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George Carlin

Comedy history · 26 facts, each from at least two of 12 independent sources · last reviewed 2026-10-17

George Carlin, whose full name was George Denis Patrick Carlin, was a comedian born on May 12, 1937.1,2,3,4,5,6,7 He starred in 14 comedy specials for HBO and served as the inaugural host of Saturday Night Live.4,8,9,10,11,12 He died in Santa Monica, California, on June 22, 2008.11,13

Early life and career

Carlin was raised in Morningside Heights, a Manhattan neighborhood.1,2,14 He and Burns ended their partnership in 1962, and Carlin then worked as a solo comedian.10,11 In 1967, his first solo record, Take-Offs and Put-Ons, was released by RCA Victor.10,11 One of his characters was the Hippy Dippy Weatherman.9,15

Stand-up and specials

He made more than 130 appearances on The Tonight Show.8,10,12 His debut HBO special, On Location: George Carlin at USC, was recorded in 1977.2,12 Jammin' in New York, the HBO special he did in 1992, was broadcast live from Madison Square Garden's Paramount Theater.10,11 Carlin was a regular performer in Las Vegas, and his venues there included the Orleans hotel.10,11,14,15 His Seven Dirty Words routine is connected to broadcast-indecency matters involving the FCC.9,14

Film, television, and writing

Carlin acted in many films and television programs.3,11 Director Kevin Smith cast him in Dogma in 1999, and in 2004 Carlin played Ben Affleck's father in Smith's Jersey Girl.2,10,11 He voiced roles in three animated films: Cars, Tarzan II, and Happily N'ever After.10,11 He also served as narrator of the Thomas the Tank Engine stories.2,11,16 His book Brain Droppings came out in 1997.2,11,14,15

Honors and family

Two of his albums, Jammin' in New York and FM & AM, won Grammy Awards.2,14 He received a star on Hollywood's Walk of Fame in 1987.2,12 His daughter is Kelly Carlin.1,17

Sources

  1. 'Carlin Street' Resisted by His Old Church. Was It Something He Said? - NYTimes.com (nytimes.com) · archived copy
  2. George Carlin - Quotes, Death & 7 Words (biography.com)
  3. George Carlin – Texas Monthly (texasmonthly.com) · archived copy
  4. Saturday Night Live (museum.tv) · archived copy
  5. George Carlin Quotes - Classic Quotes from George Carlin - Esquire (esquire.com) · archived copy
  6. reviewjournal.com -- News: NORM: Spears visits amid pregnancy rumors (reviewjournal.com) · archived copy
  7. George Carlin (georgecarlin.com) · archived copy
  8. George Carlin to Receive Two-Part Documentary From HBO and Judd Apatow (rollingstone.com)
  9. How George Carlin Changed Comedy In His First HBO Special - Splitsider (splitsider.com) · archived copy
  10. The Official George Carlin Biography- georgecarlin.com (georgecarlin.com)
  11. Kennedy Center: Biographical information for George Carlin (kennedy-center.org) · archived copy
  12. George Carlin | Explore the Arts - The John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts (kennedy-center.org) · archived copy
  13. George Carlin - Actor, Film Actor, Comedian - Biography (biography.com) · archived copy
  14. George Carlin still furious 50 years on (variety.com)
  15. George Carlin with Tony Hendra (writersblocpresents.com)
  16. The George Carlin I knew -- latimes.com (latimes.com) · archived copy
  17. Patrick Carlin Dead: Comedy Writer, Brother of George Carlin Was 90 (variety.com) · archived copy

Updated November 12, 2026.

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