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| US comedian George Carlin dies | US comedian George Carlin dies |
| (21 minutes later) | |
| Grammy-award winning comedian George Carlin, best known for his Seven Words You Can Never Say On TV routine, has died of heart failure aged 71. | Grammy-award winning comedian George Carlin, best known for his Seven Words You Can Never Say On TV routine, has died of heart failure aged 71. |
| The star was admitted to a hospital in Los Angeles on Sunday with chest pains and died later that day. | The star was admitted to a hospital in Los Angeles on Sunday with chest pains and died later that day. |
| Jack Burns, Carlin's comedy partner in the early 1960s, told the Associated Press agency: "He was a genius and I will miss him dearly." | Jack Burns, Carlin's comedy partner in the early 1960s, told the Associated Press agency: "He was a genius and I will miss him dearly." |
| Carlin performed as recently as last weekend in Las Vegas. | Carlin performed as recently as last weekend in Las Vegas. |
| Anti-Establishment icon | Anti-Establishment icon |
| The star, who had a history of heart problems, was scheduled to receive the John F Kennedy Center's prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humour in November. | The star, who had a history of heart problems, was scheduled to receive the John F Kennedy Center's prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humour in November. |
| Carlin became known for his unpredictable performances and for pushing boundaries during his 50-year career. | Carlin became known for his unpredictable performances and for pushing boundaries during his 50-year career. |
| He achieved status as an anti-Establishment icon in the 1970s with his provocative and controversial acts. | He achieved status as an anti-Establishment icon in the 1970s with his provocative and controversial acts. |
| His Seven Words routine led to his arrest in 1972 for disturbing the peace after he performed the act at a show in Milwaukee. | His Seven Words routine led to his arrest in 1972 for disturbing the peace after he performed the act at a show in Milwaukee. |
| Carlin became known for his edgy and provocative performances | Carlin became known for his edgy and provocative performances |
| The same routine, which was played on a New York radio station, resulted in a Supreme Court ruling in 1978 upholding the government's authority to sanction stations for broadcasting offensive language. | |
| Carlin produced 23 comedy albums, 14 HBO specials, three books, a couple of TV shows and appeared in several movies. | Carlin produced 23 comedy albums, 14 HBO specials, three books, a couple of TV shows and appeared in several movies. |
| He also hosted the first broadcast of Saturday Night Live, won four Grammy Awards - each for best spoken comedy album - and was nominated for five Emmys. | He also hosted the first broadcast of Saturday Night Live, won four Grammy Awards - each for best spoken comedy album - and was nominated for five Emmys. |
| Drug addiction plagued him for much of his life, beginning with marijuana experimentation as a teenager. | Drug addiction plagued him for much of his life, beginning with marijuana experimentation as a teenager. |
| During the 1970s he began using cocaine, prescription painkillers and wine. | During the 1970s he began using cocaine, prescription painkillers and wine. |
| He racked up debt during that time and ended up owing about $3m in back taxes. | He racked up debt during that time and ended up owing about $3m in back taxes. |
| In 2004, he entered a Los Angeles rehab clinic for his alcohol and Vicodin abuse. | In 2004, he entered a Los Angeles rehab clinic for his alcohol and Vicodin abuse. |
| Carlin is survived by his second wife Sally Wade; daughter Kelly Carlin McCall; and brother Patrick. | Carlin is survived by his second wife Sally Wade; daughter Kelly Carlin McCall; and brother Patrick. |
| His first wife, Brenda, died of cancer in 1997. | His first wife, Brenda, died of cancer in 1997. |