Stand-Up Comedian George Carlin Dies

Comedian and author George Carlin, known for his edgy sense of humor, died on Sunday at the age of 71.

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Carlin reportedly died of heart failure at St. John's Health Center in Santa Monica. Only one week earlier, the comedian performed in Las Vegas.

Carlin, best known for his routine "Seven Words You Can Never Say on Television," was open about his long struggle with drugs and alcohol. He also had a history of heart problems, including a previous heart attack.

In 1978, Carlin's "Seven Words" act was ruled indecent by the Supreme Court. The comedian refused to abandon the act, however, and was arrested several times for performing it live. The cases were always dismissed, however.

Carlin was the author of the 1997 best-seller "Brain Droppings." He was scheduled to receive the John F. Kennedy Center's prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in November.

The comedian is survived by his wife, Sally Wade, and daughter, Kelly Carlin McCall. His first wife, Brenda Hosbrook, died in 1997.