George Carlin Dead at Age 71

George Carlin Dead at Age 71
June 23, 2008, 2:44 AM EST
SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP)

-- George Carlin, the dean of counterculture comedians whose biting insights on life and language were immortalized in his \"Seven Words You Can Never Say On TV\" routine, died of heart failure Sunday. He was 71
Carlin, who had a history of heart trouble, went into St. John's Medical Center in Santa Monica on Sunday afternoon complaining of chest pain and died later that evening, said his publicist, Jeff Abraham. He had performed as recently as last weekend at the Orleans Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas.
Carlin constantly pushed the envelope with his jokes, particularly with the \"Seven Words\" routine. When he uttered all seven at a show in Milwaukee in 1972, he was arrested for disturbing the peace.
When the words were played on a New York radio station, they resulted in a Supreme Court ruling in 1978 upholding the government's authority to sanction stations for broadcasting offensive language.
\"So my name is a footnote in American legal history, which I'm perversely kind of proud of,\" he told The Associated Press earlier this year.
He produced 23 comedy albums, 14 HBO specials, three books, a couple of TV shows and appeared in several movies. Carlin hosted the first broadcast of \"Saturday Night Live\"
He won four Grammy Awards, each for best spoken comedy album, and was nominated for five Emmy awards. On Tuesday, it was announced that Carlin was being awarded the 11th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.


A Message by George Carlin:

The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider Freeways, but narrower viewpoints. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little, drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much, love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor . We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air , but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throwaway morality, one night stands, overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when you can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going to be around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, \"I love you\" to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

George Carlin

I listened to George Carlin while I was growing up through the seventies...his outspoken comedy was rare for the times and inspired me from a young age to cast away expected norms and speak my mind and be myself.

Farwell George you shall be missed...Lenny (Garm)

I was so very sad when I heard about his death this morning while driving to work. Going to see him on stage was one of the big events right before my wedding. I insisted on keeping the ticket stubs to put in my album and now I'm doubly glad I did.

RIP George

Yet another dead hero to add to the list.

Carlin was a comedic God, who my father and I watched and listened to intently. He was a pioneer to comedy, amused many, and provoked thought in his routine. What else could I ask for in a comedian?

We can only look forward to the tribute to Mr. Carlin.

Rest in Peace George. Have fun hanging out with Bill Hicks (another dead hero).

As an Aspiring Comedian, and writer, George Carlin was an inspiration to me. I will miss him dearly, as will the world.... But I think what I am most regretful about, is that I'll never get to see him live...
ah... a pun.. how tastelessly fitting.

This is one person comedian wise that I truely will miss. He had a way with getting his point across and was not afraid to be anything but himself.

I'm a bit upset over his death, but I think he lived a full life. His footprints are numerous and great, and there are many who will always look at them in wonder, and hope to follow them, continue them where he stopped walking, or create new ones with his same shoe size and style.

Now that this metaphor's exhausted...

George Carlin was a major influence to many comedians - and I'm sure, non-comedians. I know for me, his quirky, sometimes even cynical and misanthropic style became a huge influence on my worldview, which I passed on to much of my own work (I'd say Death/Morty has a good bit of Carlin in him).

All I can say is... don't mourn him. Chances are, he'd probably not like that anyway. We should celebrate his life, and honor his contributions.

I took time out of my day to listen to some of his material. Certainly when a great comedian dies, we should not cry, but laugh. A lot. If there's anything he taught me, it's to enjoy the chaos.

He's with the Force now, and so, the Force is with him.

I just hope we get an HBO George Carlin marathon out of this.

my first exposure to carlin was (don't laugh) \"Bill and Ted\". he was the redeming quality of the movies, after i figured out who he was and that he was a big deal i looked into him. of course due to the nature of his comedy my parents discouraged it. and well they should have. but as it often works with kids that encouraged me more.
I'm proud to say i have seen every film was in, and have heard tons and tons of his stand ups. he was a great many who in many ways evolved the nature of the entertainment and comedy. he was a class act while still managing to be irreverent. he will be missed but like everyone who joins the force will be with us always.

Farewell, and safe harbor George.

DK

stevef wrote:

my first exposure to carlin was (don't laugh) \"Bill and Ted\". he was the redeming quality of the movies, after i figured out who he was and that he was a big deal i looked into him. of course due to the nature of his comedy my parents discouraged it. and well they should have. but as it often works with kids that encouraged me more.
I'm proud to say i have seen every film was in, and have heard tons and tons of his stand ups. he was a great many who in many ways evolved the nature of the entertainment and comedy. he was a class act while still managing to be irreverent. he will be missed but like everyone who joins the force will be with us always.

If it helps any, regarding your first influence of Carlin, I first saw him as Mr. Conductor. :laugh:

If I'm not mistaken, he was also in the film version of Popeye.

I think a few years later, my mom introduced me to his stand-up stuff, and I'm pretty sure I laughed my ass off, because since then, I've considered myself a fan.