Carol Burnett, 91, Is Married to a Man 23 Years Younger Who Supported Her After Her Daughter’s Tragic Death – Photos of the Couple

Carol Burnett’s husband once encouraged her to finish a project that she and her daughter had started before her passing. The same man later became a legal guardian to Burnett’s grandson during a family crisis. Their low-profile bond has lasted more than two decades.

Carol Burnett’s third marriage began without fanfare, but it soon became central to the most private parts of her life. Brian Miller, 23 years her junior, entered her world at a time of major change. Just weeks after their wedding, the couple faced a sudden family tragedy. What followed showed the quiet role he would continue to play.

Over the next two decades, Brian’s presence grew in ways that went beyond their marriage. He stood by Carol during a creative project tied to grief and later joined her in a legal step to protect a child in their care. Their relationship has remained mostly out of view. But its impact has been clear in the moments that mattered most.

Early Life, First Marriages, and Meeting Her Current Husband

Carol was born on April 26, 1933. She rose to national fame through her work in television, most notably on “The Carol Burnett Show.” Long before meeting her current husband, she had already experienced two marriages and become a mother to three daughters.

Her first marriage was to actor Don Saroyan. The couple wed in December 1955 and divorced in September 1962. Don was known for his roles in films such as “Cuban Rebel Girls” and “Blast of Silence.” He passed away in November 1990.

Just months after her first divorce, Carol married producer and director Joe Hamilton in May 1963. Joe, a central figure behind “The Carol Burnett Show,” was the father of her three daughters: Carrie, Jody, and Erin. The marriage eventually ended in divorce as well. Joe died in June 1991.

Carol met Brian in the late 1990s while she was in Long Beach, California, for a show. At the time, Brian was working as the principal drummer and contractor for the Hollywood Bowl Orchestra. Their relationship began quietly and outside the public eye. They dated for about three years before getting married on November 24, 2001.

Carol was 68 years old; Brian was 45, making him 23 years her junior. Carol addressed the age gap directly, saying, “He’s funny and not easily intimidated. As we get older, the gap between our ages narrows. If you were 40 and married a 20-year-old, I don’t think you could communicate like [we do].”

In a separate conversation, she joked, “You’re looking at a cougar, uhuh.” She also said of Brian, “He’s a throwback. He’s terrific, he’s got a wonderful sense of humor and a great career. We just like the same things, and so it’s a very happy relationship.”

By the time they met, Carol had been single for several years. Her daughters were grown, and her career remained active. What began as a chance meeting would later become a long-standing partnership, unfolding during a time of great personal change. At the center of this change was Carol’s eldest daughter, Carrie.

Carrie Hamilton’s Addiction, Recovery, and Career

Carrie Hamilton, Carol’s eldest daughter, struggled with drug addiction as a teenager. Carol later shared that she placed Carrie in three different rehabilitation programs before she got sober at 17. “I put her in a third rehab place, and oh my God, she hated me,” Carol later recounted. “I came to the conclusion that I had to love her enough to let her hate me.”

After her recovery, Carrie pursued acting and writing. She starred in the television series “Fame” and occasionally worked alongside her mother in theater and television. Carol said they eventually bonded through their creative collaborations and worked together on three productions.

One of those projects was a play based on Carol’s memoir “One More Time,” which the two co-wrote. Carol described her daughter as someone who liked to connect with others. She said Carrie would offer homeless people $10 in exchange for their stories and used them as material for her writing.

“She never met a stranger,” Carol would later recall. “She also loved to write.” By the early 2000s, the play she and Carrie had written was entering production with director Hal Prince. During this time, Carrie’s health began to decline. Around the same period, Carol and Brian decided to tie the knot.

Just Married–and Grieving Carrie

The two lovebirds married on November 24, 2001, after several years of dating. Tragically, just two months later, on January 20, 2002, Carrie passed away at the age of 38. Her cause of death was pneumonia, stemming from cancer that began in her lungs and spread to her brain.

