Comedian Jack Carter, a star in the early days of television, has died of respiratory failure aged 93 at his home in Beverly Hills.

The rapid-fire comic carved out a career lampooning politicians and audience members alike, and was a pioneer of TV in the late forties.

Having served in the army during World War II, he had stints in Broadway before working in television, eventually being offered his own show on NBC, The Jack Carter Show.

Carter was a fixture on the comedy and variety show circuits, appearing on The Ed Sullivan Show, The Dean Martin Show, The Andy Williams Show and numerous Bob Hope comedy specials.

More recently, he appeared in Desperate Housewives and the US adaption of Shameless.