Johnny Carson

NAME Johnny Carson

WHAT FAMOUS FOR Johnny Carson was a celebrated television host, comedian, writer, and producer, best known for hosting The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson for nearly 30 years.

BIRTH Johnny Carson was born John William Carson on October 23, 1925, in Corning, Iowa, USA.

FAMILY BACKGROUND Johnny was the son of Homer Lloyd Carson, a power company manager, and Ruth Elizabeth Hook Carson. He had an older sister, Catherine, and a younger brother, Richard.

CHILDHOOD Johnny Carson moved to Norfolk, Nebraska when he was eight. He developed an early interest in entertaining, performing magic tricks for family and friends as "The Great Carsoni". 

EDUCATION Carson attended Norfolk High School and later the University of Nebraska-Lincoln, where he earned a degree in radio and speech with a minor in physics in 1949.

CAREER RECORD Carson started in radio before transitioning to television. He gained fame as host of The Tonight Show from 1962 to 1992. Carson also hosted game shows and variety programs.

APPEARANCE Johnny Carson was known for his tall, slender build, charismatic smile, and impeccable grooming. He had a distinctive deep voice and boyish charm. 

Carson in 1957 by CBS-Gabor Rona, photographer

FASHION Carson was recognized for his classic and sophisticated fashion sense, often seen in tailored suits and ties, embodying the quintessential late-night show host look.

CHARACTER  Johnny Carson was known for his charm, quick wit, and easygoing personality. However, he was also described as private and introspective, craving solitude away from the limelight.

SENSE OF HUMOUR Carson had a sharp, quick-witted sense of humor that resonated with a broad audience. His comedic style included clever monologues, playful banter with guests, and memorable sketches. He was a master of the monologue and comedic timing.

RELATIONSHIPS Carson was married four times. His marriages were often turbulent and ended in divorce, which was sometimes fodder for his monologues. Carson joked, "My giving advice on marriage is like the captain of the Titanic giving lessons on navigation."

Carson had three sons with his first wife: Christopher (Kit), Richard (Ricky) and Cory, Ricky died in a motor accident on June 21, 1991, when his car plunged down a steep embankment. He was reportedly taking photographs at the time.

MONEY AND FAME Carson amassed significant wealth and fame through his career. At the height of his career, he was one of the highest-paid personalities on television.

FOOD AND DRINK He enjoyed a variety of foods but was known to be a picky eater. Carson enjoyed socializing at restaurants and bars.

MUSIC AND ARTS After a brief detour into the world of illusion as “The Great Carsoni” Johnny Carson stumbled into show business proper. Omaha, Nebraska, was the unlikely crucible for this particular miracle. There, at a radio and TV station called WOW—a name that seems to sum up the city’s excitement level—he hosted a morning show called The Squirrel’s Nest. It’s unclear if this was a reference to the show’s content or the state of mind of its audience at that hour.

Whatever the case, it was a stepping stone to bigger things, like Los Angeles and a CBS gig. Then came the big one: The Tonight Show. For nearly three decades, Carson was the king of late night, a title that implies a certain level of nocturnal royalty. His approach was as revolutionary as it was simple: talk to people like a regular guy, only funnier and with better teeth. It was a formula that had been sketched out by others, but Carson painted the masterpiece.

The Tonight Show With Johnny Carson was the first network program to be telecast in stereo in 1984.

Carson appreciated various forms of entertainment and was instrumental in bringing many musicians and artists into the limelight through his show. He had a personal interest in painting.

LITERATURE Carson enjoyed reading and was well-versed in various subjects, contributing to his witty and informed persona on "The Tonight Show."

NATURE He had a fondness for nature and enjoyed spending time in solitude, appreciating the calm and beauty of natural surroundings. 

PETS Information about pets is not widely documented, but he was known to have dogs as pets.

HOBBIES AND SPORTS Carson enjoyed sailing and was known for his love of tennis, both of which he pursued passionately. He also enjoyed golf and fishing.

Twister, that innocent-looking mat of colored circles, became a cultural phenomenon as a result of The Tonight Show. On May 3, 1966, Johnny Carson and his guest, the actress Eva Gabor, found themselves in a tangle on national television that would send shockwaves through the nation. Gabor, in a dress that dared gravity to hold on, ended up in a position that would make a contortionist blush. The next morning, America woke up to a new craze. People were queuing up outside stores like they were waiting for a Beatles concert, desperate to get their hands on this game that had transformed from a novelty into a must-have overnight.

SCIENCE AND MATHS With a minor in physics, Carson maintained an interest in scientific subjects, often incorporating them into his conversations and jokes.

PHILOSOPHY & THEOLOGY He was known for his introspective nature and thoughtful demeanor. Carson often incorporated philosophical humor into his routines.

Carson was raised as a Methodist and during high school attended Christian Endeavor meetings at the local church. As an adult, Carson was not a regular churchgoer,.

POLITICS Carson generally kept his political views private, focusing instead on his role as an entertainer who appealed to a wide audience. He preferred to keep a neutral stance.

SCANDAL Carson's life had its share of controversies, particularly related to his marriages and occasional off-screen behavior, but these did not significantly tarnish his public image.

In December 1973, during a monologue on The Tonight Show, Carson joked about an impending shortage of toilet paper, saying, "You know what’s disappearing from the supermarket shelves? Toilet paper... There’s an acute shortage of toilet paper in the United States."

His comments, although intended as a joke, were taken seriously by many viewers. This led to panic buying and hoarding of toilet paper, resulting in actual shortages in stores across the country for several weeks. Carson later apologized for the unintended consequences of his joke, acknowledging the widespread impact it had on the public.

MILITARY RECORD Carson served in the U.S. Navy during World War II, where he began performing magic to entertain his fellow servicemen.

Navy portrait of Carson

HEALTH AND PHYSICAL FITNESS Carson maintained good health for most of his life but was a smoker, which contributed to his development of emphysema later in life.

HOMES Carson craved time alone, and his $80 million home famously had only one bedroom. He owned multiple properties, including a Malibu beachfront home.

TRAVEL He traveled extensively for both work and leisure, including frequent sailing trips.

DEATH Johnny Carson died on January 23, 2005, from complications of emphysema in Los Angeles. He was 79 years old.

After the passing of Johnny Carson his friend and Late Show host David Letterman recited a comedic monologue at the beginning of the show. He then revealed that every joke had been written by Carson, who had been sending in one or two jokes a week during his retirement. 

APPEARANCES IN MEDIA Carson made numerous guest appearances on other television shows and films. He made his last television appearance on May 14, 1994, on Late Show with David Letterman. He had a lasting influence on television and pop culture.

ACHIEVEMENTS Among his many achievements, Carson received six Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award, and was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame. He is remembered as one of the greatest television hosts in history, with his nearly 30-year tenure on The Tonight Show cementing his legacy as a late-night icon.