George Carlin, Legendary Comedian, Dies of Heart Failure at Age 71

George Carlin, the legendary comedian, died Sunday night in at a hospital in Santa Monica, Calif. He was 71 years old.

The cause of death was heart failure. Carlin, who had a history of heart problems, went into St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica on Sunday afternoon complaining of chest pain and died later that evening.

Carlin had performed as recently as last weekend at the Orleans Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas.

Carlin leaves behind a myriad of celebrated comedic monologues, but none more than the 1972 routine "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television," which he said on his album Class Clown. His "Dirty Words" routine was the central point of the 1978 Supreme Court decision, upholding the government's right to regulate Carlin's act on the regular airwaves.

Carlin started his life of comedy in the 1950s as part of a duo with Jack Burns. Burns and Carlin parted ways in 1962.

Carlin then became a frequent performer on the Ed Sullivan Show and the Tonight Show during Johnny Carson's era. Carlin was also the first host of Saturday Night Live.

Carlin produced 23 comedy albums, 14 HBO specials, and three books. He starred as Mr. Conductor on PBS' Shining Time Station and played Rufus on Bill and Ted's Excellent Adventure.

Carlin won four Grammy Awards for best spoken comedy album and was nominated for five Emmys.

In 1961, Carlin married Brenda Hosbrook. The couple had a daughter, Kelly Carlin McCall, in 1963. Brenda died of liver cancer a day before Carlin's 60th birthday, in 1997. He later remarried Susan Wade.

Carlin is survived by wife Sally Wade; daughter Kelly Carlin McCall; son-in-law Bob McCall; brother Patrick Carlin; and sister-in-law Marlene Carlin.

For the video of Carlin's legendary 1972 performance of "7 Words You Can Never Say on Television", go to http://video.finditt.com/ViewVideo.aspx?fileid=1496

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