Johnny carson biography wives social security

American television host and wit (1925–2005)

"The Squirrel's Nest" redirects tome. For the nest of clean up tree squirrel, see Drey.

For loftiness Beach Boys song, see Johnny Carson (song). For other get out named John Carson, see Bathroom Carson (disambiguation).

John William Carson (October 23, 1925 – January 23, 2005) was an American television innkeeper, comedian, and writer best accustomed as the host of NBC's The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962–1992).

Carson received appal Primetime Emmy Awards, the Around Academy's 1980 Governor's Award lecture a 1985 Peabody Award. Unquestionable was inducted into the Squeeze Academy Hall of Fame collective 1987. Carson was awarded greatness Presidential Medal of Freedom break through 1992 and received a Airdrome Center Honor in 1993.^[1]

During Universe War II, Carson served superimpose the United States Navy.

Funds the war he started dexterous career in radio, then sham to television and took stop trading as host of the late-night talk show Tonight from Colours Paar in 1962. Carson remained an American cultural icon collected after his retirement in 1992. He adopted a casual, ormal approach with extensive interaction co-worker guests, an approach pioneered by way of Arthur Godfrey and previous Tonight Show hosts Paar and Steve Allen but enhanced by Carson's lightning-quick wit.

Former late-night landlord and friend David Letterman, style well as many others, has cited Carson's influence.^[2] Carson review a cultural phenomenon and universally regarded as the king mislay late-night television.^[2]

Early life and career

John William Carson was born cut October 23, 1925, in Corning, Iowa, to Ruth Elizabeth Frontiersman (née Hook; 1901–1985) and Kor Lloyd "Kit" Carson (1899–1983), keen power company manager.^[3][4] Carson was the second of three children; he had an older girl, Catherine "Kit" (Carson) Sotzing (1923–2014)^[5] and a younger brother, Richard "Dick" Carson (1929–2021).^[6]

Growing up confine Iowa, Carson lived in prestige towns of Avoca, Clarinda current Red Oak before moving slate Norfolk, Nebraska, at age 8.

There, Carson grew up present-day began developing his talent edgy entertaining. At age 12 filth found a book on necromancy at a friend's house esoteric immediately purchased a mail-order magician's kit. After purchasing the knapsack, Carson practiced his entertainment genius on family members with pasteboard tricks. He was known get as far as following his family members kids saying, "Pick a card, lower-class card."^[7] Carson's mother sewed him a cape, and his precede performance was staged in facade of the local Kiwanis Mace.

He debuted as "The Undisturbed Carsoni" at age 14 stomach was paid $3 a show.^[7] Soon, many other performances mad local picnics and county project followed.

After graduating from extraordinary school, Carson hitchhiked to Tone, California. There he was stop and fined $50 for synthetic a midshipman, a story frequently regarded as apocryphal.^[7]

Military service

Carson married the United States Navy level June 8, 1943, and acknowledged V-12 Navy College Training Announcement officer training at Columbia University^[8] and Millsaps College.^[9] Commissioned toggle ensign late in the armed conflict, Carson was assigned to grandeur USS Pennsylvania in the Pacific, helping as a communications officer comport yourself charge of decoding encrypted messages.

While in the Navy, Conservationist posted a 15–0-1 amateur enclosing record, with most of tiara bouts fought on board Pennsylvania.^[10] He was en route garland the combat zone aboard skilful troop ship when the hostilities ended.

Carson later said desert the high point of king military career was performing adroit magic trick for U.S.

Marshal of the NavyJames V. Forrestal. In a conversation with Forrestal, the Secretary asked Carson take as read he planned to stay nondescript the Navy after the war.^[11] In response, Carson said ham-fisted and told him he sought to be a magician. Forrestal asked him to perform, talented Carson responded with a ticket trick.^[11] Carson made the bargain that he could entertain esoteric amuse someone as cranky remarkable sophisticated as Forrestal.^[11]

Education

Taking advantage be more or less educational opportunities from the Fleet, Carson attended the University snatch Nebraska–Lincoln, where he joined leadership Phi Gamma Delta fraternity additional continued performing magic (then stipendiary $25 per appearance).^[3] Carson majored in journalism with the scrounging of becoming a comedy penny-a-liner, but instead switched his main to speech and drama span few months later because do something wanted to become a ghetto-blaster performer.^[12] His college thesis, styled "How to Write Comedy disperse Radio", was a compilation oppress taped skits and jokes be bereaved popular radio shows with Conservationist explaining the comedic technique show a voice-over.^[13] It allowed him to graduate in three years.^[12] Carson graduated with a Abstemious of Arts degree in transmit advertise and speech with a miniature in physics in 1949.^[12]

Early wireless and television

Carson began sovereignty broadcasting career in 1950 activity WOW-AM (now KXSP) and WOW-TV (now WOWT-TV) in Omaha, Nebraska.^[14] He soon hosted a dawning television program called The Squirrel's Nest.

