STAN IRWIN, LAS VEGAS PRODUCER, DIES AT 94

Stan Irwin, a Las Vegas producer and manager for such celebrities as Johnny Carson, has died at age 94.

Irwin's friend and business partner George Michaud says Irwin died Wednesday of natural causes in Los Angeles.

Irwin guided the careers of such celebs as Don Rickles, Buddy Hackett and Pearl Bailey. He was credited for bringing artists like Judy Garland, Frank Sinatra, Marlene Dietrich, Paul Anka, Bobby Darin, Brenda Lee, Bob Newhart.

He was also responsible for bringing The Beatles to Las Vegas for the first time and got them to do two shows in one night. Demand was so high that Irwin had to move them from the Sahara to the Las Vegas Convention Center on August 20, 1964. The 50th anniversary of that event was recently celebrated in Las Vegas.

Irwin also served as executive producer of "The Tonight Show" in 1962, which was the first year of Carson's tenure. He also voiced the Lou Costello character in Hanna-Barbera's "The Abbott and Costello Cartoon Show" in the 1960s.

He is survived by his wife, Marjorie.