Background

Ethnicity: Johnny Carson had English, some Scots-Irish/Northern Irish, German, Dutch, French, distant Scottish and Swiss-German ancestry.

Johnny Carson was born on October 23, 1925, in Corning, Iowa, the United States. His father, Homer Lloyd Carson, worked as a power company manager. His mother’s name was Ruth Elizabeth Carson.

Education

Carson reportedly had a happy and peaceful childhood. At the age of eight, Carson's father moved the family to Norfolk, Nebraska. It was there that Carson grew up and began developing his talent for entertaining. Although he was a shy child, he was courageous enough to make his debut on the school stage and act as a bumblebee. Apart from school plays and his magic performances, Carson worked as a movie usher, sold newspaper subscriptions door-to-door, wrote a humor column in his high school newspaper, and contributed funny anecdotes in his school yearbook.

Carson had been debating whether to become a psychiatrist or a journalist when he was accepted in the United States Navy’s V-12 training program at Columbia University. He eventually became a communications officer and was on the United States Ship Pennsylvania "en route to the combat zone" when the war ended with the bombing of Nagasaki and Hiroshima. In the fall of 1945, Carson began studying at the University of Nebraska and received a bachelor's degree in radio and speech four years later.

Career

Soon after graduation, Johnny Carson had a short stint as a television writer for The Red Skelton Show in Los Angeles and then moved to New York City in pursuit of bigger audiences. In 1957, Carson became the host of the game show Who Do You Trust? In October 1962, Carson replaced Jack Paar as host of The Tonight Show and, following wavering ratings his first year, Carson became a prime-time hit.

Audiences found comfort in Carson’s calm and steady presence in their living rooms each evening. Revered for his affable personality, quick wit, and crisp interviews, he guided viewers into the late-night hours with a familiarity they grew to rely on year after year.

The show earned huge popularity among its audience and eventually became a major hit. His interviews with prominent Hollywood stars and politicians kept the American people up-to-date on popular culture. He hosted the show from 1962 to 1992, covering a total of 30 years. Carson became a national icon for his work and won a total of six Emmys as well.

As the host of that nightly program for nearly three decades, Carson had an unprecedented influence on a generation of television viewers, and his decision in 1972 to move his show from New York to California was instrumental in shifting the power of the TV industry to Los Angeles. He created such memorable characters as Aunt Blabby and Carnac the Magnificent, as well as a large number of classic skits, and became one of the most beloved performers in the country.

Carson hosted his last show on May 22, 1992. His guests the night before - on his second last show - were Bette Midler and Robin Williams, but on his last night, he did not invite anyone from show business. The audience consisted only of friends, family, and crew members. Carson ended the show sitting on a stool at center stage. He thanked McMahon, Doc Severinsen, his crew, and his viewers and said he was very lucky that he got to do what he loved. He wrapped up the show with the words "I bid you a very heartfelt goodnight." 1999

More than 50 million people tuned in to watch him say goodbye. That’s way more than the number of viewers who tuned in to HBO to watch the Game of Thrones series finale. In 2011, Johnny’s ultimate episode was ranked number 10 on the TV Guide Network Special: TV’s Most Unforgettable Finales.

Following his retirement, he played a voice role in an episode of the animated series The Simpsons. He also appeared in a few other shows such as The Late Show with David Letterman.

Achievements

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  During his long and illustrious career, Johnny Carson had received a total of six Emmy awards. He also received the Television Academy’s 1980 Governor’s Award, as well as the 1985 Peabody Award. In 1987, Carson was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame. He was awarded the Presidential medal in 1992. In 1993, he received a Kennedy Center Honor as well.
  
  Carson, considered to be one of the most popular stars of American television, has been praised by several mainstream comics - including Jerry Seinfeld, Jay Leno, and Jimmy Fallon - for helping them launch their careers. Today, he is regarded worldwide as a television legacy.

Works

More photos

• TV show

  • The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

Religion

Johnny Carson was raised as a Methodist.

Politics

Carson was a Liberal but did not like talking about politics on his show. He felt it was a divisive conversation, and he did not want to lose any of his viewers because of his own political views. He felt strongly about racial equality and opposed the Vietnam War, but tried to keep things breezy and light on air.

Views

Throughout his life, Johnny privately donated millions of dollars to a wide variety of charities. His donations were largely made away from the public eye through the John W. Carson Foundation. The foundation supports children, education, and health services.

After receiving a $5.3 million donation in 2004, his alma mater the University of Nebraska re-named their performing arts department the Johnny Carson School of Theater and Film. The school received another $6 million upon his death. Johnny's hometown in Norfolk, Nebraska named a hospital, museum, community college, library, and high school in his honor after receiving large gifts.

Upon his death, the foundation was told that it was the beneficiary of a trust from Johnny's estate. The value of the trust remained a secret for five years until his lawyers were required to disclose the assets in an IRS tax return. On August 30, 2010, The Johnny Carson Foundation discovered that the value of their trust fund was worth $156 million.

Quotations: "I have an ego like anybody else, but I don't need to be stoked by going before the public all the time."

"If variety is the spice of life, marriage is the big can of leftover Spam."

"Married men live longer than single men. But married men are a lot more willing to die."

Membership

Johnny Carson was a member of the exclusive Hollywood Gourmet Poker Club with fellow card players Chevy Chase, Martin Short, Steve Martin, Carl Reiner, Barry Diller, and Neil Simon. He was also a member of the Phi Gamma Delta fraternity.

• Hollywood Gourmet Poker Club

• 

  Phi Gamma Delta

Personality

Johnny Carson discovered his love for entertaining people when he found a book on magic at a friend’s house. He quickly ordered a magician’s kit through the mail and started practicing his skills on family members. His mother sewed him a cape and he got his first paid gig at the age of 14 when he performed as The Great Carsoni and was paid $3 for a show.

