Best known for his controversial stand-up routine highlighting the ‘seven words you can’t say on TV,’ comedian and actor George Carlin showed a more G-rated side later in his career by providing voice-overs for animated TV shows and movies aimed at children and families. The consummate performer died of heart failure on Sunday at the age of 71.
Born and raised in New York City, Carlin struggled on the comedy circuit for a number of years before landing parts in television and film in the mid to late ’60s. Inspired by Lenny Bruce, he eventually reinvented his stage act by introducing biting social and political commentary and quickly made a name for himself. He was the first host of Saturday Night Live when it debuted in 1975 and went on to release Grammy-winning stand-up comedy albums and appear in a number of movies including Outrageous Fortune, Bill and Ted’s Excellent Adventure and Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back. One of the most influential comedians of all time, he kept working right up to the end. His last comedy special, George Carlin ‘ It’s Bad For Ya!, debuted earlier this year.
Kids know a whole different George Carlin. The salty stand-up cleaned up his act as the narrator of the animated television show Thomas the Tank Engine & Friend, and was nominated for Daytime Emmy Award for Outstanding Performer in a Children’s Series for his work on Shining Time Station. He later provided the voice of Munchie in the 1998 ‘D’oh-in’ in the Wind’ episode of The Simpsons, and voices characters in Disney’s Tarzan II, Disney/Pixar’s Cars and the independent toon feature Happily N’ever After for BAF Berlin Animation Film and Vanguard Animation.
