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Thu, October 16, 2008 |
Last Updated: October 14,2008 5:03:25 pm
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June 23rd, 2008, By Phil Brown
George Carlin Dead At 71
 George Carlin: May 12, 1937 – June 22 2008 The NewsInfamous stand up comic George Carlin is dead. Carlin was a pioneer whose work influenced every comedian who followed. His career may never be equaled and he will never be forgotten. Behind the NewsLegendary comedian George Carlin passed away due to heart failure last night. He was 71, but had just released his 14th HBO special in March and was regularly performing right up until the end of his life. Carlin suffered from heart problems for years and frequently joked about it, one time comparing himself to Richard Pryor by saying, "Richard Pryor had a heart attack; I had a heart attack. Richard Pryor went into rehab; I went into rehab. Richard Pryor set himself on fire...I decided to have a second heart attack." The line is a perfect example of irreverent and fearless comedy that Carlin employed throughout his career. He was as much of a philosopher as he was a comedian, known for imparting insightful commentary to his audience while making them laugh hysterically.
George Carlin was born on May 12 1937 in New York City. As the son of a father who worked in advertising and a mother who worked in magazines, Carlin developed a love of language at an early age. He dropped out of high school as he began to develop his lifelong hatred of authority and would find himself working as a radio host in the late 50s. He soon partnered with a fellow disc jockey Jack Burns and the pair moved to California in 1960 to perform as the comedy duo “Carlin And Burns.” Carlin would split from Jack Burns, but the comedians remained close friends. He would go on to become a clean cut and popular stand up comic, appearing in nightclubs and early television venues like The Tonight Show, but was never really satisfied with his work. In the late 1960s, George Carlin watched the world change as the young generation began challenging authority, experimenting with drugs as well as embracing peace and love. Carlin had long enjoyed these past times in secret and decided to relaunch his career. As he said during an interview promoting his most recent comedy special, “I was doing superficial comedy entertaining people who didn't really care: businessmen, people in nightclubs, conservative people. And I had been doing that for the better part of 10 years when it finally dawned on me that I was in the wrong place doing the wrong things for the wrong people." Knowing that it was time for a change, he turned his back on the high paying nightclubs and television spots. He grew out his hair, started performing for colleges, and recorded albums that questioned societal norms while examining controversial themes. Particularly influenced by the great Lenny Bruce, Carlin began exploring issues and language considered obscene. The most famous of these comedy routines was this beloved piece entitled “The Seven Words You Can’t Say On Television:” On July 21, 1972 Carlin performed this routine at Milwaukee’s Summerfest and was arrested for breaking obscenity laws. The case was soon dismissed, but the routine was not forgotten. In 1973 the monologue was broadcast on a New York radio station and received so many complaints that the station was eventually charged with obscenity and the case was taken to the supreme court where it was ruled that the FCC had the ability to prohibit broadcasts if they were played during hours that children could be listening. Carlin dismissed the case in his typical sardonic style saying that he was “proud” to be involved with such a important free speech trial. The “Seven Words” controversy made George Carlin a legend and he’s been one of the most popular touring comedians worldwide ever since. He went on to release 23 comedy albums, 14 HBO specials, and wrote 3 best selling books. He also developed an acting career, appearing Mr. Conductor on the children’s TV series Shining Time Station, Rufus in the Bill And Ted movies, and Cardinal Glick in Kevin Smith’s Dogma among other projects. While many of these appearances introduced Carlin to younger audiences, stand up comedy was always his passion and he toured North America annually until the end of his life. Only a few days before his death, it was announced that George Carlin would win the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor from the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (Past recipients of the prize include Steve Martin and Neil Simon) Carlin’s incredible 50.year career was certainly worthy of recognition, so it’s a shame that he’ll never have the opportunity to receive the award. George Carlin was a man who examined his life and the world around him in a way that is rarely seen these days. He forever changed stand up comedy and was a key figure in transforming it from an amusing diversion into a legitimate art form. He will be sincerely missed, but his impact on comedy will never be forgotten. Some of Carlin’s thoughts on death. R.I.P. George Comments
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