Although Carson displayed an extremely friendly, witty, and pleasant persona onscreen, he was actually a very shy and private person. He did not find it easy to socialize or make small talk, and his lavish Malibu residence only had a single bedroom. If any friends or family visited, they would stay in a guest house across the street.

Carson battled alcoholism for most of his life. Initially, he was just considered to be fond of his drink, but later it became clear that he had a far more serious problem than had previously been believed. Unfortunately, his son Richard inherited this from his father and they had a rocky relationship because of it.

Carson was also a jazz enthusiast and supported many jazz musicians on his show, including his friend Buddy Rich. He loved playing the drums himself as well. Carson was fascinated by stars and considered himself an amateur astronomer. He owned several telescopes and one of his friends was astronomer and astrophysicist Carl Sagan.

Physical Characteristics: Carson was a heavy smoker. He often smoked on TV in the early episodes of his show. He reportedly smoked up to four packs a day for most of his life, and it eventually caught up to him.

Quotes from others about the person

• "He is one of a kind, was one of a kind. I don't think there's any reason for him to try something different." - Frederick De Cordova

Interests

• Poker

• Philosophers & Thinkers

  Carl Sagan

• Sport & Clubs

  Tennis

• Music & Bands

  Jazz, Buddy Rich

Connections

Johnny Carson was married four times. He married Jody Wolcott in 1948, and they had three sons. Carson and Jody divorced in 1963, and only months later, Carson married his second wife, Joanne Copeland. That relationship ended in 1972, following a grueling legal battle that ended with Copeland receiving a settlement of nearly $500,000 and annual alimony from Carson. That same year, Carson married third wife Joanna Holland - from whom he filed for divorce in 1983. For the first time in 35 years, Carson lived life as an unmarried man from 1983 to 1987. He married for the final time in June 1987; Carson and Alexis Maas remained together until Carson's death, nearly eighteen years later.

Father:

Homer Lloyd Carson

Mother:

Ruth Elizabeth Carson

Carson did not have a good relationship with his mother. His closest friends believe that this was the reason why he was unable to have meaningful relationships with anyone at all. After his death, Carson’s lawyer and confidante Henry Bushkin wrote a tell-all book, claiming that Carson’s mother never showed him any affection and remained unimpressed by anything he achieved in his whole life.

ex-wife:

Jody Wolcott

Carson married his college sweetheart, Joan "Jody" Morrill Wolcott in 1948. The marriage was marked by infidelities on both sides and was a volatile, unhappy affair. They had three sons, Richard, Christopher, and Cory. They got divorced in 1963, and she lost her case for an increase in her alimony in 1990.

ex-wife:

Joanne Copeland

A few months after his divorce from his first wife, Carson remarried. His new wife was Joanne Copeland and he had reportedly been involved with her long before his divorce was finalized. This marriage did not last a full decade, and they were divorced in 1972. After a protracted divorce, Copeland got nearly half a million dollars in cash and art from Johnny Carson and $100,000 a year in alimony for life.

ex-wife:

Joanna Holland

Joanna met Johnny at the famous restaurant, 21 Club, where Johnny was dining with famous fashion designer Molly Parnis. At the 10th anniversary party of The Tonight Show, which was being hosted by Johnny Carson, Johnny shocked his friends and associates by announcing that he and Joanna tied the knot in Santa Monica earlier that day.

Soon after the public announcement, Johnny’s lawyer came up with a prenuptial agreement, which was intended to protect Johnny’s assets should the marriage end in divorce. Though Joanna was willing to sign the agreement, Johnny asked his lawyer to destroy the document citing sentimental reasons.

After being married for 10 years, Joanna decided to end her marriage with Johnny and filed for divorce on March 8, 1983. The case was settled two years later and Joanna ended up receiving Johnny’s property and $20 million in cash.

Wife:

Alexis Maas

The couple met in the ‘80s and dated for a couple of years. Despite people’s negative reception of their relationship due to their large age gap - Maas being 35 and Carson being 61 - their relationship grew stronger that led to marriage.

Son:

Cory Carson

Cory Carson is a very private person. Despite being the son of one of the most famous TV hosts like Johnny, Cory chooses to live a low-key life.

Son:

Richard Carson

One of Carson's boys, Richard, developed some mental challenges. The subject rarely came up, partly because it was an undiscussed subject back then, but also because Carson avoided it. In fact, he eventually refused to see his son after Rick entered a mental hospital.

Johnny finally talked about Rick in 1991 when Rick drove off a cliff near Morro Bay, California. His son plunged 125 feet to his death. There was more going on with Rick than his mental instability. Like his father, Richard also had a drinking problem.

Son:

Christopher Carson

colleague:

Jay Leno

colleague:

David Letterman

Friend:

Arnold Schwarzenegger

Friend:

Carl Sagan

References

• Johnny Carson "Here’s Johnny!" Probably everyone in America knows the phrase, whether they watched every episode of The Tonight Show or none because they had to go to bed early on school nights. From 1962 to 1992, Johnny Carson and his Tonight Show dominated the American consciousness.
  2013
• King of the Night: The Life of Johnny Carson A candid, unauthorized portrait of Johnny Carson draws on the observations of ex-wives, paramours, colleagues, family, and friends to provide a close-up study of America's most famous talk-show host.
  1989
• Here's Johnny! Ed McMahon was Johnny Carson's sidekick for almost 40 years and his friend for over 50. Here he shares his memories of the man, the shows, the humor, and the truth behind the legend. Here's Johnny is like sitting with Ed and Johnny over lunch.
  2005