SLIDESHOWS: Images Of Ed McMahon | In Memoriam: Celebrity Deaths 2009 | INTERACTIVE: Ed McMahon
McMahon had bone cancer, among other illnesses, according to a person close to the entertainer,and had been hospitalized for several weeks. The person spoke on condition of anonymity because hewasn't authorized to release the information.
McMahon broke his neck in a fall in March 2007, and battled a series of financial problems ashis injuries preventing him from working.
McMahon and Carson had worked together for nearly five years on the game show "Who Do YouTrust?" when Carson took over NBC's late-night show from Jack Paar in October 1962. McMahon playedsecond banana on "Tonight" until Carson retired in 1992.
"You can't imagine hooking up with a guy like Carson," McMahon said an interview with TheAssociated Press in 1993. "There's the old phrase, hook your wagon to a star. I hitched my wagon toa great star."
McMahon, who never failed to laugh at his Carson's quips, kept his supporting role inperspective.
"It's like a pitcher who has a favorite catcher," he said. "The pitcher gets a little helpfrom the catcher, but the pitcher's got to throw the ball. Well, Johnny Carson had to throw theball, but I could give him a little help."
