Edward "Ed" Peter Leo McMahon, Jr. (born March 6, 1923) is an American comedian, game show host, announcer, and television personality most famous for his work on television as Johnny Carson's announcer on Who Do You Trust? from 1957 to 1962 and on the Tonight Show, from 1962 to 1992, and as the host of the talent show Star Search, from 1983 to 1995. He later also became well-known as the presenter of American Family Publishing sweepstakes (not to be confused with Publishers Clearing House) who arrives unannounced at the homes of winners. He subsequently made a series of Neighborhood Watch Public Service Announcements reprising that role in parody.

He also cohosts the Jerry Lewis Labor Day Telethon', and has performed in numerous television commercials, most notably for Budweiser.

In the 1970s and 1980s, he anchored the team of NBC personalities conducting the network's coverage of the Macy's Thanksgiving Day Parade.

McMahon has appeared in several films, including The Incident (1967), Fun With Dick and Jane (1977), Full Moon High (1981), Butterfly (1982) and in a brief bit in the film version of Bewitched (2005).

Ed McMahon's first appearance before a microphone was as a 15-year-old "caller" at a bingo game in Maine. After that he would spend the next three years touring the state fair and carnival circuit. A Marine fighter pilot during World War II, McMahon sold vegetable slicers on Atlantic City's boardwalk to put himself through Catholic University in Washington, DC. In the 1950s McMahon hosted a late-night interview show in Philadelphia before working as a clown on the show "Big Top" (1950). His next assignment was as a fighter pilot during the Korean War. After that he resumed his career in television. In 1959 he was hired as Johnny Carson (I)'s straight man on the daytime quiz show "Who Do You Trust?" (1958). When Carson succeeded Jack Paar (I) on NBC's "Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson, The" (1962), he took McMahon with him. This job would last for 30 years and make McMahon wealthy and famous. On the big screen he would play straight roles in the dramatic Incident, The (1967)--for which he got very good reviews--and in the comic Fun with Dick and Jane (1977). He would also appear in made-for-TV movies and host daytime game shows in the 1960s and 1970s. In the 1980s McMahon would team with Dick Clark (I) on "TV's Bloopers & Practical Jokes" (1984) and host his own long-running talent show, "Star Search" (1983). He would also make commercial appearances for a multitude of products. In 1994 he would be cast as himself in Love Affair (1994) with Warren Beatty and Annette Bening.