'08
One of the funniest men on the planet has passed away. Actor/stand up comedian George Carlin, whose controversial career spanned five decades, died of heart failure yesterday. He was 71 years old.
The iconic standup comic, whose routine about the seven words “you can’t say on television” was heard from college campuses to the Supreme Court, died today of heart failure at a Santa Monica, Calif., hospital, his publicist announced. He was 71.
Carlin, who suffered his first heart attack at age 41, was admitted to St. John’s Hospital earlier today after complaining of heart trouble, the statement said. He died at 5:55 p.m.
Much more than a “footnote in legal history,” as Carlin often referred to himself for his role in the seven “filthy” words case, the comic was the first-ever host of Saturday Night Live, a four-time Grammy winner, and a touchstone for generations of writers and performers.
Carlin was due to receive the 11th Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in November. The honor was announced just last week, around the time of his final performances, at the Orleans in Las Vegas. According to his Website, he had dozens of shows booked through the end of the year.
If there was one thing Carlin wasn’t, it was the retiring type.
“Yes, I’ve accomplished all the things I’ve wanted to and way more, I couldn’t have really predicted some of the paths,” Carlin told Salon in February. “But I know that there’s a restlessness, you know, artists are never finished.”
Born May 12, 1937, in New York, Carlin celebrated his 50th year in show business last year.
How many other performers out there are still writing and performing high-quality, relevant material after 50 years in the business? On a personal level, I have idolized George Carlin my entire life- ever since I snuck my dad’s copy of the album “Occupation: Foole” down to the basement when I was about 8 years old.
It was a cut off another album, Occupation Foole, however, that gave Carlin his most noteworthy achievement.
A listener hearing New York’s WBAI-FM play Carlin’s “Filthy Words” routine on Oct. 30, 1973, in its unaltered entirety lodged a complaint with the Federal Communications Commission. The FCC, in turn, threatened to pull WBAI’s license. WBAI appealed the FCC’s bark all the way to the Supreme Court, where in 1978, the justices ruled in favor of the FCC, agreeing that the seven words “you can’t say on television,” shouldn’t be said on the radio, either—not during hours that children might hear them. The battle lines for future Howard Stern wars had been drawn.
“It’s a perverse badge of honor to be the only comedian whose routines were the subject of a case in the United States Supreme Court,” Carlin told the A.V. Club in 2005.
Officially indecent, though not obscene, Carlin loomed larger than ever. His appearance on the first SNL in 1975—he performed standup only, and didn’t participate in the sketches—served as the show’s stamp of underground approval.
When I was a reporter for a daily newspaper, I had the good fortune to interview George. At the time he didn’t have a manager, and his wife, Brenda, who passed away 1997, set up the interview. George called me himself- I will never forget the thrill of seeing “CARLIN, GEORGE” on my caller ID. He was gracious, intelligent, patient, and very, very funny.
Condolences to George’s family, friends, and other fans. It’s going to be a rough day.
Thanks to WENN for these pictures of George Carlin throughout the years. The most recent photo is the one of him chatting on the phone, which was taken in LA on 5/26/08.
Update by Celebitchy: Here’s Carlin doing “Religion is Bullsh*t.” It obviously has NSFW language. RIP George Carlin.
Written by MSat
Posted in Deaths, George Carlin
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19 Responses to “Legendary comedian George Carlin has died”
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He will be missed. I loved listening to his comedy albums in the 70’s.
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What a great memory of him to have, MSat.
Loved him, true pioneer. RIP. -
There is no comedian right now equal to the social relevance of Carlin … his voice…will be missed. And I am reasonably sure, that nobody will ever be able to equate his edgieness and then go off and be the conductor of Shining Time Station for a bunch of kids, remaining in his style, but toned down for the kiddies. Unbelievable talent.
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I loved him, his social consciousness and his silliness in how he looked at the world. Get on the plane - no thank you, I’d rather get IN the plane… nobody ever made me laugh so much. And no one else’s comedy made me think so much. I’m sorry he’s gone, we’ll all miss him.
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He was one in a generation. Gotta agree with your sentiment - what a shitty way to start a day.
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RIP George! Your talent and wit are unequalled.
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This is sad, he could make a grocery list sound funny if he read it out. R.I.P George.
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So it goes. You’ll be missed, Mr. Carlin, but your work will be remembered for generations to come. Thank you for being so unapologetically insightful, and of course, funny.
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Heaven just got a hell of a lot funnier.
Rest in peace, George! You are already dearly missed. -
This broke my heart when I saw it on the news at 3am today.
I absolutely adored this man and will miss his comedic genius intensely.
Rest in peace, George. You did it up right while you were here. Thanks for all the laughs.
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Sadness. Well I spent some time watching some YouTube videos of him… I need to get some of his concert dvds. I especially appreciated the ‘Fat America’ rant video. Ugh. It seems like outside of the city every place is covered with strip shopping centers and chain restaurants next to them (Chilis, Ruby Tuesday, Macaroni Grill… Ugh. And the people filing into them are monolith. Just massive.) Our consumer culture is out of hand. His social commentary was funny, intelligent and biting without being unnecessarily cruel; hard thing to do.
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Very Sad News. RIP…
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The great thing about Carlin was he KEPT innovating throughout his entire career. He really shaped what we all see as funny today. The world is a far more amusing place for him having been here. And since he was an athiest, no prayers are needed! Thanks George! I do send out good thoughts to his family and friends though…just in case.
:wink:
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He is comparable to John Lennon in my eyes. A total forward-thinker, always pushing our boundaries, and making us think. I am truly saddened. We can’t afford to lose any more gems like Carlin in times like these.
I just saw him last October at the Paramount. You will be very missed old soul. Rest peacefully.
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Oh man.
I am so bummed right now. I loved his stand up comedy routines. RIP Mr Carlin. You will be missed.
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I always wanted to see him live
He was the one comedian (besides Ellen) that had more than one joke. He will be deeply missed.
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My brother met Carlin a few years back, and got an autograph for me: “To Mandy, Fuck you! George Carlin.” I framed it, and needless to say, it’s quite the conversation piece. To me, Carlin’s legacy is my vast filth vocabulary. Without his expert guidance, I would never have been able to teach my 4th grade classmates to curse! R.I.P.
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My brother worked for George Carlin for 20 years. In addition to being a comic genius, he was also a deep, sincere and kind individual. We’ve lost a true original.
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RIP Funny Man, glad I got to see you when I did. You were the best among them. thanks for everything George.
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