Ed McMahon: 1923-2009

Ed McMahon, seen here at the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008, died June 23, 2009, at a Los Angeles hospital. McMahon was the former sidekick to Johnny Carson on "The Tonight Show" and a familiar TV commercial pitchman.

Ed McMahon and his wife, Pat Hurn, arrive for the 60th Primetime Emmy Awards in Los Angeles, Sunday, Sept. 21, 2008. McMahon was Carson's announcer and second banana on "Tonight" from 1962 until Carson's retirement in 1992, introducing him with a resounding "H-e-e-e-e-e-ere's Johnny!" and bolstering the host with hearty laughs. (Carson died in 2005.)

Ed McMahon arrives at the premiere of "The Simpsons Movie "July 24, 2007, in Los Angeles. McMahon had broken his neck in a fall in 2007. He faced foreclosure on his home in 2008 because he said the injury left him unable to work, but a deal was announced that December that would allow him to stay in the house.

United States World War II D-Day veterans from left, actor Hugh O'Brian, Ed Pepping, Ed McMahon, Harry Fingerroth, Pete Howenstein, and Joseph Pietroforte reunite for a photo on Thursday, June 1, 2006, at the home of McMahon in Beverly Hills, Calif. The group presented copies of the book "The Secrets of D-Day," to the Bob Hope USO.

Ed McMahon attends a signing ceremony for his new book "Here's Johnny! My Memories of Johnny Carson, The Tonight Show And 46 Years Of Friendship" at Book Soup on December 8, 2005, in West Hollywood, Calif. McMahon also appeared in commercials for American Family Publishers' sweepstakes and had supporting roles in movies including "Fun with Dick and Jane" (1977) and "Just Write" (1997) and in TV shows.

Jerry Lewis, right, and telethon co-host Ed McMahon, prepare to close the 38th annual Jerry Lewis Telethon for the Muscular Dystrophy Association, Monday, Sept. 1, 2003, in Los Angeles.

Telethon co-hosts Ed McMahon, left, and Jerry Lewis celebrate the record $50.5 million total collected at the end of the nearly-22 hour musclar dystrophy telethon Monday Sept. 1, 1997, in Los Angeles. It was the telethon's 32nd year.

Ed McMahon, center, with Johnny Carson, host of "The Tonight Show," and Doc Severinsen, far left, seen here on the final program.

Ed McMahon arrives at the memorial tribute for Bob Hope at St. Charles Borromeo Catholic Church in the North Hollywood area of Los Angeles Wednesday, Aug. 27, 2003.