George Carlin: Comedian Dead at 71

George Carlin, of the “seven words you can’t say on television” fame, died of heart failure Sunday. Carlin was admitted to St. John’s Health Center in Santa Monica and died shortly before 6 pm, according to reports.

Carlin had a history of heart problems and was admitted after complaining of chest pains. He was 71.

He earned five Emmy nominations, as well as several gold records.

The comedian, who toured college campuses for years and made a name for himself using dirty language and delivering biting social commentaries, had released 22 solo albums and three bestselling books.

He finished a show at The Orleans in Las Vegas last week and was planning to take the month off to relax and work on a new book of essays and musings, Abraham said.

Carlin normally took summers off and was scheduled to begin touring again beginning with a July 20 performance at Humphrey’s Concerts By The Bay in San Diego. He had dates lined up through December, Abraham said.

“He was looking forward to it,” his publicist, Jeff Abraham said.

Carlin went to the hospital Sunday afternoon because “his heart just didn’t feel right,” the publicist said.

Carlin was famous for such observations as, “Why is it you park in a driveway and drive on parkway?”

“There are three ingredients in my comedy,” he said in a 1991 interview with the Los Angeles Times. “Those three things which wax and wane in importance are English language and wordplay; secondly, mundane, everyday observational comedy — dogs, cats and all that stuff; and thirdly, sociopolitical attitude comedy.”

According to some sources, Carlin’s observations, especially his political ones, seemed to have grown more bitter with age.

George Carlin, Rest in Peace.

by Mondoreb
image: comedycentral
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* * George Carlin Farewell

Tags: comedian, comedy, dead, George Carlin, heart failure