JOHNNY CARSON - COMEDY WRITER MCCORMICK DIES

Beloved US comedy writer PAT McCORMICK has died at the Motion Picture and Television Hospital in Woodland Hills, California. He was 78.

A regular on top 1970s TV variety shows, McCormick made a name for himself when he streaked behind JOHNNY CARSON on THE TONIGHT SHOW in 1974.

He also wrote for to comedians like PHYLLIS DILLER and RED SKELTON.

McCormick was admitted to hospital in 1998 following a stroke that left him partially paralysed.