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George Denis Patrick Carlin was an American comedian, satirist, social critic, actor and author. He was known for his stand-up routines, blending dark comedy and commentary on topics such as contemporary politics, the English language, psychology, and religion.
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culture · American stand-up comedian (1937–2008) · actor · television actor · film actor · comedian · television presenter · writer · voice actor · radio personality · stand-up comedian · journalist · also George Carlin, George Denis Patrick Carlin, George Dennis Carlin, George Dennis Patrick Carlin, Carlin
Born 12 May 1937 · Died 22 June 2008 · Q150651
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Snopes rated the claim “Comedian George Carlin once said: "Don't just teach your children to read. Teach them to question what they read. Teach them to question everything."” Mostly True.
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Rolling Stone: George Carlin Estate Reaches Settlement Over AI Comedy Special
Yahoo: George Carlin's estate sues over AI-generated stand-up special titled 'I'm glad I'm dead'
Forbes: ‘Bastardization Of His Legacy’: Creators Of AI-Generated George Carlin Special Sued By Comedian’s Estate
Yahoo: George Carlin Estate Sues Makers of AI Comedy Special for Likeness Theft and Copyright Infringement
Variety: George Carlin Estate Files Lawsuit Against Group Behind AI-Generated Stand-Up Special: ‘A Casual Theft of a Great American Artist’s Work’
NPR: Opinion: George Carlin wasn't predictable, unlike AI
People: George Carlin’s Daughter Speaks Out Against New AI Comedy Special Featuring Her Father’s Likeness
Mashable: AI George Carlin releases comedy special that real George Carlin would've despised
Deadline.com: George Carlin’s Daughter Blasts Dudesy AI-Generated Comedy Special Impersonating Her Dad: “No Machine Will Ever Replace His Genius”
USA Today: George Carlin is coming back to life in new AI-generated comedy special
Forbes: George Carlin Lives On In Expletive-Laced New Comedy Special Touched By AI
Snopes rated the claim “Comedian George Carlin once said: "Rights aren't rights if someone can take them away. They're privileges. That's all we've ever had in this country is a bill of temporary privileges."” Correct Attribution.
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The Cheat Sheet: George Carlin’s Quote About Abortion Comes From a 1996 Stand-up Special
Snopes.com rated the claim “George Carlin said: "Instead of giving kids participation trophies, teach them activities where the result is the reward."” Incorrect Attribution.
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That he took more acting roles in the latter half of his career because he "never gave up on the Danny Kaye dream"
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The Hall: Honoring the Greats of Stand-Up, Carlin was inducted into the National Comedy Center in Jamestown, New York
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USA Today rated the claim “Comedian George Carlin authored a viral essay criticizing modern society” False.
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That a biopic of Carlin was being written
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Part of West 121st Street in Morningside Heights was renamed "George Carlin Way"
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"Weird Al" Yankovic referenced the hoaxes in his song "Stop Forwarding That Crap to Me" with the lyric, "And by the way, your quotes from George Carlin aren't really George Carlin
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Carlin's widow Sally Wade published The George Carlin Letters: The Permanent Courtship of Sally Wade, a collection of previously unpublished writings and artwork by Carlin interwoven with Wade's chronicle of their decade
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Awarded Grammy Hall of Fame for Class Clown (2009).
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Snopes.com rated the claim “Essay by George Carlin laments the passing of common sense.” Incorrect Attribution.
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Died 2008-06-22.
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At age 71, Carlin died from heart failure at Saint John's Health Center in Santa Monica, California
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Awarded Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album (2008).
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Awarded Mark Twain Prize for American Humor (2008).
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From the Wells Fargo Center for the Arts in Santa Rosa, California
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“Cuando la evolución esté prohibida, sólo evolucionarán los forajidos». [When evolution is outlawed, only outlaws will evolve].”
“Funny Man in an Unfunny World”
Carlin said that using cannabis, LSD, and mescaline had helped him cope with life
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HBO broadcast 11 of his 14 HBO specials from June 25 to 28, including a 12-hour marathon block on the HBO Comedy channel
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Kelly Carlin announced plans to publish an "oral history", a collection of stories from Carlin's friends and family
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“Creo que es deber del comediante descubrir dónde se traza la línea y cruzarla deliberadamente». [I think it's the duty of the comedian to find out where the line is drawn and cross it deliberately].”
