George Carlin

George Denis Patrick Carlin (May 12, 1937 – June 22, 2008) was an American stand-up comedian, actor, author, and social critic. Known as one of the most important and influential stand-up comedians of all time, Carlin was dubbed 'the dean of counterculture comedians'. His black comedy and reflections on politics, the English language, psychology, religion, and taboo subjects garnered attention. Carlin's 'seven dirty words' routine played a central role in the 1978 United States Supreme Court case F.C.C. v. Pacifica Foundation, affirming the government's ability to censor indecent material on public airwaves. He filmed 14 stand-up comedy specials for HBO, with his first special, George Carlin at USC, airing in 1977. In the late 1980s and onwards, Carlin focused on sociocultural criticism of American society, often satirizing American culture. He was a frequent performer and guest host on The Tonight Show for three decades.