Ed McMahon, the long-time sidekick of “Tonight Show” host Johnny Carson, has died in Los Angeles. He was 86.
Known for his spirited catchphrase “Here’s Johnny!”, McMahon was also associate as the host of TV talent show Star Search.
Edward Lee McMahon was born in Detroit on March 6, 1923. His family moved to Philadelphia and he worked his way through Catholic University, making money through side jobs in Atlantic City. After earning his bachelor’s degree in speech, McMahon starred in a television show for children in Philadelphia.
McMahon passed away at the UCLA Ronald Reagan Medical Center on Tuesday morning.
After McMahon left the “Tonight Show”, he worked once more as a pitchman for a assortment of products and services, most of them aimed at senior citizens. In his later years, McMahon was bedeviled by health as well as financial problems and struggled to be able to remain in his California home.
Recently, McMahon appeared on commercials including one for the Cash 4 Gold Web site.
Edward McMahon is survived by his wife Pamela and five children.