George Carlin Dies at Age 71

George Carlin, 71, has passed away at a Los Angeles area hospital of heart failure Sunday, according to his publicist.

Perhaps best known for his "7 words you can't say on television and radio," Carlin's career bordered on the edgy and provocative. An anti-establishment icon, Carlin's material often included off-color language and references to drug and alcohol usage, as well as the seven words that can not be said on broadcast airwaves, at one point one case over regulatory issues regarding his language was presented before the Supreme Court (F.C.C. v. Pacifica Foundation). In later years, Carlin's routine included making light of modern American political and cultural issues. He is considered to be the second greatest stand-up comic of all time, right behind Richard Pryor.