George Carlin

I'd like to meet:

Date of Birth 12 May 1937, New York, New York, USADate of Death June 22, 2008, Los Angeles, CaliforiaBirth Name George Dennis CarlinNickname Georgie Porgie Curious GeorgeHeight 5' 9" (1.75 m)George Carlin, arguably, is the greatest and -- after Lenny Bruce -- most influential stand-up comedian of all time. An Irish Catholic born and raised in the Morningside Heights neighborhood of New York City, Carlin started out as a conventional comedian and had achieved a fair degree of success as a Bill Cosby style raconteur in nightclubs and on TV until the late 1960s, when he radically overhauled his persona. The new persona, which is more in line with who and what George Carlin is, has been "George Carlin" ever since and is what made him a great stand-up comedian. Carlin's forte is Lenny Bruce-style social and political commentary, spiced with nihilistic observations about people and religion peppered with black humor. He is also noted for his use of language. Carlin's notorious "Seven Dirty Words" comedy routine was part of a radio censorship case that made its way to the U.S. Supreme Court in 1978.Spouse Brenda Carlin (3 July 1963 - 11 May 1997) (her death) 1 childTrade MarkStand-up comedy that usually focuses on one of three categories: peculiarities of the English language, "the little world" (observational humor), and "the big world" (social commentary), often with a disparaging edge.Salty standup comedy monologues with a strong content emphasis on social commentary and language.Since the 1990s, wears all black clothing for his stand-up performances.TriviaHas received two Grammys: for his albums "FM & AM" (1972) and "Jammin' in New York" (1993).Has starred in 11 HBO specials since 1977.He was the first-ever host of "Saturday Night Live" (1975) on 10/11/75, as well as the first-ever host of "Fridays" (1980), an ABC show fashioned after "SNL".Inducted into the Comedy Hall of Fame in November 1994.Received a Hollywood Walk of Fame star in January of 1987. It's located at the corner of Vine and Selma Streets, between Sunset and Hollywood Boulevards. Milton Berle presided over the ceremony.Jack Burns and Carlin were a comedy team from 1960-1962. When they parted ways in 1962, Burns joined the Second City comedy group in Chicago, and Carlin pursued a solo stand-up comedy career.The radio broadcast of an uncensored version of his routine "Seven Dirty Words You Can't Say on Radio or Television" became the center of a debate over censorship, and FCC legislation over profanity.Was educated mostly in Catholic schools in New York City.Some of his comedy influences include Spike Jones, The Marx Brothers, Danny Kaye, Jerry Lewis, Lenny Bruce and Bob Newhart.His wife, Brenda, died one day before his sixtieth birthday.Biography in: "Who's Who in Comedy" by Ronald L. Smith. Pg. 91-93. New York: Facts on File, 1992. ISBN 0816023387Chosen as #2 in Comedy Central's 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of All Time (April 2004).His list of the Seven Words You Can't Say on TV are referenced in Private Parts (1997).Appeared in "The Simpsons" (1989) episode "D'oh-in' in the Wind," playing a former hippie. In a previous episode of the show, Krusty the Clown is told he's being sued by Carlin for stealing the "Seven Words You Can't Say on Television."Daughter Kelly born in 1963.Irish-American.Attended (but was expelled from) Cardinal Hayes High School in the Bronx, New York--the same alma mater as Regis Philbin and Martin Scorsese.Has many popular writings on the Internet being falsely attributed to him, such as the anonymous commentaries "I Am a Bad American" and "The Paradox of Our Time," along with several lists of one-liner jokes. Carlin states on his website that he did not write them, and "nothing you see on the Internet is mine unless it came from one of my albums, books, HBO shows, or appeared on my website.Just before Christmas 2005, he experienced significant shortage of breath and other heart-related symptoms. On Christmas Day he entered Cedars-Sinai Hospital in Beverly Hills. During an eight-day stay he was treated for a lung infection and narrowed arteries. He received antibiotics and an angioplasty that included the placement of a double stent. The procedure was successful, but he was advised to take things slowly in the New Year.Awarded the 2008 Mark Twain Prize for American Humor by the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts.