Don Critchton: The lead dancer on The Carol Burnett Show

Do you remember Don Critchton?

From 1968 to 1978, Don Crichton made 10 uncredited appearances on The Carol Burnett Show. The weekly variety series ran from September 1967 until April 1978 on CBS.

The regulars with Burnett were Vicki Lawrence (1967–78, the series' entire run), Harvey Korman (1967-1977), Lyle Wagoner (1967-1975 ), and Tim Conway, who replaced Wagoner and remained until the end of the series run.

Crichton was the lead dancer for the Ernie Flatt Dancers and was in many memorable skits, including the Gone With the Wind spoof "Went With the Wind," where he portrayed a Yankee soldier.

Those in charge of the Burnett Show did not have the name of Crichton or any other Ernie Flatt Dancers in the credits, but they were the backbone of the variety show. It's true that Carol and her main cast could hold their own without assistance, but the skits with the Ghost Extras were very memorable.

A Ghost Extra is a cast member who remains in the background and does not speak. There were a number of these individuals on the sitcom Hogan's Heroes who just stood around and never took part in the main plot. Don Crichton and others were somewhere in the middle as they sometimes had lines and worked with the main cast.

Critchton's presence was strongW

I recently caught the ending of an episode of The Carol Burnett Show where Carol had guests sign her autograph book and was kissing them. It looked as if Crichton was the man standing on the far left, but I could not be certain. If so, he was probably flattered to receive that type of recognition, although his name never rolled with the credits.

I also do not recall ever hearing Burnett give any credit to those in the background, who at times were the backbone of specific episodes. Although Crichton is only credited with 10 episodes of the variety show, he was in many different skits, and it seemed as if he had more airtime.

Don Critchton's history

The actor/dancer grew up in Enfield, Connecticut, and graduated from Enfield High School in 1952, where he was considered "Best Dressed Boy" and "Best Boy Dancer." Don taught dance classes in his hometown for several years before beginning an entertainment career.

According to Enfield resident Karen Thibodeau, not only did Crichton teach dance lessons, but he also designed the dance costumes for recitals.He began on Broadway and ended up on Burnette's show, which was the highest-rated television variety program of its time.

Crichton was born on September 3, 1934, and made his Broadway debut in 1953 where he performed with stars like Carol Channing and Rita Moreno. His first television role was in Garry Moore's variety show, where he met a young Carol Burnett. In time, he found himself in Hollywood as one of the Ernie Flatt Dancers, and later became the lead dancer on Burnett's show.

Praise from Vickie Lawrence

Vicki Lawrence said that she has "wonderful memories" of Crichton during the time they worked together. In a 2020 telephone interview with Patch, Lawrence said that she was talking to Burnett on the first day of rehearsal when a "gorgeous, handsome" man wearing tap shoes came over to Carol, who was delighted to see Don again.

Lawrence says she was young (only 18) at the time, and Crichton was very supportive and helpful to her regarding the dance sequences. She added that he was always polite and always had a smile on his face.

After The Carol Burnett Show

Crichton appeared on several other television series, including The Red Skelton Show, Here's Lucy, and The Bob Hope Show. After Carol's show went off the air, Crichton choreographed episodes of many other television series, including Silver Spoons, Mama's Family, The Colby's, Three's Company, Alice, and The Tim Conway Show.

He was also a judge for the 40th Miss America Pageant in 1991. In 2010, he directed Viagra Falls, a comedy by Lou Cutell and Joao Machado that played at the Little Shubert Theatre in New York City, and starred Florence Henderson and Teresa Ganzel.

Patch tried reaching out to Crichton for the interview, but were unable to contact him. In addition to the credits that have already been listed, Turner Classic Movies revealed that the actor/dancer/choreographer appeared as a dancer in the films Star in 1952 and The Girl Rush in 1955. He was also in Chu Chu and the Philly Flash in 1981 and choreographed Bob Hope: The First 90 Years in 1993.

There is no record of whether this versatile entertainer ever married or had children, but he has given the entertainment industry a lasting legacy. If you are a fan of The Carol Burnett Show, check streaming services for times. Be sure to look for Don Crichton and his infectious smile.