Ed McMahon Biography  (March 6 1923- June 23 2009)

American television personality Ed McMahon was best known as the voice behind The Tonight Show, spouting his famous line “Heeeeere’s Johnny” for three decades.

Edward Leo Peter McMahon Jr was born March 6, 1923 in Detroit, Michigan. His parents were Eleanor Russell and Edward Leo McMahon. Born into show business, McMahon’s father was also an entertainer and fundraiser. With his parents, McMahon subsequently grew up in Lowell, Massachusetts.

Ed pursued his secondary education from Boston College as well as The Catholic University of America. He majored in both drama and speech.

McMahon’s signature voice was first introduced to the world when he was just fifteen. At this age, he worked in Maine as a bingo caller. In a similar vein, he served as a carnival barker for nearly three years. He even funded his college education through work as a pitchman of kitchen goods in Atlantic City.

Interrupting his career in order to serve in the military, McMahon joined the United States Marines to fight during World War II. Serving as a fighter pilot, his service was complete in 1946. He decided to remain in the reserves, however, and found himself in the Korean War in early 1953. He did not officially retire until 1966, but by that time, he had already earned the rank of colonel.

Upon returning to the States, McMahon shifted his career focus to radio. He worked at WLLH-AM before pursuing a career in television.

McMahon first televised gig began in 1952 when he agreed to be the announcer for Bandstand, an iconic American TV show which featured musical guests such as Smokey Robinson and Dion DiMucci, McMahon was with the program until 1958.

Continuing his work as an announcer, McMahon began circling the game show circuit with Missing Links, Concentration, Who Dunnit?, and others. When McMahon eventually left Missing Links, he was replaced by noted television personality Dick Clark.

McMahon is also noted for his stint from 1957 to 1962 with Who Do You Trust? It was the first time McMahon and Johnny Carson would work together but certainly not the last.

When Who Do You Trust? came to an end, McMahon landed his most notable role in popular culture. In that year, he began announcing for The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. He fulfilled this role until 1992. During those three decades, McMahon became known for his boisterous personality, infectious laugh, and signature line “Heeeeeere’s Johnny.”

The duo of McMahon and Carson proved popular with audiences. The gregarious McMahon was a perfect foil for the much shyer Carson.

McMahon was parodied by Weird Al Yankovic in his 1987 song “Here’s Jonny.” The Polka Party! single was a spoof on “Who’s Johnny” by El Debarge.

Outside of his various television programs, McMahon was also known as the American Family Publishing sweepstakes presenter as well as the co-host of the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon.

Making headlines in 2008, McMahon made it public that following a fall in 2007 he had suffered a broken neck. It appeared that misfortune was pursuing him when in June 2008 reports emerged that McMahon was struggling financially and desperately attempting to avoid foreclosure on his home. McMahon openly discussed the issue on Larry King Live.

In his personal life, McMahon was married three times and jokingly blamed his financial demise on his expensive divorces duing his journey throguh life. His first marriage was to Alyce Ferrill which lasted from 1949 to 1976. Together the couple had four children, Claudia, Katherine, Jeffrey and Linda.

He then married Victoria Valentine, and they were together until 1989. They also had one child, a son, Michael Edward McMahon who sadly died July 28, 1995 from cancer.

Finally Ed's third marriage was to Pam Hurn in 1992, at which time McMahon legally adopted her son from her previous relationship. Son, Lex, also assumed McMahon's sir name.

On June 23rd 2009 it was announced that Ed, who was rumoured to have been battling bone cancer for some time had passed away peacefully when his friend and former publicist Howard Bragman reported that Ed had died in his sleep at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center just after midnight. Ed McMahon was 86.