Brenda Hosbrook Carlin

Brenda Carlin (Hosbrook) was the first wife of the late comedian George Carlin.

Fast Facts

1. Born: August 5, 1936
2. Raised: Dayton, Ohio
3. Married: George Carlin, in 1963
4. Children: Kelly Carlin-McCall
5. Died: May 11, 1997, of liver cancer
6. Nominated for Emmy for work on husband's 1997 comedy special

Life and Work

Brenda Hosbrook met Carlin in Dayton in 1962. At the time, Brenda was working as a hostess at a venue called the Racquet Club, and Carlin was a performer.¹ The couple were married the following year, and shortly after the wedding, Brenda gave birth to their only child, Kelly Carlin-McCall. Brenda Carlin worked with her husband on eight of his comedy specials, and in 1997, she was nominated for an Emmy. Brenda died in 1997 of liver cancer, at the age of 60.

George on Brenda

"Brenda and I got lucky the very first time and didn't have to go through several spouses to do it. It's a kind of complementary way of filling each other out and making each individual more complete. The key for us has always been to put the twosome ahead of either individual whenever that was an issue. That helps. And then, I don't know, star-crossed something -- it's just magic." -- George Carlin, 1997²

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