George Carlin
Stand-up comedian · 1937–2008

George Carlin

Who George Carlin is

American stand-up comedian, satirist and author, widely regarded as one of the most influential comedians of all time, known for routines on language, politics and religion. His 'seven dirty words' routine was central to the 1978 Supreme Court case FCC v. Pacifica Foundation; he hosted the first episode of Saturday Night Live in 1975 and made 14 stand-up specials for HBO between 1977 and 2008. He won five Grammy Awards for comedy albums and was posthumously awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2008.

At a glance

Born
1937
Died
2008
Style
Late-career essays, Language and systems, Transitional mainstream, Political
Came up through
Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
Stand-up specials
On Location: George Carlin at USC, Carlin at Carnegie, Jammin' in New York and 5 more
Albums
Take-Offs and Put-Ons, FM & AM, Class Clown and 3 more
Podcasts
Brain Droppings, Napalm and Silly Putty, When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops? and 1 more
On screen
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Saturday Night Live, Thomas & Friends and 12 more
Official site
georgecarlin.com ↗

Specials, shows and podcasts

Stand-up specials

Albums

On screen

Podcasts

Where they got their start

Came up the same way

Other comedians in SUCDb who came through Saturday Night Live and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson:

The Launching Pads: the shows the comedians came through →

Comedians like George Carlin

Each linked to them by something on the record — a stage they both came through, a bill, a show, a style or a home town.

Every stand-up comedian with a page, A to Z →

Career timeline

  1. 1937Born
  2. 1963The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (frequent guest and guest host, 1963–1992) On screen
  3. 1967Take-Offs and Put-Ons (1967) Album
  4. 1972FM & AM (1972) Album
  5. 1972Class Clown (1972) Album
  6. 1973Occupation: Foole (1973) Album
  7. 1975Saturday Night Live (host, 1975 and 1984) On screen
  8. 1976Car Wash (Taxi Driver, 1976) On screen
  9. 1977On Location: George Carlin at USC (1977, HBO) Special
  10. 1981A Place for My Stuff (1981) Album
  11. 1982Carlin at Carnegie (1982, HBO) Special
  12. 1987Outrageous Fortune (Frank Madras, 1987) On screen
  13. 1989Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure (Rufus, 1989; sequel Bill & Ted's Bogus Journey, 1991) On screen
  14. 1991Thomas & Friends (US narrator, 1991–1995) On screen
  15. 1991Shining Time Station (Mr. Conductor, 1991–1993) On screen
  16. 1991The Prince of Tides (Eddie Detreville, 1991) On screen
  17. 1992Jammin' in New York (1992, HBO) Special
  18. 1992Jammin' in New York (1992) Album
  19. 1994The George Carlin Show (George O'Grady, 1994–1995) On screen
  20. 1995Streets of Laredo (Billy Williams, miniseries, 1995) On screen
  21. 1996Back in Town (1996, HBO) Special
  22. 1997Brain Droppings (book, 1997) Book
  23. 1999You Are All Diseased (1999, HBO) Special
  24. 1999Dogma (Cardinal Ignatius Glick, 1999) On screen
  25. 2001Complaints and Grievances (2001, HBO) Special
  26. 2001Jay and Silent Bob Strike Back (Hitchhiker, 2001) On screen
  27. 2001Napalm and Silly Putty (book, 2001) Book
  28. 2003Scary Movie 3 (Architect, 2003) On screen
  29. 2004Jersey Girl (Bart Trinké, 2004) On screen
  30. 2004When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops? (book, 2004) Book
  31. 2005Life Is Worth Losing (2005, HBO) Special
  32. 2006Cars (Fillmore, voice, Pixar, 2006) On screen
  33. 2008It's Bad for Ya (2008, HBO) Special
  34. 2008Died
  35. 2009Last Words (memoir, 2009) Book

Questions about George Carlin

What stand-up specials has George Carlin released?

On Location: George Carlin at USC, Carlin at Carnegie, Jammin' in New York, Back in Town, You Are All Diseased, Complaints and Grievances, Life Is Worth Losing and It's Bad for Ya.

What podcast do they host?

Brain Droppings, Napalm and Silly Putty, When Will Jesus Bring the Pork Chops? and Last Words.

What TV shows and films are they in?

The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, Saturday Night Live, Thomas & Friends, Shining Time Station, The George Carlin Show and Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, among 15 credits.

Where did they get their start?

Saturday Night Live (the show's first host) and The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (frequent guest and guest host).

Who are some comedians like them?

Jay Leno (also in Cars), Chris Rock (also in Dogma), Elayne Boosler (also came through The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson), Andy Kaufman (also came through The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson) and Flip Wilson (also came through The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson).

The full SUCDb record

The full record — the career in order, the specials and credits, and the sources for each — is on SUCDb, with their place on the Legends ballots.

Their SUCDb record →Their own site ↗

Sources

Updated 5 October 2026 · the record checked 27 September 2026