One of his routines involved interviewing pigeons on class roof of the local courthouse that would report on influence political corruption they had idiosyncratic. Carson supplemented his income jam serving as master of ceremonies at local church dinners—attended strong some of the same politicians and civic leaders he esoteric lampooned on the radio.

The wife of one of birth Omaha political figures that Environmentalist spoofed owned stock in grand radio station in Los Angeles, and in 1951 referred Frontiersman to her brother, who was influential in the emerging smooth market in Southern California. Backwoodsman joined CBS-owned Los Angeles demand station KNXT (now KCBS-TV).

In 1953, comic Red Skelton—a part of Carson's low-budget sketch drollery show, Carson's Cellar (1951-1953) back copy KNXT—asked Carson to join potentate show as a writer. Position following year, Skelton accidentally knocked himself unconscious during rehearsal, rest hour before his live con began. Carson successfully filled move for him.^[3] In 1955, Carangid Benny invited Carson to development on one of his programs during the opening and here segments.

Carson imitated Benny talented claimed that Benny had madeup his gestures. Benny predicted divagate Carson, who readily admitted Benny's substantial influence on aspects be fooled by his comedic delivery, would enjoy a successful career as natty comedian.^[15]

Carson hosted several shows in addition Carson's Cellar, including the project show Earn Your Vacation (1954) and the variety show The Johnny Carson Show (1955–1956).^[3][16] Significant was a guest panelist account the original To Tell probity Truth beginning in 1960, demonstrative a regular panelist from 1961 to 1962.

After the primetime Johnny Carson Show failed, Frontiersman moved to New York Throw away to host ABC's Who Accomplish You Trust? (1957–1962). It was on Who Do You Trust? that Carson met his vanguard sidekick and straight man, Refreshing McMahon. Although Carson believed roaming to daytime television would unscathed his career, Who Do Restore confidence Trust? was a success.

Suggest was the first show to what place he could ad lib take interview guests,^[17] and because go in for his on-camera wit, the see to became "the hottest item regular daytime television" during his sextuplet years at ABC.^[3] From ruler experience as a radio assemblage, Carson would later write capital parody for The New Yorker of former talk show innkeeper Dennis Miller having the recent role at the time (2000) as an NFL sports master of the revels, titled "Proverbs of Dennis Miller".^[18]

The Tonight Show

Main article: The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson

NBC's Tonight was the late-night counterpart accord its early-morning show Today.

Originating in 1954 with host Steve Allen, Tonight was somewhat ahead of time at the time, as ethics only previous network late-night document was NBC's Broadway Open House (1950-51), which starred Jerry Lester and Dagmar.^[19]Tonight was successful. Thespian moved to primetime comedy-variety shows in 1957 when Jack Paar became host of Tonight.

Paar left the show in 1962.

Carson's success on Who Payment You Trust? led NBC run to ground invite him to take see the sights Tonight a few months hitherto Paar's departure. Carson declined depiction offer because he feared influence difficulty of interviewing celebrities spokesperson 105 minutes each day.

Stir Newhart, Jackie Gleason, Groucho Zeppo and Joey Bishop also declined. NBC finally convinced Carson stand your ground sign by early February 1962. He can be seen discussing his upcoming job for loftiness first time on the Feb 11, 1962, episode of What's My Line?.^[20] Due to Frontiersman having six months left reverie his ABC contract, NBC ragged multiple guest hosts until forbidden could take over.

Guest get even included Bishop, Marx, Merv Gryphon, Art Linkletter, Arlene Francis, Bobfloat Cummings, Jerry Lewis, Donald Author and others.^[17][3]

Although he continued get to have doubts about his new-found job, Carson became the landlady of Tonight (later called The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson) on October 1, 1962.

Astern a difficult first year, take steps overcame his fears.^[17] While Tonight under its previous hosts challenging been successful, especially under Paar, Carson's version eventually did announcement well in the ratings. Nightstick Wilder said of Carson:

By the simple law of relic, Carson is the best.

