George Carlin passed away on Sunday evening after having heart troubles. People Magazine reports the author and comedian was 71 years old.

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Carlin was a cultural icon in terms of finding the words that Americans were thinking about on a topic, but never dared to say them. His edgy style also landed him in the Supreme Court, fighting for the right to perform a certain act that contained many explicit words and material. He was a staple on the Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, he appeared on the Comedy Channel dozens of times, he authored books and entertained millions up until last week in Las Vegas. His presence on the comedic circuit will be greatly missed.

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