Big Enos Buried

Pat McCormick, a comedy writer and occasional performer best known as “Big Enos” Burdette, the Georgia big shot whose penchant for illegal beer led Smokey and the Bandit’s evasion of Sheriff Buford T. Justice, has died at the age of 78. McCormick was a regular judge on The Gong Show and also was a frequent guest and writer on the Tonight Show for Johnny Carson, playing a turkey, a peacock, a squirrel, a shark and most notably when the 6-foot-7, 270-pound streaked behind Carson during a monologue.

Some classic McCormick lines:

On the television writers strike in 1988: “We writers will know we're missed when we see our pictures on milk cartons.”

On going on the wagon: “I gave up drinking booze when my liver started showing up on airport metal detectors.”

And a classic joke that Carson delivered after a big temblor hit the Southland: “Due to today's earthquake, the God is Dead rally has been canceled.”

And a story from close friend Jack Riley: "I was walking with Pat one night outside of the Braille Institute on Ventura Boulevard. Pat looked to the second floor and noticed five or six totally darkened windows, 'Ah," he said, 'I see they're working late.'”