Comedian Irwin Corey known as The World's Foremost Authority dies in New York aged 102

Published: 02:56 GMT, 8 February 2017 | Updated: 11:25 GMT, 8 February 2017

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Veteran comedian Corey Irwin has died in New York at the age of 102.

The Brooklyn native dubbed the 'Professor' was billed as 'The World's Foremost Authority' and enjoyed a comedic career spanning more than six decades.

He passed away at his home in Manhattan on Monday, his family told NPR.

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R.I. P.: Corey Irwin, a comedian billed as 'The World's Foremost Authority', has died in New York at the age of 102

His son, Richard on Tuesday called his father 'original and one-of-a-kind, iconic' and told the AP his father 'died peacefully at his home, surrounded by his son.'

Corey was renowned for his signature quirky style and long monologues that always started with 'however.'

He performed stand-up in a worn tuxedo with wild hair and a narrow black tie and according to People, Lenny Bruce once called him 'one of the most brilliant comedians of all time.'

He was a master of double-talk, one-liners and slapstick routines.

Six decade career: The Brooklyn native, born in 1914, was renowned for his signature quirky style and long monologues that always started with 'however'

Acclaimed: The comic, pictured in 2004, starred in Broadway shows, worked with the likes of Woody Allen and Jackie Gleason and was a frequent guest on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show

Corey was born in 1914 and placed, along with his siblings in an orphanage by his mother after his father left home.

He traveled cross-country to Los Angeles in his early teens and spent several years there before working his way back to the East Coast where he embarked on a performing arts career.

He said he got his start when he auditioned for a play in the 1930s with the soliloquy from Hamlet. The casting director laughed so hard, he eventually told him: 'You should be a comedian.' He took his advice.

Corey starred in seven Broadway shows and frequently performed in clubs and on late night talk shows and worked with such names as Jackie Gleason and Woody Allen. He was a frequent guest on The tonight show with Johnny Carson in the late 60s and early 70s.

He was also blacklisted during the anti-communist witch hunt in the 1950s and believed that it had damaged his career.

He is survived by a son and two grandchildren having been predeceased by his wife of 70 years Fran, who died in May 2011 at age 95, and by a daughter Margaret.

Farewell 'Professor': Irwin, pictured with Robert De Niro, Joy Behar and Jeffrey Ross at the NY Friar's Club in 2010 passed away at his Manhattan home Monday with son Richard by his side