Comedian George Carlin dies, aged 71

Comedian George Carlin has passed away, aged 71

The stand-up, who played Rufus in 1989's Bill & Ted's Excellent Adventure, died of heart failure yesterday.

According to the Associated Press, Carlin checked into the St. Johns Health Centre in Santa Monica yesterday afternoon with a chest pain

He began his TV career in the '60s with sketches about DJs and a “hippy dippy weatherman”

Alongside Lenny Bruce and Richard Pryor he is credited with moulding the role of stand-up comedian as a rebellious social commentator.

Much of his material poked fun at the hypocrisies of middle-class America and he regularly mocked society's outrage over drug use.

The Manhattan-born star achieved notoriety for his comedy routine 'Seven Words You Can Never Say On TV'.

After performing the sketch in Milwaukee in 1972 he was arrested on charges of disturbing the peace.

He produced 23 comedy albums, three books and starred in the film Jay And Silent Bob Strike Back. He also voiced episodes of Thomas The Tank Engine And Friends and the character Filmore in Pixar's Cars.

The comic also holds a record for the most one-man shows on HBO, which stands at 14.

Carlin is survived by his wife Sally Wade, daughter Kelly, son-in-law Bob McCall, sister-in-law Marlene and brother Patrick.