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Ed McMahon

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Recent Role:: Himself on Today Show

Gender:: Male

Born:: 3-6-1923

Died:: 6-23-2009

Birthplace:: Detroit, Michigan, USA

Birth Name:: Edward Leo Peter McMahon Jr.

"Professional sidekick" Ed McMahon attended 15 schools while growing up in Detroit, New Jersey, New York City and Massachusetts; his father was a part-time plumber and entertainer, whose work in both fields kept the family forever on the go. The 15-year-old McMahon's first appearance before a microphone was as the "caller" at a bingo game in Maine; he was 15 years old. He spent the next three years touring the state fair and carnival circuit then worked his way through Boston College as a jack-of-all-trades at a Lowell, Massachusetts radio station. After World War II service, McMahon found… More work as a sidewalk pitchman, which paid his tuition at Catholic University in Washington D.C.

As a journeyman television performer in the 1950s, McMahon delivered vegetable-slicer TV commercials, hosted a late-night interview show in Philadelphia and briefly appeared as a clown on the CBS kiddie show Big Top. In 1959, McMahon was hired as the announcer/straight man on Who Do You Trust?, a daytime quiz program hosted by Johnny Carson. When Carson succeeded Jack Paar on NBC's Tonight Show, he took McMahon with him; both men remained with Tonight until Carson's retirement in 1992. On his own, MacMahon has continued making commercial appearances for a multitude of products, starred in straw-hat theatre productions (The Music Man, is his favorite), played straight supporting roles in such films as The Incident (1967) and Slaughter's Big Rip-Off (1973), and hosted the popular TV talent contest Star Search.

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Promotional portrait of American television host Ed McMahon, early 1960s.

American television host Ed McMahon sits behind the steering wheel of a motorboat at Cypress Gardens, Florida, 1972.

Announcer Ed McMahon laughs while seated beside host Johnny Carson on the set of 'The Tonight Show,' 1960s.

American television host Ed McMahon smiles while dressed in a Superman costume at Cypress Gardens amusement park, Florida, 1972.

American television announcer Ed McMahon smiles as the host on the set of the TV game show, 'Concentration,' 1969.

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Ed McMahon News

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Castle Sneak Peek: Guest Stars Tom Bergeron and Fred Willard Discuss Monday's New Episode
We spoke to Tom Bergeron and Fred Willard about their upcoming guest roles on Castle.
- 04/09/10 1:00 PM
- Stefanie Lee
2009 Wrap: Part I
2009 was the year of MasterChef Australia.
- 01/03/10 2:00 PM
- David Knox
Lamenting Television's Week of Losses
It's been a tough week for television. In between the deaths of Ed McMahon on Tuesday and Billy Mays on Sunday, both Farrah Fawcett and Michael Jackson left us on Thursday. Celebrity deaths tend to come in twos and threes, but the departure of this foursome was particularly dramatic because together they tell us a lot about how TV has evolved as a result of their influence.
- 06/29/09 12:09 PM
- Stefanie Lee
RIP Ed McMahon, America's Right-Hand Man
TV personality Ed McMahon died early this morning after months of ongoing health ailments, among them bone cancer and pneumonia, according to The New York Times. Though in his final years, he was plagued with a home foreclosure, he is mos fondly remembered for his television appearances, most notably as a regular on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson. He was 86.
- 06/23/09 10:12 AM
- Stefanie Lee