Ed McMahon Bio: A Lifetime in Entertainment

Ed McMahon, who died today at age 86 after a battle with pneumonia, spent a lifetime in the entertainment industry. Best known as Johnny Carson's sidekick, Ed McMahon leaves behind his wife, Pam McMahon, and six children. The son of an entertainer, Ed McMahon got his first mic gig as a bingo caller... at age 15. McMahon majored in speech and drama at Catholic University of America, where he graduated Phi Beta Kappa. 

During World War II, McMahon served as a test pilot and flight instructor, remaining in the reserves after the war ended. After serving as an aerial artillery spotter during the Korean War, Colonel Edward McMahon retired from military service in 1966, to be recommissioned as a Brigadier General in the California Air National Guard. 

After the Korean War, McMahon began his career as an emcee in earnest, starting with a long partnership with Johnny Carson on a game show, before they moved on to host The Tonight Show, a partnership that lasted for over thirty years. In the 1980's McMahon hosted Star Search. Johnny Carson died in 2005.

Ed McMahon also appeared in a great many movies, including the comedy Jelly, to be released this year.

He leaves behind his wife Pamela McMahon and five of his six children from three marriages:Claudia McMahon, Katherine McMahon,  Linda Schmerge, Jeffrey McMahon ,and Lex McMahon. Their sixth child, Michael Edward McMahon, passed away in 1995.

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Ed McMahon 1923-2009

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sourced by Jordan Yerman