Ed McMahon, 86
LOS ANGELES (AP) — Ed McMahon, the loyal "Tonight Show" sidekick who bolstered boss Johnny Carson with guffaws and a resounding "H-e-e-e-e-e-ere's Johnny!" for 30 years, died early Tuesday. He was 86.
McMahon died shortly after midnight at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center surrounded by his wife, Pam, and other family members, said his publicist, Howard Bragman.
Bragman didn't give a cause of death, saying only that McMahon had a "multitude of health problems the last few months."
McMahon died shortly after midnight at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center surrounded by his wife, Pam, and other family members, said his publicist, Howard Bragman.
Bragman didn't give a cause of death, saying only that McMahon had a "multitude of health problems the last few months."
Labels: ed mcmahon, obituaries
Posted by Michael Higby @ 6/23/2009 10:27:00 AM
28 Comments:
A great man. Sorry to see him have so much trouble his last few years. He did everything from being a Korean War fighter pilot to co-hosting the Jerry Lewis telethon, Publisher's Clearing House, Budweiser commercials, TV's Bloopers and Practical Jokes and of course 30 years next to Johnny Carson. He also is responsible for the careers of celebrities from Adam Sandler to Rosie O'Donnell to Britney Spears.
A great man? He made tens of millions of dollars, but couldn't figure out how to pay his freaking mortgage?
Great man? A man who appeared drunk on countless Tonight Shows?
I'd say he is one of the LUCKIEST men on the planet, to have gone so far on so little talent.
Does he remind you of someone?
Nice way to respect the dead.
The drunk thing was an act. Lots of rich people have money problems. Even Trump has gone bankrupt like three times.
Its so telling that your hatred of others leads you to disrespect a man who was admired by many and who has left behind a loving family who is grieving.
May God bless you.
MS - You're being a lot kinder to our pet troll than I'm feeling right now.
McMahon broke his neck in 2007. A catastrophic injury at any age. Not too many people can work with a broken neck.
RIP Ed.
10:42 AM probably meant to say those things about Mayor Villarlalayoff. Reads like what his life would look like 10 years from now, except for the millions and the Tonight Show. I'm sure it was a case of mistaken identity.
At least Ed took care of business and settled his lawsuit. He died knowing his family would be okay. That is what a great man does. Good for him.
I don't have an ounce of hatred toward the man.
But I challenge your assertion that a man who was a deadbeat on his debts rises to the level of great.
The fact that other wealthy people have money problems is irrelevant. You're not saying that they're "great." I'm challenging that the man was not great, but someone who lived his personal life recklessly, in his family life as well as with his personal finances.
It's not him who I'm challenging, it's your assessment.
As for his drunkenness on air being an act, you know this.......how?
Yes, he was an icon, as far as wingmen are concerned. But great he was not. Learn the difference. You're in communications aren't you?
Yes, bloopers and practical jokes; a great contribution to society.
Not!
That publisher's clearinghouse crap has been overstuffing my mailbox for decades!
He was incredibly lucky to have made a career and ton of money from having no talent. The original Paris Hilton but without the looks, financial managers or sexationalism - an ordinary man. For that I don't hate him or love him -- he's just the Average Joe who got lucky, blew it all tho got to live in a mansion and have Donald Trump keep paying for his house.
Lucky to the end except for his fall, resulting in legal wrangling that diminished his image still further. (Knowing how arrogant Cedars can be and seeing their messup with the Quaid babiesi and lots we don't hear about, I'm not saying he wasn't right.)
Unbelievable. I bet every one of those dissing Ed are government employees and narcissistic liberals.
By the way not all liberals are narcissistic.
10:42 reminds me of someone who doesn't know how to spend a quarter million dollars effectively during a campaign. Any straw hats left over?
11:04 is someone with a serious emotional problem.
Wow, what a group here.
I am terrible with money. I even had to file bankruptcy once through no fault of my own. That was many years ago. I hate to deal with money. I hate to pay bills. It's not my thing.
However, I am probably one of the greatest people I know in other ways. I'm a great wife, a great mom, a great advocate for my community, a great friend, a great sibling, a great daughter, a great neighbor. I could continue, but I'm shocked that if I were to die there is a chance that people who know my personal business would think that all that I do is meaningless because I pay my bills late.
And didn't that poor old 86 year-old man get conned by a mortgage broker? (likely one of the friends of the poster who is calling McMahon a slougher)
I feel for his family.
But I challenge your assertion that a man who was a deadbeat on his debts rises to the level of great.
Witless debtor's prison advocate, I give you Daniel Webster...Baudelaire...Kerouac...etc. I wouldn't say he was a great man either, but it does take a stripe of greatness to realize your best job is as a sidekick.
Unbelievable. I bet every one of those dissing Ed are government employees and narcissistic liberals.
