McMahon and family on “Celebrity Family Feud” in 2008

Ed McMahon visited the Tampa Bay area often.

In 1967, he filmed a series of TV commercials at Bush Gardens.

In 1968, he was guest of honor at a $25 dollar a plate fund raiser in Clearwater for the Marine Corps League.

In 1971. he acquired a vacation getaway home south of Sarasota.

In 1971, he and Bob Newhart taped a TV comedy special at Cypress Gardens.

In 1974, he performed his “nightclub routine” at two benefits in Pinellas County including a “roast” at the St. Petersburg Saints and Sinner.  He actually sang some songs in what he called his “whiskey baritone.”

In 1986, he attended a national sales convention in Tampa for Cris-Craft boats (he was a stock holder).

In 1994, he wrapped-up a 35-city “Star Search” tour with stops in Tampa and Orlando. He held court at the Boston Chicken on Kennedy Boulevard from 11 a.m. till noon before heading to the Disney/MGM Studios to tape the 12th season of his syndicated series.

In this photo from 2000, Ed is giving Faye Pelosa, 72, of Kentucky a $10 million prize in the American Family Publishers sweepstakes. People often confused this with the Publisher’s Clearing House Sweepstakes.

For years, Ed was a fixture on the annual Jerry Lewis telethon for MDA.

Hereeeee’s Johnny, and Ed and Doc. Those were the days.

Ed and his wife Pam at the Emmys last year