GEORGE CARLIN

George Carlin (May 12, 1937 - June 22, 2008)

 George began his career as part of a comedy team with Jack Burns. That lasted two years before the two of them separated and began individual careers. Carlin appeared on a few television variety shows including The Ed Sullivan Show and The Tonight Show. During his early years, George's work was seen as "conventional" but during the 1970s he eventually changed his routines including his appearance. He sported faded jeans, long hair, a beard, and earrings. At the time, it was normal for comedians to be clean-cut, and his choice of style lost him some TV bookings, but that didnt change his mind. Popularity was regained when George Carlin was presented by Ed Sullivan in a performance of "The Hair Piece." After that, the public started accepting George's new sense of style.



 George is best known for his routine "Seven Words You Can Never say on Television." He was arrested on July 21, 1972 and charged for "violating obsenity laws", but the case was dismissed in December of that year because although the judge declared that his language was indecent, George had the freedom to use those words as long as he caused no disturbance. All the controversy made George more famous. While performing a rendition of his "Dirty Words" routine, George was handed a piece of paper stating that his last comedy album FM & AM had won a grammy. He yelled and then happily announced the news to his audience. On another positive note, George was the first ever host of Saturday Night Live. Out of nowhere in 1976, George stopped performing regularly for a period of five years. He later revealed that it was due to him having a heart attack. He was back on his feet in the 1980s and 90s. He returned to the stage doing stand up, acted in various movies, aired on TV, and even had his first hardcover book, Brain Droppings, published in 1997.

 George died at the age of 71 on June 22, 2008, after a history of cardiac problems. He had suffered through three heart attacks, an arrhythmia, and an episode of heart failure in 2005. He was admitted to the hospital beause of chest pains, and he died later that day due to heart failure.

 "If someone loves you and they leave and don't come back, it was never meant to be. If someone loves you and they leave and come back, set them on fire."     - George Carlin

http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0137506/bio
http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/George_Carlin