Waggoner was born in Kansas City, Kansas, the son of Marie (Isern) and Myron Waggoner, and spent part of his childhood in Excelsior Springs, Missouri. On an episode of The Carol Burnett Show, Lyle stated he has three sisters and one brother.

Why did Lyle Waggoner leave the Carol Burnett Show?

Waggoner left because he thought there were better opportunities out there. Lyle Waggoner didn't initially set out to star in a sketch comedy show. Waggoner had been acting for several years when he landed a spot on the show, but he had recently just lost another coveted role.

Did Carol Burnett really raise her sister?

"Here was a girl who was struggling for her own existence in New York — and God knows it was rough, I can tell you — and she took her sister, who was 12 or 13, and raised her," old friend and former actor Lou Christopher told TV Guide in 1982. "Carol must have been in her 20s.