Legendary comedian George Carlin dies - News

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Jun. 23, 2008
Copyright © Las Vegas Review-Journal

Legendary comedian George Carlin dies

FROM STAFF AND WIRE REPORTS

Comedian George Carlin performs his act in the Showroom at The Orleans hotel-casino Sunday, Aug. 12, 2007, in Las Vegas.
Photo by Ralph Fountain.

SANTA MONICA, Calif. -- A publicist for George Carlin said the legendary comedian died Sunday of heart failure at a Santa Monica hospital.

Jeff Abraham said Carlin went into St. John's Hospital on Sunday afternoon, complaining of chest pain. Carlin died at 5:55 p.m. He was 71.

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The dean of counterculture comedians, Carlin constantly pushed the envelope with his jokes, particularly with a routine called "The Seven Words You Can Never Say On TV."

When Carlin uttered all seven at a show in Milwaukee in 1972, he was arrested for disturbing the peace. And when they 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.

Carlin, who had a history of heart trouble, performed as recently as last weekend at The Orleans. Carlin owned a condominium in Las Vegas and was part of the headliner rotation at The Orleans. He also performed there in April and was scheduled to return in August.

The comedian had performed in Las Vegas since his straight-laced, coat-and-tie days, and once recalled that after he was fired from the Frontier for cursing in 1970 that he began to develop his more famous counter-culture persona.

At the end of 2004, Carlin and the MGM Grand severed a longtime relationship because some ticket-buyers complained about suicide themes in his act being too dark.

In an interview with the Review-Journal in August, Carlin said that in lieu of a "sudden catastrophic illness," he would consider retirement after his 15th HBO special and his 75th birthday, "a couple of nice round numbers. And then I could go ahead and write the memoir. That's a thought, anyway."

It was announced Tuesday that Carlin was to be awarded in November the 11th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. Carlin earned the honor through his 50-year career as a Grammy-winning comedian, writer and actor.

Review-Journal entertainment writer Mike Weatherford and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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Please enter your name Name: Please enter your email Email: Please enter a comment COMMENTS : (word count limit is 300) You have reached the maximum number of words allowed Current Word Count: Note: Comments made by reporters and editors of the Las Vegas Review-Journal are presented with a yellow background. Report abuse Jesus Christ wrote on June 23, 2008 08:45 PM: No one cared about Billy Ray yesterday or today . . . and no one will tomorrow either. I don't think that talking trash to dead people will score you any points when your day comes. Report abuse Billy Ray wrote on June 23, 2008 08:14 PM: Since no one will care about George Carlin tomorrow, I'll say this today - GO r30! YOURSELF CARLIN - ENJOY THE HOTNESS DOWN BELOW. Report abuse Disturbed wrote on June 23, 2008 04:41 PM: Dr. J, BLOW ME! or as George would have said Go FK YOURSELF! You will be missed Mr. Carlin Report abuse Dr J wrote on June 23, 2008 01:32 PM: Good riddance. No tears from me. Report abuse steady eddie wrote on June 23, 2008 12:28 PM: A coward? Are you kidding? The Christians do an adequate job of bashing the other religions. There was no need for him to jump on that bandwagon. Carlin exposed the dominant beliefs in this country (Christianity) - just as the Christians have exposed the other religions. A coward would have simply sided with the popular way of thinking in this country. Carlin did the opposite. Report abuse wildbill wrote on June 23, 2008 12:20 PM: What a f?^@!+ shame. His straightforwardness will be missed. G-dd&nit!! Seven dirty words?? According to who? The F#^^!g government? F^@k Y*%....RIP George Report abuse RHG wrote on June 23, 2008 12:17 PM: George Carlin did a good job skewering Christianity which is an easy target. But, I never heard him slam any other religions, in that way he was a coward. Come on all you atheist comics out there lets see you poke fun at Islam or Judaism. Report abuse Tom, Burbank wrote on June 23, 2008 12:15 PM: George, I'll miss your humor, hard truths and free-wheeling philosophizing. Your common sense orneriness has been an inspiration. I think of you each time I dig down past the first couple of slices in a loaf of bread. Report abuse Travis wrote on June 23, 2008 12:06 PM: Thanks Ed, at least I'm useful. What about you? Report abuse Ed Flanders' mother wrote on June 23, 2008 12:01 PM: Sorry, Travis. My son is an idiot. I wish he was more like you. Read All Comments