George Carlin dies at 71, and this one really hurts

My heart is feeling heavy in my chest, and the tears are streaming down my face, at the news tonight that George Carlin is dead of a heart attack at 71. This just feels hugely unfair and devastating. Truly devastating. I'm sure George would say, "Hey, I had a good run, don't mourn too much. I put a lot of hard miles on this body. The heart gave out at 71. Not so bad, all things considered. You know?" My answer to that: "Yeah, maybe. But you still had way too many stories left to tell, too much truth-telling comedy to write and deliver. So it still sucks really badly."

I'm not going to claim a lot of journalistic detachment here. I loved George Carlin. He happened to be a hero of mine. Bold. Fearless. Brilliant. Revolutionary. He was the finest stand-up comedian and social commentator who ever lived. Period. This is why it was one of the true thrills of my life when the Paley Center for Media asked me (at the suggestion of his master publicist Jeff Abraham) to moderate a tribute to Carlin at its Beverly Hills digs on May 8 -- a scant six weeks ago. It turned out to be a magical evening, one when the guest of honor was in top form, tripping down memory lane with passion and candor to a rapt audience and looking optimistically to a future that will now never come.

What sticks with me most from that night, however, isn't how funny Carlin was, or how sharp and charismatic he remained. It was the sweetness and gentleness and grace with which he carried himself -- not only with the assembled fans but also backstage outside of everyone's gaze. Because he remained so raw and cynical and hard-nosed in his stage style, it was easy to assume that the act and the man were interchangeable -- that Carlin had to be an in-your-face force of nature after stepping away from the spotlight and the microphone. Yet nothing could have been further from the truth.

When addressing people privately, or myself in the green room, Carlin was the consummate gentleman, low-key and easygoing and just a regular guy without a shred of pretense. This didn't render his stage persona fraudulent but, indeed, demonstrated the man's refusal to be defined by an image. He well recognized the difference between a media-created facade and a living, breathing person, and he never got the two mixed up.

That night at the Paley Center, Carlin discussed his hope of becoming the 11th recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor that was to be handed out this November. He found out last week that he'd been chosen, and some may see poetry in his passing so soon after learning of an honor that -- as he admitted on May 8 -- meant so much to him. But I see it instead as somewhat tragic that he won't be able to revel in a tribute, and hold a prize, that Carlin so utterly deserved. That I was able, personally, to tell Carlin to his face how much he meant to me obviously now feels all the more significant.

Where's Carlin now? Not heaven. Not hell. Not with God. He didn't much believe in any of the above. So I choose to think he's kicking back somewhere in the musty ether, pounding away at his computer keyboard and perplexed as to why his name's suddenly all over the news -- genuinely humble even after taking his permanent leave of absence.

I'll be back to share more of my thoughts about Carlin's life and career after gathering myself overnight. But I clearly can't pretend that this one's just another showbiz death to me. This one's personal. This one hurts. And it leaves me grasping at the empty reality of how fleeting life is. One day you're still packing 'em in, a living legend -- and the next, it's over. A pretty lousy system, if you ask me.

ADD 12:46 P.M.: Here's a video clip from the Paley Center tribute to Carlin on May 8 that I was privileged to moderate: http://www.paleycenter.org/insidemedia/video/webcast-carlin.htm

-- See what other THR.com bloggers have to say about Carlin's passing: Gold Rush and Reel Pop --

Comments

[Be]

Is there video of the Paley Center tribute?

[Steve Thompson]

For our generation, fifty-somethings now, he made us think, then he made us laugh. He was genuinely iconic, and he will be greatly missed.

[Greg Hardison]

What a great tribute to a great guy! I had the pleasure of meeting Mr. Carlin in 1998, and found him to be exactly as described here, warm, unassuming and genuinely friendly and engaging. I always felt connected to him after that meeting, and now he's gone way too soon. Who now remains among us, to speak The Truth??

[Rusty Hale]

A great tribute to an even Greater Man. George will be sorely missed...like you said, this one hurts..deeply.

[Michael Levine]

He was a king. This is a giant loss. There will never be another George Carlin!

[Jean DeNiro]

Dear George,
Don't leave us all alone on planet earth.
You started us all laughing and we changed everything. They are hardly listening anymore
George, hardly listening. We're gonna miss you, you know the baby-boomers who grew up -sort of.
Thanks for opening our eyes and maybe you can talk to someone about health insurance when you get a minute. We won't forget you!
the 1950 babies

[Rock Singer]

The true template for all to follow. R.I.P. George you will be missed.

[Hansoul]

Ray -

This is an extremely moving entry that, though seemingly inappropriate, utterly inspires me.

I'm only 23, but I was well aware of the resounding impact he's had on the "counterculture" - and undeniably - on our entire society, despite what the Right's of the world might say.

Thank you for your candor, Ray. At times like these, when conventional journalistic integrity compromises the integrity of human emotion, I appreciate your leaving 'detachment' at the door.

I look forward to your follow-up thoughts, as I know you said you needed to gather yourself overnight.

Kindly,

Hansoul

[Victoria]

Thanks for this. George Carlin was SOOO much more than just his "7 Dirty Words." Personal favorite: Maternal Cliches: "Get down off there you'll break your neck" and "Do you want to catch pneumonia?"

[J Hayworth]

I can't speak for the 50-somethings, but to this 30-something this is a devastating blow. I feel so very fortunate to have had the one opportunity to experience George Carlin live, I now cherish that moment more than ever. Thank you for sharing this wonderfully written and raw entry, you said it all exactly right.

[JEFF Wald]

I managed George from 1969 to 1972 and made his record deal with
LITTLE DAVID RECORDS I made the transition with him from Vegas to the TROUBADOR. I used to joke that I took him from $250,000 per year to $12,500 the first year we changed. From then on he took off. One of the highlights was a dinner at his house where the other guest was Specs O'Keefe one of the Brinks Job's robbers who had just gotten out of prison. Our daughters were good friend and went horseback riding together. George grew up in the Bronx as I did and he never changed. You captured him perfectly. I would like to know where the memorial will be.

[Jay]

From another thirtysomething, George made me see things differently. It's not 'normal' to research things after a comedy routine. Sigh. Very sad.

I'm going to miss his insight.

Not to sound crass, but I think his heart just couldn't take all the crap that's going on in the world today.

RIP, George.

[Steve Rosenbaum]

tribute videos here - some really moving:

http://www.georgecarlin.magnify.net/

[Bananafish]

The passing of George Carlin left a giant void in the comedy world. His sense of wit, observation and sarcasm are unparalleled.

www.twowhiteboys.com/2008

[Francisco Matos]

Trendsetter! Innovative! Anarchist! But over all things, a genius, a master. Going far beyond of what his master Lenny Bruce had gone. That was, and will always be, George.

Long live George Carlin!

[Carol]

I am the same age as George, and he was/is my personal hero. I will miss him as long as possible or until I kick my bucket. Maybe I can join him in his funny, irreverent place and we can cuss all night and then another night. If George ain't there, I ain't going! Goodnight sweet prince!