George Denis Patrick Carlin (May 12, 1937 - June 23, 2008) was a Grammy-winning American stand-up comedian, actor, and author. Carlin is especially noted for his irreverent attitude and his observations on language, psychology, and religion along with many taboo subjects. In fact, Carlin and his "Seven Dirty Words" comedy routine were central to the 1978 U.S. Supreme Court case F.C.C. ...show more

George Denis Patrick Carlin (May 12, 1937 - June 23, 2008) was a Grammy-winning American stand-up comedian, actor, and author. Carlin is especially noted for his irreverent attitude and his observations on language, psychology, and religion along with many taboo subjects. In fact, Carlin and his "Seven Dirty Words" comedy routine were central to the 1978 U.S. Supreme Court case F.C.C.

v. Pacifica Foundation, in which a narrow 5-4 decision by the justices affirmed the government's right to regulate the public airwaves. George Carlin's latest stand up routines were primarily focused on attacking the flaws in modern-day America. He often took on contemporary political issues in the United States and satirized the excesses of American culture.

He is considered by many to have been a successor to the late Lenny Bruce and was ranked by Comedy Central as the second greatest stand-up comedian of all time behind Richard Pryor. Born in New York City, New York, George Carlin grew up on West 121st Street, in a neighborhood of Manhattan which he later said he and his friends called "White Harlem", because that sounded a lot tougher than its real name, "Morningside Heights". "General Grant was one of my neighbors," he would say later. He was raised by his mother, who left his father when Carlin was two years old. ...show less