RIP Colonel Ed McMahon

Colonel McMahon was a Marine fighter pilot in World War II and Korea and flew 85 combat missions. He was also a test pilot for the Corsair. After his service in the Marine Corps, he co-hosted The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson for 30 years from 1962 to 1992, then hosted Star Search for 12 years where he "discovered" budding artists such as Rosie, Sinbad, Drew Carey, Dennis Miller, Le Ann Rimes, Lara Flyn Boyle, Jenny Jones and others. He was also an American Family Publishers Sweepstakes spokesperson. He has appeared in numerous other commercials, television shows, Broadway productions and movies. He was one of the most recognized people in America and possibly the world.

He passed away at the age of 86 today at Los Angeles' Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center.

RIP and Semper Fi!