George Miller, a Letterman Favorite, Dies
The Associated Press
Mar 8 2003 10:48AM

LOS ANGELES (AP) - George Miller, a stand-up comedian who appeared on David Letterman's late-night shows more than any other comic, has died. He was 61.

Miller, who had suffered from leukemia for years, died Wednesday at UCLA Medical Center of complications from a blood clot in his brain.

Miller appeared on NBC's "Late Night with David Letterman" and CBS' "Late Show with David Letterman" 56 times in two decades.

"George was my oldest friend, and one of the funniest people I ever knew," Letterman said in a statement. "We are all very sad that he is gone."

Miller and Letterman met in Los Angeles in the early 1970s when both were emerging comics. Unlike the current crop of stand-up comedians, Miller "was just content to be a stand-up comedian. He truly wanted to write funny things and say funny things,'' said Tom Dreesen, a fellow comic from that era.

The goal for comics was to get a spot on NBC's "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson," and Miller appeared many times on it.

He also worked the road the way most comics do.

"I was once fired as opening act for Seals and Crofts because I got loaded and introduced them as Arts and Crafts,'' one of Miller's jokes went.

He was born George Wade Dornberger in Seattle and was raised alone by his mother, Helen, said his uncle, Paul Rhymes.

Miller came to Los Angeles in the late 1960s and performed in clubs in Santa Monica and Pasadena before getting gigs at the Comedy Store in Hollywood. After a 1979 labor dispute, he moved on to the Improv on Melrose Avenue and the Laugh Factory on Sunset Boulevard, where he continued to perform regularly.

Before his death, he had been living in a Los Angeles apartment and in his childhood home in Seattle.

Miller last appeared on Letterman's show Sept. 4.

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The following is from: Patterson and Associates:

In high school, a creative writing teacher dubbed George Miller the leading class humorist. After high school George started playing pool. He became one of the top twenty money players in the Seattle area. By his own admission he was never a great player, but if he watched whom he played he could eke out a meager living, which he did for long periods of time in Seattle, San Francisco and Los Angeles.

George's mom always hated him being a pool hustler. So, when he started doing stand up comedy at the famous Comedy Store in Hollywood, he told her lie didn't think he would be playing pool much anymore.

She said "Oh, what are you going to be doing?"

He said "I'll be telling dirty stories to drunk people in dark rooms."

She said "Oh, that's so much better."

This story is exaggerated. For one thing George doesn't tell dirty stories. Ninety nine per cent of his act is network t.v. clean. (he says he saves the filth for his personal life)

After working several years at the Comedy Store along side such people as David Letterman, Jay Leno, and Michael Keaton, George went on the Tonight Show and was a big hit. Johnny Carson called him "very bright and very funny". After his successful Tonight Show debut, T.V. Guide featured George in a four page article.

Many spots on all the talk and comedy/variety shows followed including over 100 combined appearances on the Tonight Show and David Letterman. He has been a frequent interview guest on dozens of local t.v. and radio talk shows. He¹s also been interviewed by Larry King.

He then went on to play all the major comedy clubs including The Improvisation in Hollywood, Carolines in New York, Punchline in Atlanta, Comedy Underground in Seattle, The Ice House in Pasadena, Nicks in Boston, and The Laugh Factory. He also played many major universities as well as casinos like Harrahs in Atlantic City; Caesars Palace, The Dunes, Golden Nugget, The Hacienda, The Mirage, and The Riviera in Las Vegas; The Hilton, Flamingo Hilton, and Harolds in Reno; Caesars Tahoe, Sahara Tahoe, and Cal-Neva Lodge in Tahoe.

He has shared the stage with Tanya Tucker, Paul Anka, Tom Jones, Chuck Berry, Tony Orlando, Crystal Gayle, Joan Rivers, and Helen Reddy. He would list Jerry Van Dyke but he still owes George money.

The last few years George has done many corporate dates. Some times at these events he is billed as Dr. George Miller, one of this country¹s top motivational speakers. Wearing a suit and tie, George comes out, and the audience expecting an inspirational talk, is delighted and surprised to hear George talk about how he hates his life.

Recently, George has been writing a full length feature film in which he hopes to star.

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The following is an excerpt from a Time Magazine article on Dave Letterman from August 30, 1993, DAVE; He's tanned. He's rested. He's ready. Is America?; New Dave Dawning -- After 11 years, David Letterman is the man of the hour in late night. Now if he can only learn to enjoy it. By Richard Zoglin

"... Letterman married his college sweetheart and moved with her to California, where they divorced after nine years. Friends say he was rarely without a steady girlfriend thereafter, though Letterman gets a troubled look whenever the subject of female relationships comes up. "Every relationship that's failed in my life has been my fault," he says.

His closest male friends are mostly comedians he met on the club circuit in Los Angeles. Even they concede that Letterman reveals little about himself. George Miller, who lived in the same apartment building as Letterman, across the street from the Comedy Store, recalls taking him along on his first three or four guest appearances on The Tonight Show.

When Letterman was invited for his first Tonight gig, however, "I found out about it from Merrill," says Miller. "I was a little ticked off. But it's just because he's so private." For all his guardedness, Letterman can be generous and loyal to friends.

In 1979 Miller was among several comics who boycotted the Comedy Store in a labor dispute. Letterman, who by this time was guest-hosting The Tonight Show, kept performing there because he needed to try out material. Miller showed up one night to watch his friend, but the club's owner called the police and had him thrown out. "After Dave heard what had happened, he never worked another show there," says Miller. "That was quite a sacrifice..."