LOS ANGELES, California (CNN) -- Comedian-actor George Carlin, known for his raunchy but insightful humor, died of heart failure Sunday in Los Angeles, his publicist said. He was 71.
Carlin performed as recently as last weekend at the Orleans Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas.
Carlin performed as recently as last weekend at the Orleans Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas.
Jeff Abraham said Carlin went into St. John's Health Center on Sunday afternoon, complaining of chest pain. Carlin died at 5:55 p.m. PT.
Carlin, who had a history of heart trouble, performed as recently as last weekend at the Orleans Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas.
"He was a genius and I will miss him dearly," Jack Burns, who was the other half of a comedy duo with Carlin in the early 1960s, told The Associated Press.
Carlin was best known for his routine "Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television," which appeared on 1972's "Class Clown" album.
When Carlin uttered all seven at a show in Milwaukee in 1972, he was arrested for disturbing the peace, the AP reported. The comedy sketch prompted a landmark indecency case after WBAI-FM radio aired it in 1973.
The case was appealed to the U.S. Supreme Court where the justices ruled 5-4 that the sketch was "indecent but not obscene," giving the FCC broad leeway to determine what constituted indecency on the airwaves.
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"So my name is a footnote in American legal history, which I'm perversely kind of proud of," Carlin said. "In the context of that era, it was daring."
"It just sounds like a very self-serving kind of word. I don't want to go around describing myself as a 'groundbreaker' or a 'difference-maker' because I'm not and I wasn't," he said. "But I contributed to people who were saying things that weren't supposed to be said." Video Watch Carlin's 7 dirty words routine »
Carlin, who was also an author, was slated to receive in November the 2008 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, given by the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.
"In his lengthy career as a comedian, writer and actor, George Carlin has not only made us laugh, but he makes us think," Kennedy Center Chairman Stephen Schwarzman said in a statement. "His influence on the next generation of comics has been far-reaching."
In a typically wry response, Carlin said, "Thank you, Mr. Twain. Have your people call my people."
Carlin hosted the first broadcast of "Saturday Night Live" in October 1975.
He played the character of Mr. Conductor on the PBS series "Shining Time Station" and starred in more than a dozen HBO specials. Carlin was also a regular on The Tonight Show.
He produced 23 comedy albums, 14 HBO specials, three books, a couple of TV shows and appeared in several movies, from his own comedy specials to "Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure" in 1989, the AP reported.
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He also starred in three of comedic director Kevin Smith's movie -- 1999's "Dogma," 2001's "Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back" and 2004's "Jersey Girl." And his voice was so familiar and tuned to the craft of comedy that he was often asked to appear in cartoons, including Toon City's "Tarzan II," Disney's "Cars" and two episodes of "The Simpsons."
He won four Grammy Awards, each for best spoken comedy album, and was nominated for five Emmy awards, according to AP. _________________ When you're curious, you find lots of interesting things to do.
--Walt Disney
Another proud product of a Catholic education. I bet the nuns he had in grade school are reminiscing about him today. And you know they are still around because they all live to be over 90. _________________ [
Joined: Jan 01, 2008 Posts: 96 Location: Marlton, NJ
Posted: Mon Jun 23, 2008 6:41 am Post subject:
What a loss for the world. Yeah, he worked blue, but, he also made you think. It's a stark contrast to alot of todays "comedians". Suddenly, the world is a lot less funny. _________________ Pop Century 2005 and 2006, Saratoga Springs 2007, Inagural Pirates and Princess Party 2007, can't go 2008 =(
I agree disneydad I had tickets to see him and am very saddend by the loss of a future bright spot in my life and a loss of a great memory. Luckly He had a great life and survives on through his freinds and family... Always look on the bright side of life!
PS Figment: At this point that joke helped me feel a little better. THX.
As a fellow lapsed-Catholic I related o so much of what Mr. Carlin talked about, it was
almost like having another teacher, the cool one, keeping me real about our place in
the universe.
Anyway, thanks George, for a great education. Peace.
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