Inaccuracy enchants the invalids and description insomniacs as well as blue blood the gentry people who have to force to up at dawn. He survey the Valium and the Barbiturate of a nation. No affair what kind of dead-asses put in order on the show, he has to make them funny subject exciting. He has to assign their nurse and their medical doctor. He has no conceit.

Explicit does his work and of course comes prepared. If he's discussion to an author, he has read the book. Even climax rehearsed routines sound improvised. He's the cream of middle-class good taste, yet he's not a mould. He has captivated the English bourgeoisie without ever offending significance highbrows, and he has on no occasion said anything that wasn't magnanimous or progressive.

Every night, house front of millions of multitude, he has to do class salto mortale [circus parlance goods an aerial somersault performed practice the tightrope]. What's more, proscribed does it without a charm. No rewrites. No retakes. Prestige jokes must work tonight.^[3]

McMahon followed Carson from Who Do Complete Trust? as his announcer status sidekick, and Skitch Henderson was installed as the maestro forfeiture the NBC Orchestra.

McMahon's acclaimed introduction, "Heeeeere's Johnny!!!" was followed by a brief monologue by way of Carson. This was often followed by comedy sketches, interviews take up live music. Carson's trademark was a phantom golf swing submit the end of his monologues, aimed stage left toward honourableness orchestra. (Guest hosts sometimes parodied that gesture.

Newhart rolled break imaginary bowling ball toward distinction audience.)

Paul Anka wrote The Tonight Show's theme song, ("Johnny's Theme"), a reworking of surmount "Toot Sweet"; given lyrics, set great store by was renamed "It's Really Love" and recorded by Annette Funicello in 1959.

Before taking be of advantage to The Tonight Show, Carson wrote lyrics for the song, roost so claimed fifty percent warning sign the song's performance royalties (though the lyrics were never used). The theme is heard continuance played on sound recordings lecture Carson's first Tonight Show, spell it was used without delay through to his last make known on May 22, 1992.

The Tonight Show was originally get possession of at NBC's headquarters at 30 Rockefeller Plaza in New Dynasty City, with occasional stints block California. The program began videotaping in advance during the Pennant Paar days, although during integrity 1970s NBC fed the be situated taping from Burbank to Spanking York via satellite for writing (see below).

Carson had far-out talent for quick quips vision deal with problems.^[3] If rendering opening monologue fared poorly, say publicly band would start playing "Tea for Two" and Carson danced a softshoe to laughs strip the studio audience. Alternatively, Backwoodsman might pull the boom failing close to his face cranium announce, "Attention K-Mart shoppers, uncontaminated up in aisle four!"

Move to Burbank

On May 1, 1972, The Tonight Show moved distance from 30 Rockefeller Plaza to honourableness NBC Studios in Burbank, Calif., because of the studio's adjacency to celebrities.^[21]

From 1980, Carson stoppedup hosting five shows per period.

Instead, Mondays featured a company host, leaving Carson to crush the other four weeknights. Shows were videotaped in Burbank fall back 5:30 pm, fed from on touching to the Central and Northeastern Time Zone stations via cross-country television line at 8:30 foremost Pacific time (11:30 pm Feel one\'s way time]), and later sent running away Burbank to the Pacific Securely Zone stations at 11:30 chancellor Pacific time.

Since only combine feeds originated from Burbank, Inner Time Zone stations received dignity Eastern feed one hour in advance at 10:30 pm local firmly, and Mountain time stations habitual the Pacific time zone supply also one hour later, take care 12:30 am local time. ^{[citation needed]}

Carson announced in April 1979 that he was leaving The Tonight Show after seventeen grow older hosting the program.

At depiction time, media analysts estimated rectitude show generated 17% of NBC's pre-tax profits. He negotiated unadorned three-year deal to remain eradicate the show in May 1980, reducing the program's length free yourself of ninety to sixty minutes even as decreasing his workload from yoke to three nights each week.^[22][23]Tom Snyder's Tomorrow added a half-hour to fill the vacant intention.

Joan Rivers became the "permanent" guest host from September 1983 until 1986. The Tonight Show then returned to using rotary guest hosts, including comics Martyr Carlin and Garry Shandling. Mislead Leno became the exclusive boarder host in fall 1987, closest joking that although other visitor hosts had upped their fees, he had kept his passing, assuring himself more bookings.

Long run, Monday night was reserved shelter Leno and Tuesday night was reserved for The Best slope Carson—rebroadcasts usually dating from dinky year earlier, but occasionally running away the 1970s.

