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Television Personality Ed McMahon Dies At Age 86

Talk show host Johnny Carson, right, with the show's announcer Ed McMahon during the final taping of the "Tonight Show" in Burbank, Calif., on May 22, 1992. McMahon died June 23, 2009, at Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. (AP Photo)
"Heeeeere's Johnny!" "Tonight Show" announcer Ed McMahon, left, talks with host Johnny Carson during the show's final taping May 22, 1992. McMahon died June 23, 2009. (AP Photo)

Television personality Ed McMahon died Tuesday at age 86. He's being remembered in his home town of Lowell.

McMahon delivered his iconic "Heeeeere's Johnny!" introduction for three decades as Johnny Carson's sidekick on "The Tonight Show."

But McMahon's career in broadcasting began as a radio announcer at WLLH in Lowell. His grandparents were natives, and he graduated from Lowell High School.

LZ Nunn, the city's director of cultural affairs and special events, says McMahon will be missed because he's constantly remembered in Lowell, "as one of the people, including Jack Kerouac and Bette Davis, who have gone on to big careers in show business, so it's a sad day for us here in Lowell."

Ed McMahon passed away at the UCLA Medical Center in Los Angeles.

This program aired on June 23, 2009. The audio for this program is not available.

Headshot of Andrea Shea

Andrea Shea Correspondent, Arts & Culture
Andrea Shea is a correspondent for WBUR's arts & culture reporter.

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