the key to happiness.

Watch The Carol Burnett Show on MeTV!

Weeknights at 11 PM

*available in most MeTV markets

"You have to go from little money to great money to appreciate the fact that a bank balance has nothing to do with happiness," Korman said.

He made no excuses for himself and acknowledged that, despite having it all, he still experienced unhappy days like everyone else.

"There’s a lot of anger in me," Korman said. "I don’t know if they’re new angers or old hostilities I’m just bringing to the surface now."

One surprising source of his unhappiness was his work on The Carol Burnett Show. While he loved everyone involved, he wanted more — and perhaps wanted to be center stage.

"I’m tired of being a little cog in a big wheel," Korman said. "After nine years, first with Danny Kaye and now with Carol, I’m tired of playing second banana."

With the success of The Carol Burnett Show, Korman still wondered what it could look like if he took another route. Whether it was a talk show or another show... would accomplishing that bring him the happiness he needed? 

Spoiler: Korman still didn't think so.

"Happiness comes from inside," Korman said. "And I’ve never been able to find much inner contentment. Even as a kid, I was given to moods and sullenness. I’ve found that as I’ve grown older, each new thing brings its own problem."

"All I can hope for now is longer periods of contentment," he continued. "Happiness, as I see it now, is not doing self-destructive things and being able to relate to family and self."

Korman regarded Carol Burnett as a star and someone he deeply loved. He remained on The Carol Burnett Show for 11 seasons before moving on to Mama’s Family. One can only hope he found a little bit of happiness along the way.