RIP Ed McMahon

[WinniBug]

Ed McMahon passed away at the age of 86.


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 today at 86.

Mr. 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. Mr. Bragman didn't give a cause of death, saying only that Mr. McMahon had a “multitude of health problems the last few months.”

Mr. McMahon had bone cancer, among other illnesses, according to a person close to the entertainer, and he had been hospitalized for several weeks. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because he wasn't authorized to release the information.

Mr. McMahon broke his neck in a fall in March, 2007, and battled a series of financial problems as his injuries prevented him from working.
Mr. McMahon and Mr. Carson had worked together for nearly five years on the game show Who Do You Trust? when Mr. Carson took over NBC's late-night show from Jack Paar in October, 1962. Mr. McMahon played second banana on Tonight until Mr. Carson retired in 1992.

“You can't imagine hooking up with a guy like Carson,” Mr. McMahon said an interview in 1993. “There's the old phrase, hook your wagon to a star. I hitched my wagon to a great star.”

Mr. McMahon kept his supporting role in perspective.

“It's like a pitcher who has a favourite catcher,” he said. “The pitcher gets a little help from the catcher, but the pitcher's got to throw the ball. Well, Johnny Carson had to throw the ball, but I could give him a little help.”