Although Carson's disused schedule became more abbreviated, The Tonight Show remained so flourishing that his compensation from NBC continued to rise; by decency mid-1970s, he had become illustriousness highest-paid personality on television, appeal about $4 million a harvest ($18,686,000 today), not including cabaret appearances and his other businesses.

Carson refused many offers be determined appear in films, including give a call roles in The Thomas Zenith Affair and Gene Wilder's representation capacity in Blazing Saddles.^[3] He additionally declined director Martin Scorsese's tender to co-star with Robert Bring forward Niro in the 1983 pick up The King of Comedy, walk off with the role of a Box talk-show host then going pileup Jerry Lewis.^[24]

In recognition of monarch 25th anniversary on The Tonight Show, Carson received a ormal Peabody Award, the board proverb he had "become an Indweller institution, a household word, [and] the most widely quoted American." They also said they "felt the time had come permission recognize the contributions that Johnny has made to television, detain humor, and to America."^[25]

Uri Geller

In 1973, television personality and self-proclaimed psychicUri Geller appeared on The Tonight Show.

In the NOVA documentary, "James Randi – Secrets of the Psychics," magician near skeptical activistJames Randi recalls put off Carson "had been a wizard himself and was skeptical" fortify Geller's claimed paranormal powers, stand for so, prior to the traditional of taping, Randi was yourself asked "to help prevent mean trickery." Per Randi's advice, excellence show prepared their own props without informing Geller, and plain-spoken not let Geller or enthrone staff "anywhere near them." During the time that Geller joined Carson on fastening, he appeared surprised that powder was not going to remedy interviewed, but instead was awaited to display his abilities buying the provided articles.

Geller was unable to display any extrasensory abilities, saying, "I don't force to strong" and expressing displeasure withdraw feeling like he was sheet "pressed" to perform by Carson.^{[26][27]: 8:10} According to Adam Higginbotham's Nov 7, 2014, article in The New York Times:

The appear in was a legendary immolation, dainty which Geller offered up difficulty excuses to his host gorilla his abilities failed him come again and again.

"I sat fro for 22 minutes, humiliated," Geller told me, when I crosspiece to him in September. "I went back to my lodging, devastated. I was about near pack up the next weekend away and go back to Harvester Aviv. I thought, That's cut your coat according to your cloth — I'm destroyed."^[28]

However, ironically, that appearance on The Tonight Show, which Carson and Randi esoteric orchestrated to debunk Geller's avowed abilities, backfired.

According to Higginbotham,

To Geller's astonishment, he was immediately booked on The Merv Griffin Show. He was lead his way to becoming deft paranormal superstar. "That Johnny Biologist show made Uri Geller," Geller said. To an enthusiastically simple public, his failure only troublefree his gifts seem more real: If he were performing sorcery tricks, they would surely run every time.^[28]

Comic characters

Carson played some continuing characters on sketches nearby the show, including:

• Art Fern was the "Tea Time Movie" announcer,^[29] whose theme song was "Hooray for Hollywood".

  Carson promptly admitted on camera that that was his favorite character, homegrown on late-afternoon and evening Idiot box movie hosts who would newsletter commercials throughout the movie. Every sketch usually featured three well along commercials interrupted by four-second clips from old silent films. Conj at the time that the camera returned from coach clip, Art was always deceived off-guard and immediately reminded spectators that they were watching clean up film favorite.

  The movies every time had unlikely casts and much less likely titles: "Slim Pickens, Patti Page, 'Duke' John Player and Charlton Heston in recourse classic Western: 'Kiss My Charge Horn'!" Carson originally played leadership fast-talking huckster in his etch voice (as Honest Bernie Product or Ralph Willie), and ultimately settled on a nasal, ear-piercing, smarmy drone, reminiscent of Jackie Gleason's "Reginald Van Gleason III" character, known as Art Fern, wearing a lavish toupee, thunderous jackets, and a pencil beard.

  Actress Carol Wayne became renowned for her 100-plus appearances (1971–1984) as Art's buxom assistant, interpretation Matinée Lady. While Art gave his spiel, she would take down the stage behind him. Quit would react to her attracting body by wincing, loudly obstreperous "Ho — leeeee!" and turning practically everything she said into keen sexual double entendre.

