The comedy world lost one of its best yesterday, as famed comedian George Carlin passed away at the age of 71, reports The Associated Press. Carlin, who had performed on a Las Vegas stage just a week ago, complained of chest pain yesterday and died of heart failure in Santa Monica that evening.
Carlin is arguably one of the greatest to grace the stage, peppering intelligent, scathing social commentary with dirty jokes and foul language. His comedy albums earned him four Grammy awards, and his television specials received five Emmy nominations--one as recently as 2006.
Carlin challenged button-up convention with his most famous routine, "Seven Words You Can Never Say on TV," an act for which Milwaukee police slapped him with charges of disturbing the peace in 1972 because of its content. The Supreme Court eventually got involved in the controversy when a New York radio station played the routine in 1978, and ruled that the government has the right to regulate language on radio during times when kids may be listening in.
"So my name is a footnote in American legal history, which I'm perversely kind of proud of," Carlin told The Associated Press earlier this year.
Saturday Night Live chose Carlin as its first host in October 1975, and he went on to do numerous television spots, including his own show in 1994 and more than 130 appearances on The Tonight Show. He also provided the voice of the narrator on Thomas the Tank Engine & Friends and played the time-traveling mentor Rufus in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure.
The great George Carlin, dead at 71.
RIP :(
R.I.P. Mr. Carlin - you always told it like it was.
R.I.P George! We miss you!
He will be missed.
"Hope your kids die in a car fire!" says the dead guy to a heckler. Heh...
R.I.P George - you were one heck of a funny guy.
HBO is showing 5 of his shows back to back right now, and I find myself both laughing and crying.
U WILL ALWAYS B REMEMBERED.MY FAMILY & I SO MUCH ENJOYED YOUR COMEDY , IT WAS ONE OF A RARE KIND.I HAVE WATCHED U MANY YEARS & EVERY TIME U PROVED 2 B ABLE 2 EVEN MAKE LONELY PEOPLE LAUGH. YOUR FACES / YOUR COMEDY & THE ISSUES U PUT BE 4 ALL OF US. AS U SAID U WILL NOT DIE NO ONE WILL/ WE'LL JUST FLOAT AWAY / EXPIRE /& WELL U MADE US ALL LAUGH & U MADE THE WORLD A HAPPIER PLACE FOR MANY. MY HAT IS OFF 2 U GEORGE CARLIN / &I STAND PROUD 2 EVEN HAVE BEEN A SMALL PART OF YOUR LIFE. SO THANKS 4 EVERYTHING GEORGE, NO ONE WILL NEVER BE ABLE 2 REPLACE U.FROM THE BOTTOM OF MY HEART & ENTIRE SOUL GEORGE, THANKS 4 ALLOWING US MANY INTO YOUR WORLD. LOVE 2 U XOXOXOX WHERE EVER U MAY B.moreless
RIP GeorgeI love you man!
RIP GeorgeI love you man!
You left us great legacy! Beautiful mind! RIP
RIP George. You'll always be remembered as a comedic legend.
RIP, I still remember when you played the Conductor on Shining Time Station. My daughter watched when she was a little girl. I have always loved your comedy and you have brought so much lite into our lifes.
You will be missed Mr. Carlin. Your intelligence, wit, and uncompromising look at issues in our world for many decades will not be forgotten. Your influence will be still felt and remembered long after your death. Rest in Peace, we shall carry the torch for change for future generations.
As a young high schooler, I had memorized his entire AM/FM and Class Clown albums, and was able to recite them verbatim and even in his voice! Even the older kids and teachers applauded me when I did my "shtick" in the cafeteria! <i>(I avoided the "bad" words, though!)</i>
I believe that planted the seed for wanting to do some acting in my life, which I have!
Thanks, George!
R.I.P.
He was the MAN...RIP
was a very funny guy,will miss his raw sence of humore
The world just got a little less funny and intelligent.
There's one thing that i'll always remember and I think everyone should too, Be Excellent to each other !! Party On George! You're the man!
Love you George. You will be missed.
So George Carlin is dead. Is he saying 'bite me' to his creator? I seriously doubt it. So many of the so called comedians seem to think that the only way to make people laugh is to use as much filthy language that they can and to make as many inappropriate comments that they can. What is even worse is that so many people think that that type of conduct is not only ok,but is funny as well. I feel for Mr. Carlin's family as they deal with their grief at his death. My sympathies go out to them.
My they all find peace and be comforted is this time of grief and sadness at the passing of George Carlin. Mr.Carlin REST IN PEACE ,if that is possible for you.
Thanks for the laughs George! No partying up there with Rodney, Flip and Richard, RIP.
rest in peace
A very sad day, you'll be missed Mr. Carlin
I'm going ti miss him he was one of the greats....
I was lucky enough to see him in February this year. Sad news for all
He is the greatest comedian who had ever lived.
R.I.P
Ironic he died of heart failure. Some would argue if he ever had one.
"Why do they lock the restrooms at gas stations? Are they afraid someone will clean them?"
Rest in peace, Mr. Carlin.
i'll always remember him for his work on both Bill & Ted films, and working with Kevin Smith- he'll be missed :(
I got the news first thing on yahoo when I woke up this morning.
George was one of the true pioneers of comedy. He will be greatly missed.
I loved George. He was incredibly funny and talented, he will be missed greatly. I still loved the fact that he was on the kids show Shining time station. :)
This is a sad day for comedy.RIP George.
Rest in Peace George
to archangelwho: hope your kidding with those christian comments, if not you didn't deserve to know him.
Thanks for all the laughs and insight. May the love of our Lord Jesus Christ give peace to your family during this sad time. Our prayers are with you and your love ones.
one of my all time favorites saw in concert several years ago athe Reno Hilton, he will always be the hippy dippy weatherman
He was a great comedian. always was funny and never held back on what he would say because someone might take offense. His spirit will never die.
This just sucks, plain and simple.
R.I.P you were my favorite :(
as soon as i saw his face on the tv.com page near the article headline i knew he was dead, since he's been very old looking for quite some time i figured that's the most likely news he would be making.
I'm glad I got to see him do stand up a couple years ago (although some of it was repeat stuff).
One of the funniest men on the planet.
We'll miss you, George...
NOOOOOOOOOO a loved that guy.He was one of the funniest guys around.George you are a legend.
George will be greatly missed.