BREAKING NEWS
updated 9:59 p.m. MT, Sun., June. 22, 2008
LOS ANGELES - Comedian George Carlin, a counter-culture hero famed for his routines about drugs and dirty words, died of heart failure at a Los Angeles-area hospital Sunday, a spokesman said. He was was 71.
Carlin, who had a history of heart problems, died at St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica about 6 p.m. PT after being admitted earlier in the afternoon for chest pains, spokesman Jeff Abraham told Reuters.
Known for his edgy, provocative material, Carlin achieved status as an anti-Establishment icon in the 1970s with stand-up bits full of drug references and a routine about seven dirty words you could not say on television. A regulatory battle over a radio broadcast of his "Filthy Words" routine ultimately reached the U.S. Supreme Court.
I am always sad by the passing of a true genius...he will be missed.
Another Great Artist Dies...So Sad
Oh wow. I only saw him perform three weeks ago. Very sad.
Broadway Legend Joined: 1/19/08
A brilliant comic genius. He will be sorely missed.
I have so much respect for George Carlin. He was hilariously funny but also took risks and was not afraid to say what he thought.
He was married to the same woman for over 35 years before her death from cancer. His family should be proud of the person he was.
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/06
A sad day indeed.
What's with all the great comedian's dying all of a sudden? Harvey Korman, Dean Martin, George Carlin?
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/8/04
Wow.
My first memory of him was when was on Shining Time Station as Mr. Conductor. I started to listen to his routines a few years ago and like many thought he was a genius.
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/06
I had forgotten he did that...wasn't he Ringo's replacement?
Dean Martin died over a decade ago.
I've had 'Baseball - Football' running through my head for the past few days.
Vale, Mr. Carlin.
HC meant Dick Martin.
Broadway Legend Joined: 11/8/04
Baseball- football is great. My favorite is 'Airplane Announcements'
Wow poor George. I knew he was doing bad when I saw him 2 years ago, I was looking forward to seeing him again.
Broadway Legend Joined: 10/19/06
yea, i meant Dick Martin...I always type Dean instead.
In his memory I'm listening to "Modern Man".
Broadway Legend Joined: 9/19/05
He was a legend.
There better be a TV tribute to him.
I would say, "Rest in Peace," but I know that he's raising hell on whatever roof he has landed!
He wouldn't be resting in Hell. Because he was an atheist and never believed in Heaven or Hell.
Baseball and Football was something that Carlin never considered to be a fully complete routine. He has said during various live recordings of that routine that he always had to write a little bit more to that. Of course he never did.
Airline Announcements is my all time favorite routine of his. " Get on the plain. Get on the plain. F--- you I'm getting IN the plain. Let Evil Knievel get ON. I'll be in here with you folks in uniform. There seems to be less wind in here."
The scary part is is that I am such a Carlin fan that I was able to write that down verbatim without having to look the quote up.
Another part of Airline Announcements
"If anyone needs help with small children - what about large children"
I am old enought to remember his Hippy Dippy weatherman Al Sleet
Seven Words. A classic.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=BTyzTJTNhNk
How terrible. Man, I was watching a lot of his stuff on youtube this weekend. I thought, "I hope we don't lose him anytime soon." AGH!
RIP, George.
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