A favorite TV personality for decades, Ed McMahon has died at the age of 86. McMahon's publicist Howard Bragman said that he died early Tuesday at the Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center surrounded by family.

No cause of death was given, and Bragman simply stated that McMahon had a "multitude of health problems the last few months."

Born in Los Angeles and raised in Lowell, Mass., McMahon put himself through college by pitching products on the Atlantic City boardwalk. He got his first job in radio in his hometown, and started on TV in Philadelphia. Throughout the 1950's, he was the emcee of various game shows, including Missing Links, Snap Judgement, Concentration, and Who Dunnit? McMahon also worked with Carson on the game show Who Do You Trust?, and went along with him when Carson was named the host of the "Tonight Show" in 1962. McMahon introduced Carson nightly for the next three decades with the line he became famous for, "Heeeeere's Johnnnny", and remained on the show until Carson's retirement in 1992.

McMahon was also the host of Star Search, TV Bloopers and Practical Jokes, and was well known as a commercial pitchman for American Family Publishers sweepstakes.

In recent years, McMahon suffered a number of health and financial issues.