Carrie’s death was so devastating for her mother that it left her unable to get out of bed. The play they had written together, “Hollywood Arms,” was preparing for its world premiere. It was Brian who encouraged her to move forward. “My husband[…] said, ‘Carol, you owe this not only to Carrie but you owe it to Hal to finish,'” she recalled.

Soon after, Carol and Brian flew to Chicago for previews at the Goodman Theatre. On the plane, Carol said a short prayer to Carrie, asking for a sign that she wouldn’t be alone. When they arrived at their hotel, there was a large bouquet of birds-of-paradise flowers waiting in the room.

“She had a bird of paradise tattooed on her right shoulder,” Carol said. She later learned that Hal had simply asked hotel staff to send up something “exotic.” The next evening, Carol, Brian, and Hal went to dinner. The maître d’ brought over a complimentary bottle of champagne.

The label on the bottle said “Louise,” Carrie’s middle name, and also the name of Carol’s mother. On opening night, it rained. “Carrie and I were nuts for the rain,” Carol said. Those details stayed with Carol. So did Brian, who remained a steady presence in her life in the years that followed.

Shared Routines and Rare Appearances

Over the years, Carol and Brian have kept a low profile, rarely making public appearances. In interviews during the early 2020s, Carol described a quiet, structured life at home. She revealed how they spent their time together. “We do crossword puzzles. We read. We watch television. We go for walks. We have a cat. Her name is Nikki,” she said.

Carol also shared that they often rewatched favorite films, including “Singin’ in the Rain,” which she said she knew “by heart.” She added, “I can always watch it again—and again and again.” She mentioned regularly tuning in to the news and named Jake Tapper, Rachel Maddow, and Randy Rainbow among their preferred broadcasters.

One of the few public sightings of the couple occurred in May 2022, when they were seen celebrating Mother’s Day at a restaurant in Montecito, days after she turned 89.

An onlooker said, “Whenever Brian spoke, Carol was laser focused on him. They sat there singing and humming little show tunes together and laughing while they waited for their meal; it was very cute.”

As they left, Carol held onto Brian’s arm while they walked slowly toward the valet stand. In addition to their quiet life at home, Carol and Brian also took on a more formal responsibility together during a family crisis.

Supporting Carol Through Family Responsibilities

In August 2020, Carol and Brian filed a petition in Los Angeles Superior Court to be appointed temporary legal guardians of Carol’s then-14-year-old grandson, Dylan. The court approved the request on September 1, 2020.

According to the filing, the petition was prompted by Carol’s daughter Erin’s ongoing struggles with substance abuse, which had affected her ability to care for her son. Court documents granted Carol and Brian the authority to make decisions regarding Dylan’s education, housing, and general welfare.

The guardianship was approved through January 8, 2021. “Due to addiction issues and other circumstances that my daughter, Erin, has been struggling with impacting her immediate family dynamic, my husband and I have petitioned the court to be appointed legal guardian of my 14-year-old grandson,” Carol said in a statement at the time.

She clarified that the petition was not intended to cut off visitation between Dylan and his parents. “Guardianship will be for oversight purposes concerning his health, education, and welfare and not intended to deny him nor the parents proper visitation,” she added.

The court acknowledged Brian’s long-standing presence in Dylan’s life, stating, “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 also recently entered a rehabilitation center and was not in a position to provide care.

According to the filing, he planned to relocate to Nevada and was unable to offer financial support at the time. Their joint guardianship marked another example of Brian’s support, while Carol continued to take on new roles into her nineties.

Carol at 91: Still Working and Looking Ahead

At 91, the actress, singer, and comedienne continues to work in television. In March 2024, she appeared in the series “Palm Royale,” a period drama set in Florida’s high-society circles.

Speaking about the project, Carol said, “When they called me about doing it, I didn’t even have to read a script. I said, ‘I’m in.'” She also expressed her hope that the show would be renewed for a second season, which would keep her working into her 92nd year.

“As long as I have fun, and that’s what I want,” she said. “I always approach it as something new that I’ve never done before, so I’m just happy to be working and that I’ve got all my parts. I have my hips and my knees—and I think my brain—so as long as I can keep that up and work, then I want to work.”

More than two decades after their wedding, Brian continues to stay 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.