Michael, I really doubt it.
how utterly weird of Higby to even say that he thinks anyone who sees McMahon for what he is, is a city hall staffer. He was an ordinary man with no talent who got lucky and blew it by living above his means = but got lucky again when Trump saved his house from foreclosure, which also only happened because he was famous for being famous.
But hey, people with no talent or experience or education running for high office is just the kind of thing this blog supports - and when they lose they sit and throw barbs at those who do have the misfortune to have experience and education. Calls them "elitist."
No I'm not a city hall staffer, I'm someone not raised in the trailer park who doesn't think education and experience are dirty words, but qualifications. How sad on you and where so many in this city are today, Higby.
Joseph the point is that those who have the TIME to sit on Mayor Sam and go as far to bitch about Ed McMahon are either City Hall workers or those perhaps living on City settlements.
Or perhaps narcissists who spend money on hats and signs and will whine incessantly that a homeless man blinked his world.
I was saddened when I heard about this loss. My thought was, here was a man that brought many laughs to my Mom & Dad, may he rest in peace!
Higby @2:12, I agree with you about the last part and a certain candidate who can't move on -- which is why I think it's sad he and Kevin James blamed the same "gadflies" just last night on the show for having taken votes. Otherwise James and that candidate were sure they'd have forced Antonio into a run-off and gotten him out of the way then.
I think that's unrealistic and sour grapes. It's disappointing that Trutanich's campaign manager John Thomas goes on the show all the time to say the same tiresome things, but even more so that Moore's running mate Berger and Kevin James are nasty and mean- spirited and bent on revenge.
They sound even worse than "the candidate" and it's very unprofessional from someone who's supposed to be heading up the "Ethics and Corruption" unit. (Zine says similarly over-the-top nasty things which are totally inappropriate for a councilman.) That's just not acceptable and reflects very, very badly on Trutanich's whole operation.
Q: what do Ed McMahon and Phil Jennerjahn have in common?
Anon 10:03 Yes, it's "Sour grapes," and you're the expert on the topic. Why can't you get over the fact that Weiss lost? Take all the pot shots you like, but ya know what? The election is SO OVER. Your guy lost. He's a loser. Trutanich won because he was not another city insider and you obviously have a problem with that.
As for Ed McMahon, I'm saddened that the last days of his life were clouded with financial woes. Ed brought cheer and humor to American homes every night, and should have lived out the last days of his life with a little dignity. The neck injury was a devastating blow to his fortune. I hope he has found some well earned peace and tranquility on the other side.
RIP, Ed!
Thanks for all the laught with Johnny all those years.
Michael, I didn't realize Ed McMahon was involved in so many ventures and careers. You gave him a nice sendoff.
One of the great things he did was to discover so many comedians, singers, etc. on that Star Search show. That was pretty great on his part. You can't take that away from him.
11:36 just revealed himself as Berger, no apologies for being nasty and vengeful and unprofessional! So sad. Maybe you and Walter Moore can split costs on a group therapy series?
Anon@ 10:03
I didn't hear the radio show you mention, but if it is true that is very disappointing. Walter Moore didn't lose because other candidates were in the race!! Even if you transferred EVERY other candidates votes to him...he STILL doesn't force a runoff with Antonio.
Moore bungled his campaign by blowing money on talk radio ads on Conservative stations...those people weren't going to vote for Villaraigosa anyway, so he was preaching to the choir. Moore needed to spend more money on direct mailers. Get something in the voters hands that helped define him and his causes.
I remember a few years ago a lady politician named "Abby Land" ? was running for political office near where I live. I got mailers from her almost every day. By election day, I sure knew who she was... (I didn't vote for her based on political reasons...she was a liberal)
On election day, most voters still didn't even know who was running against Villaraigosa.
Hell, most voters didn't even know there was an election....
If Walter Moore had raised more money and spent more on direct mail, he probably could have forced a runoff. If there is any blame to be placed he needs to look in the Mirror.
I considered spending a few grand on robo-calls...and that would have saved me the embarrassment of my last place finish. But I realized I wasn't going to win...and who cared if I finished 6th or 9th in the race?
As George W. Bush says...
"First is first and second is nothin' ..."
Isn't this Tony Cardenas brother
07-1489
CD 7 Public Works Committee
Mayor report, dated June 16, 2009, relative to the reappointment of Mr. Ernesto Cardenas to the Board
of Public Works Commissioners for the term ending June 30, 2014. Mr. Cardenas’current term expires
June 30, 2009.
I love reading Phil's comments because he just loves to write without having a clue about the subject.
That applies to almost every subject he writes about.
All Phil does is parrot things he picks up elsewhere. Like a little parrot. SQUAWK!!!!
In recognition of Colonel Ed McMahon's Honorable Service in the United States Marine Corps, the Tri-Cities Tennessee, Detachment # 969 of the Marine Corps League would like to extend our appreciation and gratitude for his service to God, Country and Corps as well as our sincere condolences to his family.
SEMPER FIDELIS
Don Elseroad
SSgt USMC (Ret)
MCL Detachment #969
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