George Carlin

Comedian George Carlin is shown in a promotional photo in 1975. Carlin, 71, whose staunch defense of free speech in his most famous routine "Seven Words You Can Never Say On Television" led to a key Supreme Court ruling on obscenity, died Sunday June 22, 2008. In another groundbreaking performance, Carlin served as host of the "Saturday Night Live" debut in 1975.

Milwaukee Police officers lead comedian George Carlin off the Summerfest grounds in Milwaukee, Wis., on July 22, 1972. He was arrested after using allegedly profane language during his act at Summerfest. The charges were later dismissed by a judge. He uttered the seven words he said could not be used on television. The legendary comedian died of heart failure at a hospital in Santa Monica, Calif., Sunday June 22, 2008.

Actor and comedian George Carlin poses in a New York hotel March 19, 2004. Despite his reputation as unapologetically irreverent, Carlin was a television staple through the decades, appearing some 130 times on "The Tonight Show." He produced 23 comedy albums, 14 HBO specials, three books, a couple of TV shows and appeared in several movies.

George Carlin finishes his act with a flourish after receiving a Free Speech award at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colo., March 2, 2002. He won four Grammy Awards, each for best spoken comedy album, and was nominated for five Emmy awards. Carlin was also being awarded the 11th annual Mark Twain Prize for American Humor, which will be presented Nov. 10 in Washington and broadcast on PBS.

Comedian George Carlin gestures May 1, 2001, in New York. Carlin started his career on the traditional nightclub circuit in a coat and tie, pairing with Jack Burns to spoof TV game shows, news and movies. But, after seeing Lenny Bruce perform in Chicago that all changed. Carlin became as much a social commentator and philosopher as comedian, a position he would relish through the years.

George Carlin in an undated photo to promote his HBO special, "Its Bad For Ya." Carlin was born on May 12, 1937, and grew up in the Morningside Heights section of Manhattan, raised by a single mother. After dropping out of high school in the ninth grade, he joined the Air Force in 1954. While in the Air Force he started working as an off-base disc jockey at a radio station in Shreveport, La.

Comedian George Carlin opens the 13th annual U.S. Comedy Arts Festival Feb. 28, 2007, at the Wheeler Opera House in Aspen, Colo. After receiving a general discharge from the Air Force in 1957, he took a radio announcing job in Boston. From there he went on to deejay job at a radio station in Fort Worth, Texas. He also worked a variety of temp jobs including carnival organist and marketing director for a peanut brittle.

George Carlin is shown at the Grammy Awards Feb. 24, 1982, in Los Angeles. Carlin said he hoped to emulate his childhood hero, Danny Kaye, the kindly, rubber-faced comedian who ruled over the decade Carlin grew up in -- the 1950s -- with a clever but gentle humor reflective of the times. Eventually he lost the buttoned-up look, favoring the beard, ponytail and all-black attire for which he came to be known.

Comedian George Carlin comments on the Supreme Court ruling that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) may restrict the broadcast of indecent language at a news conference July 3, 1978, in Los Angeles.

Comedian George Carlin is shown in a promotional photo in 1993 for the Fox comedy, "The George Carlin Show." Even with his decidedly adult-comedy bent, Carlin never lost his childlike sense of mischief, even voicing kid-friendly projects like episodes of the TV show "Thomas the Tank Engine and Friends" and the spacey Volkswagen bus Fillmore in the 2006 Pixar hit "Cars."

Comedian George Carlin performs his routine during a benefit Aug. 20, 1992, at The Bitter End in New York.

Comedian George Carlin poses with his daughter Kelly, left, and wife Brenda as he receives a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame Jan. 21, 1987, in the Hollywood section of Los Angeles.