The quintessential TV talk show sidekick, Ed McMahon, died early this morning at age 86. No cause of death was released, other than a statement from his publicist Howard Bragman which stated that Ed had a number of health problems in his last months.
Ed McMahon was best known as the sidekick to Johnny Carson on the Tonight Show. For 30 years he was by Johnny’s side with his laughter and his famous introduction of “He-e-e-e-e-ere’s Johnny!”
In recent years McMahon was faced with a number of financial battles. Ed, who always worked, broke his neck in 2007 and was unable to continue to work. In 2008 the world heard of his financial battles when he faced the possible foreclosure of his home. Eventually a deal was made that allowed him to keep his home, but he was still terribly in debt. In 2009 Ed returned to work briefly to poke fun at his own financial problems in a commercial with MC Hammer.
Ed McMahon was born on Marc 6, 1923. He served as a fighter pilot in Korea. In 1950 he got his first part on television as a clown in the variety show “Big Top”. He was a co-host for the Jerry Lewis Muscular Dystrophy Association Telethon, and was pitchman for the American Family Publisher’s sweepstakes.
McMahon was surrounded by family at the time of his death, and is survived by his wife Pam and his children Claudia, Katherine, Linda, Jeffrey and Lex.
Good bye, Ed, and thank you for everything.
