George Carlin dies at 71

He told it the way it was. He was brash. He was funny. And now, sadly, he's gone.

[George] Carlin, who had a history of heart and drug-dependency problems, died at Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica about 6 p.m. PDT (9 p.m. EDT) 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 called "Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television." A regulatory battle over a radio broadcast of the routine ultimately reached the U.S. Supreme Court.

In the 1978 case, Federal Communications Commission vs. Pacifica Foundation, the top U.S. court ruled that the words cited in Carlin's routine were indecent, and that the government's broadcast regulator could ban them from being aired at times when children might be listening. - Reuters

Here's your place to reminisce about one of America's finest comedians who passed away today at 71.

-- Tony Pierce

photo credit: Twentieth Century Fox 

Comments

[Stephen Masters]

A great great Atheist. George was the best at summarizing the stupidity of most all religion. Thank you George for stating what so many of us think. We loved you for your great great take on life. You will be sooooo missed.

[Stan Mello]

Thank God for the wonderful spokesman of the Atheists. We will miss you George. So few of us have a platform in this country and it's a huge tragedy that you wont be around to poke and jab at the religious fools. You were the best George.

[Beth M]

Dear George Carlin,
Thank you for exposing the corporate pigs for what they are. You had such a perfect take on the imbalance and selfish greed that drives America. Especially, your clear sense of right, wrong and stupid was incredible. Thank you for your great work. You were so gifted.

[Joe F]

THANK YOU GEORGE CARLIN WE LOVE YOU

[SandyC]

RIP, George. You will be missed by many. Your knowledge of language was superb, and you pointed out the way things really are. Thank you for so many years of biting commentary cloaked as entertainment.

[alex macko]

Thanks for laughs and putting some thought into this crazy world. I know you'll be watching after us all after this coming election, it's going to be too funny down here.

[Gee Hayes]

George Carlin was a god, and I'm glad for him and his family he didn't suffer a long exit. This seems to befit the no-BS sort of man he was. I absolutely adored Mr. Carlin - from the time I was five, watching the Ed Sullivan Show to see Topo Gigio but sneaking in a few minutes of the righteous Carlin's stand-up ... I am in awe of him not only because his monologues were right on the money, but because, though he struggled with his demons, he never let up. He performed to the last minute. What an example for the rest of us -- his exit is just the kind I want. God (or whoever he believed to protect and bless him) love him. Peace to his family.

[Wardell]

Saddest part is there's no obvious successor. Not even close. Why provoke thought when all the money's in shouting and strutting? Or surrendering.

[Mark Treitel]

After listening to Carlin's bit of "moment of slience", I could never hold my laighter in for a moment of silence again. Brilliant, biting and funny to the end. Glad I got to see him in concert.Hopefully the YouTube crowd can watch his genius for the next 100 years!

[steve]

I wonder what America's most popular athiest's family is thinking right now? Do they secrectly hope that he was wrong and that God doesn't care that he didn't believe in him? Well, George is dead and I hope that he has changed his mind on God.

[DaveT]

From the Hippy Dippy Weatherman from the "Wonderful W-I-N -O" to one of the most insightful comedians of the last half century. Carlin opened our eyes to the absurdity of life. He influenced so many of today's comedians like Louis Black. And if you look very closely at my agencies first McDonald's TV commercial "You deserve a break today..,." you will see a young Carlin.
Carlin affected my way of comedy. He wil be missed.

[Gleb Jolie]

I never laughed as much as I did when I saw him live in Chicago in 2004. It wasn't just what he said, which was funny enough, it was the audacity and the danger in the order of his topics. He started the show, which was populated mainly by Book Expo attendees, by talking about how one ought to go about committing suicide. When he later described in detail how teenagers accidentally die performing autoerotic asphyxiation, he demonstrated almost step by step how it's done. He knew exactly how to position his material to make his anger and disillusion hilarious. He gave us lots of hints about how stupid we can be as a species. What are we going to do now?

