Carol Burnett pays tribute to longtime friend Steve Lawrence and says she considered him ‘family’ after Go Away Little Girl singer’s death aged 88

Carol Burnett paid an emotional tribute to Steve Lawrence this week following his death at the age of 88.

The iconic singer died after “complications due to Alzheimer’s disease,” according to a press release shared Thursday. The lounge crooner shared his diagnosis in 2019.

Burnett, who shared the stage with Lawrence several times on the Carol Burnett Show from 1967-1978, shared a sweet video of the pair and wrote, “Steve was one of my favorite guests on my variety show, appearing 39 times.

“He was also my good friend…so close that I considered him ‘family.’ He will always be in my heart.’

The stage artist – married to singer Eydie Gormé – was best known for his hits such as Go Away Little Girl from 1963.

Burnett, who shared the stage with Lawrence several times on the Carol Burnett show from 1967-1978, shared a sweet photo of the pair and wrote: ‘Steve was one of my favorite guests on my variety show, making 39 appearances’

“My father was an inspiration to so many people,” his son David said in a statement.

‘But to me he was just a charming, handsome, hysterically funny guy who sang a lot. Sometimes alone and sometimes with his insanely talented wife.’

David continued: “I am so lucky to have had him as a father and so proud to be his son. I hope his contributions to the entertainment industry will be remembered for many years to come.”

He is survived by not only his son David, but also his daughter-in-law Faye, granddaughter Mabel and brother Bernie.

The Grammy winner was a member of the duo Steve and Eydie with his late wife Eydie. He was also good friends with Frank Sinatra and toured with him.

He also appeared in films: in 1980, Lawrence appeared in The Blues Brothers as a cop, the singers were then in the 1998 sequel, Blues Brothers 2000.

And he played Fran Drescher’s father in the TV series The Nanny and he appeared on Hot In Cleveland.

“He was also my good friend…so close that I considered him ‘family.’ He will always be in my heart’ (pictured with Sally Struthers in 1975)

Burnett recently opened up about her career and the biggest mistake she made in a candid conversation with Harper’s Bazaar

When she took her question and answer act on the road shortly after September 11, a fan asked Burnett who she would be and what she would do if she were a member of the opposite sex for 24 hours. “I said, ‘I would be Osama.’ Bin Laden, and I would kill myself,” Burnett said, admitting she regretted the joke

Burnett said she was initially hesitant about opening her variety show with a question and answer act, but soon enjoyed the skit.

Burnett recently opened up about her career and the biggest mistake she made in a candid conversation Harper’s Bazaar.

When she took her call-and-response act on the road shortly after 9/11, a fan asked Burnett who she would be and what she would do if she were a member of the opposite sex for 24 hours.

“I said, ‘I would be Osama bin Laden, and I would kill myself,’” Burnett said, admitting she regretted the joke.

Burnett said she was initially hesitant about opening her variety show with a question and answer act, but soon enjoyed the skit.

She said: ‘I was hesitant at first.

“I said, ‘What if they don’t ask anything?’ Or what if they do and I can’t answer it?’ And he said, ‘Well, we’ll put some plants in the audience.’ And then I thought about it and said, ‘No, it has to be real.’

“I started to feel comfortable and it turned out to be one of my favorite things we’ve ever done.”