George Miller

Who was George Miller?

George Miller, born George Wade Dornberger, was a stand-up comedian. He first performed standup at age 21 and made his network television debut on The Tonight Show in 1976. He appeared on national television programs several times in the 1970s, 1980s and 1990s, and was a friend to many in the West Coast comedy scene who later enjoyed tremendous success, including David Letterman and Jerry Seinfeld. He died on March 5, 2003, after a long bout with leukemia, 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 known for his slightly awkward delivery, which was also a part of his charm. He presented himself as a friend who would tell a joke, rather than a professional comedian. He was also known to be reliably clean, which meant broadcasters could use his material freely on the air.

Late Show host David Letterman paid for Miller's medical expenses throughout his battle with leukemia. Letterman also paid for his funeral expenses, but was unable to attend his funeral due to a severe case of shingles.