RIP George Carlin

[Ashley]

SANTA MONICA, Calif. (AP) -- A publicist for George Carlin says the legendary comedian has died of heart failure at a hospital in Santa Monica, Calif.
Carlin performed as recently as last weekend at the Orleans Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas.

Jeff Abraham says Carlin went into St. John's Health Center on Sunday afternoon, complaining of chest pain. Carlin died at 5:55 p.m. PDT. He was 71.

Carlin, who had a history of heart trouble, performed as recently as last weekend at the Orleans Casino and Hotel in Las Vegas. It was announced Tuesday that Carlin was being awarded the 11th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor.

The dean of counterculture comedians, Carlin constantly pushed the envelop with his jokes, particularly with a routine called "The Seven Words You Can Never Say On TV."

When Carlin uttered all seven at a show in Milwaukee in 1972, he was arrested for disturbing the peace. And when they were played on a New York radio station, they resulted in a Supreme Court ruling in 1978 upholding the government's authority to sanction stations for broadcasting offensive language.

[DustinsDuster]

today is a sad, sad day for me. George Carlin was more than a comedian in my mind; he was a hero. dammit why did i have to start my day like this...

[slobalt]

I heard that this morning, it was kinda surreal........

weird huh....

[biohazard]

Damn, he was a good comedian.

[69gt4speed]

Lil bro and I would sit and listen to a lp of carlin when my parents weren't around. It was radical stuff back then.