David Brenner (left) and Olympic ice skater Tai Babilonia Photo: IC

 

David Brenner (right) hosts avant garde fusion musician Frank Zappa (center) and his children, Moon Unit and Dweezil (far left), during a taping of Brenner's Nightlife talk show. Photo: IC

David Brenner, a stand-up comedian who appeared regularly on The Tonight Show starring Johnny Carson, died on Saturday in New York, a family spokesman said. He was 78.

Brenner, who had been battling cancer and performed most recently on New Year's Eve, passed away at his home in New York surrounded by his family, publicist Jeff Abraham said.

The Pennsylvania native appeared on The Tonight Show more than 150 times and was known for poking fun at the commonplace aspects of life.

Airing on NBC since 1954 and currently recorded in New York, The Tonight Show is the longest currently running, regularly scheduled entertainment program in the US.

Before moving to comedy, Brenner produced 115 television documentaries for Westinghouse Broadcasting and Metromedia, winning nearly 30 awards including an Emmy.

Brenner said his last wish was that $100 in small bills be placed in his left sock "just in case tipping is recommended where I'm going," according to the publicist.

Abraham said Brenner's final resting spot will carry the epitaph: "If this is supposed to be a joke - then I don't get it!"

Reuters