Carol Burnett and her spouse have had a low-profile relationship for nearly two decades. He once urged her to complete a project she and her daughter had begun before her death. During a family issue, he became the legal guardian of Burnett’s grandson.
Carol Burnett’s third marriage began quietly, but it quickly became crucial to the most personal aspects of her life. Brian Miller, 23 years her junior, joined her life at a pivotal moment. Just weeks after their wedding, the couple experienced a devastating family tragedy. What followed revealed the silent role he would continue to play.
Brian’s influence expanded much beyond their marriage during the next two decades. He supported Carol throughout a grief-related artistic endeavor and subsequently joined her in taking legal action to protect a kid in their care. Their friendship has stayed primarily hidden, but its influence has been palpable in the times that mattered most.
Early years, first marriages, and meeting her current husband
Carol was born on April 26, 1933. She rose to national prominence through her work on television, most notably “The Carol Burnett Show.” Before meeting her present spouse, she had been married twice and had three children.
Her first marriage was with actor Don Saroyan. The pair married in December 1955 and divorced in September 1962. Don gained recognition for his roles in films such as “Cuban Rebel Girls” and “Blast of Silence.” He went away in November 1990.
Carol married producer and director Joe Hamilton in May 1963, only a few months after her first divorce. Joe, a key player in “The Carol Burnett Show,” was the father of her three kids, Carrie, Jody, and Erin. The marriage ended in divorce as well. Joe died in June 1991.
Carol first met Brian in the late 1990s when attending a gig in Long Beach, California. Brian was the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra’s lead drummer and contractor at the time. Their romance started quietly and out of the public view.
Carol was 68 years old when they married, and Brian was 45, making him 23 years younger than her. Carol addressed the age difference openly, stating, “He’s humorous and not easily intimidated. As we become older, the age difference narrows. If you were 40 and married a 20-year-old, I doubt you would be able to converse as well as [we are]”.
In a different chat, she said, “You’re looking at a cougar, uhuh.” She also described Brian as a “throwback.” He’s excellent, with a wonderful sense of humor and a successful job. We simply enjoy the same things; therefore, it’s a pretty pleasant relationship.”
Carol had been unmarried for some years before they met. Carol’s daughters had grown up, but her work continued to keep her occupied. What began as a fortuitous meeting would eventually evolve into a long-term partnership, happening amid a period of significant personal development. Carrie, Carol’s eldest daughter, was at the core of this transition.
Carrie Hamilton: Addiction, Recovery, and Career
Carol’s eldest daughter, Carrie Hamilton, suffered with substance abuse as a teenager. Carol subsequently said that she enrolled Carrie in three different recovery clinics before she became sober at 17. “I put her in a third rehab facility, and oh my God, she hated me,” Carol later explained. “I came to the conclusion that I had to love her enough to let her hate me.”
Following her rehabilitation, Carrie pursued acting and writing. She appeared in the television series “Fame” and occasionally collaborated with her mother in theater and television. Carol stated that they finally connected via their artistic endeavors and worked together on three productions.
One of those efforts was a play based on Carol’s book, “One More Time,” which the two wrote together. Carol described her daughter as someone who enjoyed connecting with others. She stated that Carrie would pay homeless individuals $10 for their experiences, which she would then utilize as material for her writing.
“She never met a stranger,” Carol later said. “She also loved to write.” By the early 2000s, the play she and Carrie had written was in production with director Hal Prince. During this period, Carrie’s health deteriorated. Around the same time, Carol and Brian decided to marry.
Just married and grieving, Carrie.
Carol and Brian married on November 24, 2001, after having been together for some years. Tragically, Carrie died two months later, on January 20, 2002, at the age of 38. Her cause of death was pneumonia, which resulted from cancer that started in her lungs and advanced to her brain.
Carrie’s death was so terrible for her mother that she was unable to get out of bed, although the play they co-wrote, “Hollywood Arms,” was about to premiere across the world. Brian was the one who urged her to press forward. “My husband[…] said, ‘Carol, you owe this not only to Carrie but you owe it to Hal to finish,'” she told me.
