Comedian, sitcom writer and actor was 93

Mitzi McCall, the groundbreaking comedian, actress and half of the comedy duo McCall and Brill, died Thursday in Burbank. She was 93.

Born on September 9, 1930 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, her comedic talents were evident early in her life, leading to an impressive career that spanned more than seven decades. She emerged as a prominent voice in the male-dominated comedy world and paved the way for future generations of female comedians.

McCall’s legacy is perhaps most lastingly marked by her work with her husband, actor and comedian Charlie Brill, as part of the comedy duo ‘McCall and Brill’. The pair became a fixture on television, appearing on countless variety shows, including a memorable appearance on “The Ed Sullivan Show” during The Beatles’ American debut in 1964 – a moment that has since become television history.

Mitzi’s career began in the late 1940s with a stage debut at the Pittsburgh Playhouse in “Strange Bedfellows” in 1948. In the early 1950s, she hosted the Kiddie Castle program on KDKA-TV in Pittsburgh, establishing herself as a versatile and engaging performer. In 1953, she was seen on Studio 10 on KGTV in San Diego, California.

Her television career included appearances on shows such as ‘Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In’, ‘Life Goes On’, ‘Silk Stalkings’, ‘Seinfeld’, ‘Roseanne’, ‘Dharma and Greg’, ‘Becker’, ‘The Twilight Zone’ . ‘ and ‘Zack and Cody’s suite life.’

In addition to her work on camera, McCall enjoyed a successful career as a voice-over artist, bringing characters to life in animated series such as “Snorks,” “Mother Goose and Grimm,” “The Pebbles and Bamm-Bamm Show,” “The Flintstones” and “The Jetsons.” She also voiced Glyptodon in the animated film ‘Ice Age’.

McCall’s film career included roles in ‘The White Palace’, ‘The Cry Baby Killer’, ‘Machine-Gun Kelly’, ‘War of the Satellites’ and ‘Young at Heart’. She has worked with entertainment legends such as Jerry Lewis, Dean Martin and Robin Williams.

In addition to her work in front of the camera, McCall was also a talented screenwriter, contributing to such popular television programs as “Eight is Enough,” “One Day at a Time,” “Alf” and “Charles in Charge.” She was also a mentor and bright spot to many in the industry, known for her “warmth, generosity and unwavering support for fellow artists,” according to her publicist.

She mentored many in the entertainment industry, providing guidance and encouragement to the next generation of artists.

She is survived by her husband of 64 years, Charlie Brill, their daughter Jenny and nieces Toni Howard and Wendy Goldberg. Mitzi is also survived by her godchildren, actors Melissa and Sara Gilbert.