By Paul Leighton
BEVERLY — The world lost one of its comedy giants when George Carlin died on Sunday. But people who knew him from his trips to the North Shore Music Theatre over the years remember him as a shy and polite man who acted nothing like an international celebrity.
"He was just a regular guy, almost like he was more comfortable on stage," said Bridget Sullivan, the concert manager at North Shore Music Theatre. "He was always very gracious."
Carlin, who died of heart failure at age 71, performed at the North Shore Music Theatre six times, beginning in 1994. He was scheduled to be back on July 27.
"He was always a big favorite with the audiences," said Jon Kimbell, the music theater's former executive producer. "Almost every one of his concerts sold out."
Carlin performed at the music theater in 1994, 1995, 1998, 1999, 2003 and 2006, according to the theater's Web site. Sullivan recalled running into Carlin backstage during his last Beverly appearance.
"He came wandering down to the green room, and I said, 'Hello, Mr. Carlin, can I help you?'" Sullivan said. "He said, 'Oh, I'm just looking for a Diet Coke.' He didn't realize he had a fridge with snacks that we provided him in his private dressing room. He probably would've gone out to the vending machine to get his own Diet Coke."
Sullivan said Carlin would sometimes hang out with the stage crew, but other times would remain by himself in his dressing room. All he needed for his act, she said, was a table on which to set some of his props.
"He was always saying thank you and always being so gracious to the crew," Sullivan said. "He never wanted a big deal of attention offstage. He was a very sweet man offstage."
A spokeswoman said the theater will send out letters to ticket holders for Carlin's scheduled July 27 show offering them refunds or credit for another show.