Carol and Brian then went to Chicago for previews at the Goodman Theatre. Carol whispered a quick prayer to Carrie on the aircraft, hoping for a sign that she would not be alone. When they arrived at their hotel, they found a big arrangement of birds-of-paradise flowers in the room.
“She had a bird of paradise tattooed on her right shoulder,” Carol told me. She subsequently found out that Hal had instructed hotel workers to provide something “exotic.” Carol, Brian, and Hal went out to dinner the following evening, when the maître d’ offered them a complimentary bottle of champagne.
The label on the bottle said “Louise,” Carrie’s middle name and Carol’s mother’s name. On the first night, it rained. “Carrie and I were nuts for the rain,” Carol added. Carol remembers those details. So did Brian, who remained a constant presence in her life over the years.
Shared routines and rare appearances
Carol and Brian have kept a low profile for many years, making few public appearances. Carol reported a peaceful, controlled home life in interviews conducted in the early 2020s, as well as how they spent their time together. “We do crossword puzzles.” We read. We watch TV. We go on walks. We own a cat. “Her name is Nikki,” she explained.
Carol also said that they frequently rewatched beloved films, such as “Singin’ in the Rain,” which she claimed she knew “by heart.” She continued by saying, “I can always watch it again—and again and again.” She noted that she watches the news on a daily basis and cited Jake Tapper, Rachel Maddow, and Randy Rainbow as her favorite broadcasters.
One of the couple’s infrequent public appearances was in May 2022, when they were observed celebrating Mother’s Day at a restaurant in Montecito, only days after she turned 89.
An eyewitness stated, “Whenever Brian talked, Carol was completely focused on him. They sang and hummed show tunes while waiting for lunch, which was cute.
Carol clutched Brian’s arm as they went carefully to the valet stand. In addition to their calm existence at home, Carol and Brian shared a more official obligation during a family crisis.
Supporting Carol with Family Responsibilities
Carol and Brian petitioned the Los Angeles Superior Court in August 2020 to be designated as temporary legal guardians of Carol’s 14-year-old grandson, Dylan. The court granted the request on September 1, 2020.
According to the petition, Carol’s daughter Erin’s continuous difficulties with drug misuse have hampered her capacity to care for her kid. Court paperwork gave Carol and Brian the right to make decisions about Dylan’s schooling, housing, and overall well-being.
The guardianship was allowed until January 8, 2021. Carol clarified that the petition did not aim to halt Dylan’s visits with his parents. “Guardianship will be for oversight purposes concerning his health, education, and welfare and not intended to deny him or the parents proper visitation,” according to her.
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The court accepted Brian’s long-standing role in Dylan’s life, adding, “Although Brian is not Dylan’s biological grandfather, he has known Dylan for Dylan’s entire life and loves him like his grandson.” Dylan’s father, Tony West, had lately entered a rehabilitation clinic and was unable to provide care.
He wanted to move to Nevada but couldn’t afford it, per the complaint. Their shared guardianship was another indication of Brian’s support, and Carol continued to take on new tasks into her 90s.
Carol, 91: Still Working and Looking Ahead
The 91-year-old actress, singer, and comedienne continues to work on television. In March 2024, she starred in the historical drama “Palm Royale,” set in Florida’s high society circles.
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Carol discussed the project, saying, “When they phoned me about doing it, I didn’t even have to read a screenplay. I said, ‘I’m in’.” She also hoped that the program would be continued for a second season, allowing her to continue working beyond her 92nd year.
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“I want to have fun,” she responded. “I always approach it as something fresh that I’ve never done before, so I’m just glad to be working and have all of my parts. I have my hips, knees, and, I believe, my intellect, so as long as I can maintain them and work, I want to work.”
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More than two decades after their wedding, Brian stays out of the spotlight while remaining closely connected to Carol Burnett’s day-to-day life. Their time together has included family challenges, personal losses, and steady routines — but also work, travel, and creative commitments.