Vicki Lawrence (born Victoria Ann Axelrad on March 26, 1949 in Inglewood, California) acts/Vicki-Lawrence.htm" target="_blank">http://delafont.com/specialty_acts/Vicki-Lawrence.htm is an _Emmy Award-winning actress, frequent game show panelist of the 1970s and 1980s, comedian, and singer. She is best known for her co-starring role on The Carol Burnett Show, alongside Carol Burnett, from 1967 to 1978, and as the sharp-tongued matriarch, Thelma Harper (the main character on Mama's Family, airing from 1983 to 1990, which was spun off from The Carol Burnett Show's The Family sketches).

She has also been credited as Vicki Lawrence Schultz; Schultz being the surname of her second husband and Hollywood make-up artist, Al Schultz, to whom she has been married since November 16 1974, and by whom she has two children, Courtney (born May 3 1975) and Garrett (born July 3 1977).

She is a graduate of Morningside High School in Inglewood.

Her recording of then husband Bobby Russell (I)'s song "The Night The Lights Went Out In Georgia" was number one on Billboard magazine's Hot 100 chart for two weeks in April 1973, reached the Top 40 of Billboard's Hot Country Singles chart, and earned a Gold Record

Her former husband, Bobby Russell (I), wrote the popular tunes, "Little Green Apples" and Bobby Goldsboro's "Honey."

Daughter, Courtney Allison Schultz, born May 5th, 1975 Son, Garrett Lawrence Schultz, born July 3rd, 1977

Hit #1 in Australia in 1973 with "He Did With Me" (written by Harry Lloyd and Gloria Sklerov)

She is a huge game show fan and guest-starred on many game shows including _"The $10,000 Pyramid" (1973)_, _"Super Password" (1984) _, and "Match Game 73" (1973). She also hosted the daytime edition of "Win, Lose or Draw" (1987) for NBC and on her TV show "Mama's Family" (1983), she was a contestant on "Jeopardy!" (1984) She did a salute to game shows and their hosts on her talk show "Vicki!" (1992) during the 1990s.

She is the sister of make-up artist, Joni Lawrence.

With the exception of Eric Brown (I) (Buzz), Karin Argoud (Sonja), and Allan Kayser (Bubba), she was the youngest regularly appearing actress in the cast of "Mama's Family" (1983), even though her character was the oldest. Ken Berry (I) (Vinton), Dorothy Lyman (Naomi), Rue McClanahan (Aunt Fran), Betty White (I) (Ellen), and Beverly Archer (Iola) are all actually older.

While a member of the singing group, "The Young Americans" a journalist reviewing a concert mentioned Lawrence's resemblance to Carol Burnett. Lawrence sent the clipping to Burnett, along with an invitation to attend a performance of "Miss Fireball Contest" in which Lawrence was performing. Burnett did attend and Lawrence was subsequently hired to play Burnett's kid sister in "Carol Burnett Show, The" (1967).

Still dresses up as Mama when performing to this day.

With the exception of Eric Brown (Buzz), Karin Argoud (Sonja), and Allan Kayser (Bubba), Vicki Lawrence was the youngest regularly appearing actress in the cast of Mama's Family, even though her character was the oldest. Ken Barry (Vinton), Dorothy Lyman (Naomi), Rue Maclanahan (Aunt Fran), Betty White (Ellen), Carol Burnett (Eunice), and Beverly Archer (Iola) are all actually older.