Carol Burnett Remembers Risking Her Neck Climbing The Hollywood Sign

Legendary comedian Carol Burnett is reflecting on her scrappy childhood in Los Angeles, revealing that her playground was often a much more dangerous version of Hollywood than it is today. Ahead of her appearance at the TCM Classic Film Festival, the 92-year-old icon recalled living in a modest apartment near Hollywood Boulevard with her grandmother, where the pair struggled to make ends meet but lived in the heart of the movie business.

In one of her more daring memories, Burnett described how she and her friends would hike up to the iconic Hollywood sign to play. At the time, the landmark was still the "Hollywoodland" sign and was in a state of decay. Burnett joked that it is a "wonder we didn't break our necks" while climbing the massive, rusted letters, noting that there was no security or fencing to keep adventurous locals away in the late 1930s.

These early experiences shaped Burnett’s deep connection to the film industry long before she became a household name. As she prepares to be honored with a handprint ceremony at the TCL Chinese Theatre, the comedian remains marvelled by her journey from a theater usher to a television pioneer. Fans can watch for more stories from her storied career as the festival celebrates her seven decades in entertainment. This report is based on an interview with People.