Comedy writer and actor Pat McCormick passed away yesterday. He had been in very poor health since a tragic car accident several years ago. I didn't know Pat personally but had appreciated his work for many years. He had bit parts in many tv shows (three times on The Golden Girls) and movies (Smokey & the Bandit and History of the World Part I ) but most notably was a mainstay of the Johnny Carson Tonight Show group of writers. There's a segment of the very big Pat dressed in a diaper with Johnny Carson that was played quite often for awhile.

Few in the public probably knew his name but I'm sure most would recognize his face or voice. For more details, check out writer Mark Evanier's blog for his personal recollections.