[xdavezz]

Carlin funny once, but not lately. I watched his rant on an HBO special recently.
Ugh, just depressing and NOT funny. exaggerated for effect of course, but bitter and plain nasty. should have quit back when he was FUNNY.

[lewis yablonsky]

Not only was George Carlin a fantastic comedian--he was a great sociologist.

[Danny Stark]

You do realize that you're thanking "GOD for the wonderful spokesman of the Atheists." What God, Stan? God and Atheism? A bit of an oxymoron, don't you think? You might want to do a "God" reference check when editing your atheism related correspondence.

[Susie]

Oh, damn, damn, damn! One of my biggest heroes.

Grew up watching him, got to see him perform many wonderful times. I loved this man immensely, and I loved his convictions.

I finally had the pleasure of having chats with this great and intelligent, funny, darling man, thanks to my son guesting on his short-lived series a few years back. We talked about censorship, and I told him about my own father's books having been burned, and how I was brought up anti-censorship. We talked about atheism, another connection. His knowledge was boundless.

I can remember times spitting from laughing so damn hard, and having to try not to pee in my pants at his characters. Damn, I am going to immensely miss this grand and remarkable -- and KIND -- human being!

Total brilliance and oh, my, what a wonderful man!

[b a alexander]

a piece of my youth is gone ... the weatherman was brilliant .... when will there be more like him .... lenny ... george ... we are in need of another voice for these unchartered waters ..... thanks for the humor through enlighment

[Jackie]

Dammit! RIP friend . . .
xoxo

[Michael Stusser]

"I'm always relieved when someone is delivering a eulogy and I realize I'm listening to it."
Mr. Carlin was the brightest comedian the world has ever known, who not only played with language in new and innovative ways, he made his audiences THINK - about our government, our society, our rules, and our individual role on this planet. He provoked laughter, counter-cultural behavior, and authorities to arrest his ass for speaking his mind (so much for free speech, eh?). Throughout his career he was out of the box, took no prisoners, and rose above petty politics to make larger societal points. A progressive force for change, Mr. Carlin was a mentor for so many of us who use language to make a point (though how he was able to do it so brilliantly for decades is beyond me).
Though Mr. Carlin said that, by and large, language was a tool for concealing the truth, he made sure we saw the absurdities right in front of us. He also noted that inside ever cynical person is a disappointed idealist - though it was clear from his fiery and educational performances that this idealist knew change and societal betterment was still a possibility.
They don't make 'em like George anymore. He'll be missed. To use an old joke from the master himself: Weather forecast for tonight: dark.
Michael A. Stusser
www.michaelstusser.com
— Michael Stusser, Seattle, Washington

[Burton Helms]

His understanding of language and what it did was brilliant. He was an atheist but retained a Catholic's compassionate heart in the way he viewed things, learned in an age when lower income families were poor people.

[Susan Brackney]

George Carlin has been a part of my life as long as I can remember as a child of the fifties. His tv special was awesome and recently seen it again on cable. My elderly Father and I both laughed and agreed with George on many of his thoughts on life in this country. He will be greatly missed! My prayers to his Wife and Daughter.

[Phil]

Comedy clubs everywhere should lower their flags to half staff for 7 days, one for each of those words you can't say on TV!! Thanks for helping us see clearer and laugh louder!!!

[Stan Mello]

Danny, that's irony. There is no god. If there is prove it fool.

[Bettye]

I will forever think of George when I dig down in the bread loaf to get "the good bread" or when I tote my "stuff" place to place or buy "Jim's Cookies." He's gone...like Alan King...and who's to take their place? Nada. I am 70 years old and I have been your fan a l-o-n-g time. RIP George. I will miss you.

[Matthew Soule]

Stop thanking God for him you idiots. Obviously you thought he was funny, but never actually LISTENED to him. STOP THANKING GOD. STOP IT. RIGHT NOW. "GOD" HAD NOTHING TO DO WITH HIS GENIUS. Nor did his "Catholic's compassion," it was HIS compassion. Stop ruining mankind you wackos. Listen to George Carlin, read "The god delusion"