“Los políticos están ahí para darte la impresión de que tienes libertad de elección. No lo creas. No tienes elección. Tienes dueños. Ellos te poseen. Son dueños de todo». [The politicians are put there to give you the idea that you have freedom of choice. You don't. You have no choice. You have owners. They own you. They own everything].”
“Lo llaman el “Sueño Americano”, porque hay que estar dormido para creerlo». [It's called the American Dream, because you have to be asleep to believe it].”
“Ni te preocupes por las cosas insignificantes, ni acaricies las cosas sudorosas». [Don't sweat the petty things and don't pet the sweaty things].”
“Mówię do siebie, bo jestem jedyną osobą, z której zdaniem się liczę.”
In 2008, Carlin said that using cannabis, LSD, and mescaline had helped him cope with life.
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Voiced the wizard in Happily N'Ever After, his last film
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Life Is Worth Losing, Carlin toured his new material through the first half of 2006
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Snopes rated the claim “Comedian George Carlin authored a list of "hurricane rules."” Incorrect Attribution.
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While Rolling Stone magazine ranked him second on its list of the 50 best stand-up comedians of all time in 2017, in both cases behind Richard Pryor and ahead of Lenny Bruce
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A significant episode of heart failure in 2005, and two angioplasties on undisclosed dates
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Representative Doug Ose introduced a bill (H
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Awarded Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album (2001).
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Awarded Emperor Has No Clothes Award (2001).
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Snopes rated the claim “Comedian George Carlin authored a piece about his being a 'Bad American.'” False.
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Snopes rated the claim “A widely-circulated essay known as "The Paradox of Our Time" was penned by George Carlin.” False.
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Said, "Because of my abuse of drugs, I neglected my business affairs and had large arrears with the IRS, and that took me eighteen to twenty years to dig out of
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Carlin was given a Lifetime Achievement Award at the 15th Annual American Comedy Awards
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Awarded Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album (2000).
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And remained married until Carlin's death
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They wed in a private, unregistered ceremony on June 24, 1998, and remained married until Carlin's death.
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One day before her husband's 60th birthday
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“I had a great time. I never laughed so much, so often, so hard as I did with cast members Alex Rocco, Chris Rich, Tony Starke. There was a very strange, very good sense of humor on that stage ... [but] I was incredibly happy when the show was canceled. I was frustrated that it had taken me away from my true work.”
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Awarded Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album for Jammin' in New York (1993).
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Carlin began a weekly Fox sitcom, The George Carlin Show, playing New York City taxicab driver George O'Grady
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Highlighted the directional change he had been honing the last few years
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Carlin had a major supporting role in the film The Prince of Tides, which starred Nick Nolte and Barbra Streisand, as the gay neighbor of the main character's suicidal sister
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Gained popularity with a new generation of teens when he was cast as Rufus, the time-traveling mentor of the title characters in Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure
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Carlin evolved and adopted both a new appearance and a new direction
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Carlin returned to the stage, releasing A Place for My Stuff and returning to HBO and New York City with the Carlin at Carnegie TV special, which was filmed at Carnegie Hall and aired during the 1982–83 season
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Broadcasters started to use the "Carlin Warning" to remind performers of the words they could not say during a live performance
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Broadcast as George Carlin at USC
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When his career appeared to be at its height
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A man complained to the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) after listening with his son to a similar routine, "Filthy Words", from Carlin's Occupation: Foole, which was broadcast one afternoon on radio station WBAI
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Carlin was arrested after performing the routine at Milwaukee's Summerfest and charged with violating obscenity laws
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Awarded Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album for FM & AM (1972).
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Singer-songwriter Kenny Rankin was Carlin's label-mate on Little David Records, and Rankin served many times as Carlin's musical guest or opening act during the early 1970s
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Which was released as the album FM & AM in 1972
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Record producer Monte Kay formed the Little David Records subsidiary of Atlantic Records, with comedian Flip Wilson as co-owner
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Changed his routines and his appearance; he grew his hair long, sported a beard and earrings, and typically dressed in T-shirts and blue jeans
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At The Roostertail in Detroit and issued by RCA Victor in 1967
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Their only child, Kelly Marie Carlin was born June 15, 1963, and would later become a radio host.
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Carlin met Jack Burns, a fellow DJ at radio station KXOL in Fort Worth, Texas
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Born 1937-05-12.
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To Mary (née Bearey; 1896–1984) and Patrick John Carlin (1888–1945)
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