Comedian David Brenner, who made a record 158 appearances on Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show, died Saturday at his home in New York of cancer. He was 78.

The Philadelphia native headlined the NBC comedy series Snip in 1976, but the series was axed before the first episode aired (allegedly because it was to feature the first openly gay character on network television). He also had a supporting role in the 1989 romantic comedy Worth Watching.

Just heard about David Brenner’s passing. He was such a huge part of why so many of us became comics. This makes me very sad. RIP David.

— Paul Reiser (@PaulReiser) March 15, 2014