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May 12, 1937 - Jun 22, 2008 (71 years old)
Manhattan
Male
5 ft 8 in (1.74 m)
United States of America
Actor , Television producer , Screenwriter , Voice Actor , Comedian , Writer , Film Producer
George Carlin, an American comedian, actor, and social critic, had an estimated net worth of $10 million at the time of his demise. His career spanned over five decades, leaving a profound impact on comedy and culture. He is forever remembered for his revolutionary routines like "Seven Dirty Words" and his analytical critiques of politics, religion, and societal norms. Carlin passed away on June 22, 2008, in Santa Monica, California, at the age of 71. By the late 1960s, he was earning about $250,000 a year from standup, equivalent to around $2.2 million per year today.
George Denis Patrick Carlin was born on May 12, 1937, in the Bronx, New York. Raised in a Catholic household by Irish immigrant parents Mary and Patrick Carlin, George had a challenging upbringing. His father, an advertising manager, separated from the family due to alcoholism when George was just two months old. He was raised by his mother and older brother, Patrick Jr. The family later moved to Manhattan, where George attended high school. Despite academic struggles, he found a passion for performing and began working as a teenage disc jockey.
Carlin joined the United States Air Force and trained as a radar technician. Concurrently, he worked as a disc jockey at KJOE radio station in Shreveport. In 1959, he teamed up with fellow DJ Jack Burns to form a comedy duo. They created "The Wright Brothers" morning show on KDAY in Hollywood. After two years, they went their separate ways but remained good friends. Carlin started gaining recognition in the late 1960s, developing his distinctive style of satire, social commentary, and linguistic precision. His first comedy album, "Take-Offs and Put-Ons," was released in 1967.
(Photo by Kevin Statham/Redferns)
In the 1970s, Carlin transformed his image and comedic approach, becoming one of the most prominent and controversial comedians of his era. He released successful albums, such as "FM & AM" (1972), "Class Clown" (1972), and "Occupation: Foole" (1973), known for their sharp humor and societal critiques. His TV appearances on shows like "The Ed Sullivan Show" and "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" were highly anticipated. On October 11, 1975, he hosted the first episode of "Saturday Night Live." From the late 1980s onwards, his routines focused on sociocultural criticism, often addressing contemporary political issues and American cultural excesses. His final HBO special, "It's Bad for Ya," was filmed just four months before his passing.
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Carlin's career reached a pivotal moment in 1972 with the "Seven Dirty Words" routine performed in Milwaukee. The skit, listing seven words banned on broadcast TV, ignited a national debate on obscenity and free speech. This led to his arrest for disorderly conduct and a Supreme Court case, FCC v. Pacifica Foundation. The ruling upheld the FCC's authority to regulate indecent material on public airwaves, significantly impacting broadcasting regulations.
Carlin also had a successful film career, appearing in numerous movies, including "Car Wash" (1976), "Outrageous Fortune" (1987), and "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" (1989). He voiced Fillmore in the Pixar film "Cars" (2006). Despite his success in films, stand-up comedy remained his primary focus throughout his career, and he continued to perform until his death.
Carlin's significant contributions to comedy earned him numerous awards and recognitions. He won four Grammy Awards for Best Comedy Album and was inducted into the Comedy Hall of Fame in 1994. He ranked second on Comedy Central's list of the 100 greatest stand-up comedians in 2004, between Lenny Bruce and Richard Pryor. In 2008, he received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor posthumously.
Carlin met Brenda Hosbrook while touring in Dayton, Ohio, in August 1960. They wed in 1961 at her parents' home in Dayton, and their only child, Kelly Carlin, was born on June 15, 1963. The couple renewed their vows in Las Vegas in 1971. Brenda passed away from liver cancer on May 11, 1997, a day before Carlin's 60th birthday. Carlin met comedy writer Sally Wade shortly after and married her a year later. They remained together until his death in 2008, two days before their tenth anniversary. Wade wrote "The George Carlin Letters: The Permanent Courtship of Sally Wade," published in 2011, detailing their relationship.
