George Carlin

About

George Carlin is not only remembered as one of America's best stand-up comedians, but also as one of its finest and sharpest social commentators. Born in New York City in 1937, he began his career in radio, co-hosting a show with Jack Burns at a station in Fort Worth, Texas. By 1960, he was living in California, establishing his presence in the Los Angeles comedy scene via well-received shows at local venues and coffee shops. By the end of the decade, Carlin's career had taken off, leading to television appearances on shows such as Ed Sullivan and The Tonight Show. It was in the 1970s, however that he began to craft the image and material he'd make his biggest mark with. Influenced by the emerging counterculture and questioning of authority prevalent throughout the decade, Carlin began to mold his stand-up routines into sharp-witted social and political rants that impressed audiences with their informativeness and humor simultaneously. His fearless and subversive material was balanced with a genuine charm and good-natured delivery that made him an influential mind that spanned far beyond the confines of the comedy world. Carlin died of heart failure in 2008 at the age of 71.