George Carlin

Leading stand-up comic and occasional actor since the late 1960s, this veteran performer evolved from a suit-clad, clean-cut social observer to a shaggy countercultural commentator to a grizzled survivor of numerous trends in American comedy. Carlin started out as a radio disc jockey while serving in the US Air Force in Shreveport LA. Working with a partner, he began as a night club comedian in 1960 before striking out on his own two years later. Carlin made his first TV appearance as a guest on "The Merv Griffin Show" in 1965. His childhood dream of becoming an actor began to materialize with a recurring role as an agent for actress Ann Marie (Marlo Thomas) on the sitcom "That Girl" in the 1966-67 season. Work followed in a summer variety vehicle for John Davidson and a feature supporting role in "With Six You Get Eggroll" (1968).
     Carlin began as a relatively "straight" performer but he achieved fame and influence after letting his hair and beard grow in the mid-60s and moving his act to folk clubs and coffee houses frequented by the young and the restless. His wildly successful career in comedy recording began with the release of "Take-Offs and Put-Ons" in 1967. Several million-selling albums followed, including the Grammy-winning "FM & AM", "Class Clown", and "Occupation: Foole". Carlin has recorded over 15 albums. Though he may be best known for creating the amiably freaky Hippy Dippy Weatherman and controversial routines like "Seven Words You Can Never Say on TV"--the playing of which resulted in NYC public radio station WBAI getting censured and fined by the FCC in the 70s--much of Carlin's humor consists of rather gentle observations of the absurdities of everyday life and language and reminiscences of a working-class Irish upbringing in NYC.
     Carlin never achieved his dream of becoming a movie star but he has been a regular face on TV for three decades. Between 1967 and 1970 alone, Carlin made 80 major TV appearances while working the top nightclubs. He went on to become a staple of talk shows, variety specials, and several busted pilots. Carlin has also been featured in over half a dozen popular HBO comedy specials since 1977. He executive produced and starred in his own sitcom, "The George Carlin Show" (Fox, 1994-95), a fairly gentle vehicle wherein he played a cranky aging NYC cabbie. Carlin's feature credits include character work in "Outrageous Fortune" (1987), "Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure" (1989) and its sequel "Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey" (1991) and "The Prince of Tides" (1991).