Comic and Toon Vet George Carlin Dies

Monday, June 23, 2008
By: Ryan Ball

Best known for his controversial stand-up routine highlighting the “seven words you can’t say on TV,” comedian and actor George Carlin showed a more G-rated side later in his career by providing voice-overs for animated TV shows and movies aimed at children and families. The consummate performer died of heart failure on Sunday at the age of 71.

Born and raised in New York City, Carlin struggled on the comedy circuit for a number of years before landing parts in television and film in the mid to late ’60s. Inspired by Lenny Bruce, he eventually reinvented his stage act by introducing biting social and political commentary and quickly made a name for himself. He was the first host of Saturday Night Live when it debuted in 1975 and went on to release Grammy-winning stand-up comedy albums and appear in a number of movies including Outrageous Fortune, Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. One of the most influential comedians of all time, he kept working right up to the end. His last comedy special, George Carlin … It’s Bad For Ya!, debuted earlier this year.

Kids know a whole different George Carlin. The salty stand-up cleaned up his act as the narrator of the animated television show Thomas the Tank Engine & Friend, and was nominated for Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in a Children’s Series for his work on Shining Time Station. He later provided the voice of Munchie in the 1998 “D’oh-in’ in the Wind” episode of The Simpsons, and voices characters in Disney’s Tarzan II, Disney/Pixar’s Cars and the independent toon feature Happily N’ever After for BAF Berlin Animation Film and Vanguard Animation.

Reader Comments

• shakeem winn : artist and writer : winn ltd.

  Monday, June 23, 2008

  George Carlin. Another great in a cannon of immense talent thats left this talent this year. I wish you well. Sleep an eternally peaceful slumber.

• Jim Wickey : Writer-Director : Vistavox Entertainment

  Monday, June 23, 2008

  It\'s important to remember that George created wonderfully surreal characters and situations that were perfectly family friendly. Such an emphasis is placed on his \"blue\" material, but George had a wonderful sense of the absurd that went far beyond his \"raw\" act. George knew how to create a universe within a story. As a writer he was brilliant, and it would be a shame to only remember him as the “seven words you can\'t say on TV\" guy. His Ed Sullivan performances were amazing, and you always felt he was talking with you instead of at you, which is unique for standup. I miss him as I type this.

• neville : animator :

  Tuesday, June 24, 2008

  There\'s a wonderful inter view with Carlin at npr.org on Fresh Air...Monday\'s episode. Check it out.