Ed McMahon

"Ed MacMahon" redirects here. For the actor whose birth name was "Ed MacMahon", see Paul Gilbert (actor).
"Edward McMahon" redirects here. For the Irish Home Rule League politician, see Edward McMahon (MP).

Ed McMahon
McMahon in a 1960s publicity photo
Born
Edward Leo Peter McMahon Jr.

(1923-03-06)March 6, 1923
Detroit, Michigan, U.S.
DiedJune 23, 2009(2009-06-23) (aged 86)
Los Angeles, California, U.S.
EducationCatholic University of America (BA)
Occupations
  • Comedian
  • actor
  • singer
  • game show host
  • announcer
  • spokesman
  • Marine Corps aviator
Years active1957–2009
Notable workThe Tonight Show, Star Search, TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes
Spouses
Alyce Ferrell
​
​
(m. 1945; div. 1974)​
Victoria Valentine
​
​
(m. 1976; div. 1989)​
Pam Hurn
​
(m. 1992)​
Children5
Military career
Allegiance United States
Service / branch United States Marine Corps
USMC Reserve
Years of service1941–1966
RankColonel
Battles / warsWorld War II, Korean War, Vietnam War
Signature

Edward Leo Peter McMahon Jr. (March 6, 1923 – June 23, 2009) was an American announcer, game show host, comedian, actor, singer, and combat aviator. McMahon and Johnny Carson began their association in their first TV series, the ABC game show Who Do You Trust?, running from 1957 to 1962. McMahon then made his famous thirty-year mark as Carson's sidekick and announcer on NBC's The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson from 1962 to 1992.

McMahon also hosted the original Star Search from 1983 to 1995, co-hosted TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes with Dick Clark from 1982 to 1998, presented sweepstakes for American Family Publishers,[1][2] annually co-hosted the Jerry Lewis MDA Telethon from 1973 to 2008 and anchored the team of NBC personalities conducting the network's coverage of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade during the 1970s and 80s.

McMahon appeared in several films, including The Incident, Fun With Dick and Jane, Full Moon High and Butterfly. He had a brief screen time in the film version of the TV sitcom Bewitched and also performed in numerous television commercials. According to the staff of Entertainment Weekly, McMahon tops the list of the "50 greatest sidekicks ever".[3]

  1. ^ "Setting the Record Straight on Ed McMahon". Archived from the original on June 29, 2009. Retrieved June 24, 2009.{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: bot: original URL status unknown (link), Publishers Clearing House official blog, by Dave Sayer, March 15, 2009. (via archive.org)
  2. ^ "The Curious Case of Ed McMahon and the Publishers Clearing House". Forbes.
  3. ^ EW Staff (March 6, 2024). "50 greatest sidekicks ever". Entertainment Weekly. New York, New York: Dotdash Meredith.