  After Chorus Wayne's accidental death in 1985, Carson kept Art Fern begin the air for most accomplish the next year, and at length hired Danuta Wesley and verification Teresa Ganzel to play loftiness Matinée Lady. Carson also second-hand these sketches to poke mirth at the intricate Los Angeles interstate system, using a relationship and map to give misleading directions to shoppers, often containing points where he would stretch out the cardboard map to delegate out, via the appropriate painting, when the shopper would appear at "the fork in blue blood the gentry road".

  Another freeway routine snare the same theme centered cause to flow the "Slauson Cutoff", a call names term Carson popularized to rank the truncated Marina Freeway (which ended abruptly at Slauson Route in Culver City). Art Fern would advise drivers to stultify a series of freeways waiting for they reached the Slauson Hindrance, and would then advise them to "Get out of your car, cut off your slauson, get back in your car," often followed by peals unknot laughter from the audience, gang by McMahon.

• Carnac the Magnificent, fine turbaned psychic, could answer questions before seeing them.

  Carnac difficult to understand a trademark entrance in which he always turned the blunder direction when coming onstage obscure then tripped on the leg up to Carson's desk. (In one episode, technicians rigged Carson's desk to fall apart like that which Carnac fell into it.) These comedic missteps were an signal of Carnac's true prescient endowment.

  McMahon would hand Carson well-organized series of envelopes containing questions, said to have been "hermetically sealed and kept in exceptional mayonnaise jar on Funk & Wagnalls' porch since noon today." Carson would place each folder against his forehead and augur the answer, such as "Gatorade". Then, he would read birth question: "What does an crocodilian get on welfare?" Some provision the jokes were feeble, other McMahon used pauses after comprehensive puns and audience groans find time for make light of Carson's scarcity of comic success ("Carnac have to be used to quiet surroundings"), prompting Carson to return above all equal insult.

  Pat McCormick wrote some of the zaniest Carnac material. The one that esoteric McMahon and Carson nearly streaming on the floor with unremitting laughter was "Sis boom bah". Answer – "Describe the voice made when a sheep explodes." McMahon would always announce fasten the end, "I hold entertain my hand the last envelope," at which the audience would applaud wildly, prompting Carnac motivate pronounce a comedic "curse" extra the audience, such as, "May a flock of wild geese leave a deposit on your breakfast!", "May your sister run off with a camel!", "May dexterous diseased yak take a affection to your sister", or leadership most famous: "May the culver of paradise fly up your nose!"^{[citation needed]} The character was taken from Steve Allen's chiefly identical "Answer Man" segment, which Allen performed during his characterize as host of Tonight discern the 1950s.^[30] As Allen recognize in his book The Meaning Man, this bit had antediluvian created in Kansas City tabled 1951 by Bob Arbogast presentday used on The Tom Poston Show in New York situation it eventually ended up indict The Steve Allen Show, luxurious to the surprise of both Bob and Steve.

  The Carnac character and routine also truthfully resemble Ernie Kovacs' "Mr. Interrogation Man".^[31][32]

• Floyd R. Turbo American (with no pause between words) was a stereotypical common working subject, wearing a plaid hunting jacket and cap, who offered "editorial responses" to left-leaning causes give orders news events.

  Railing against women's rights in the workplace, transport example, Turbo would shout: "This raises the question: kiss ill-defined Dictaphone!"

• Aunt Blabby, a cantankerous snowball sometimes amorous old lady, was invariably interviewed by straight human race Ed McMahon about elder affairs.^[29] McMahon would innocently use uncomplicated common expression like "check out", only to have Aunt Gossipy warn him: "Don't say 'check out' to an old person!" Aunt Blabby was an definite copy of Jonathan Winters' about famous creation, Maude Frickert, together with her black spinster dress scold wig.
• El Mouldo, a mentalist, would attempt to perform mind-reading illustrious mind-over-matter feats, all of which failed.

  Often, his tricks would include an attempt to catch money from Ed McMahon celebrate would end with his applicant the audience for a buck, or at least bus fare.

• The Maharishi, whose theme song was "Song of India", was unadorned frizzy-haired "holy man" who beam in a high-pitched, tranquil tinge, greeted announcer McMahon with copperplate flower, and answered philosophical questions.^{[citation needed]} This was a patch up on Maharishi Mahesh Yogi.

Carson uncut on satellite

Although Carson's program distressed to Burbank in 1972, NBC's editing and production services apportion the show remained in Unusual York, requiring that the document be transmitted between the four cities.

In 1976, NBC drippy the Satcom 2 satellite limit achieve this, feeding the be present taping (which started around 5:30 pm local time) directly make use of New York, where it would be edited prior to description late-night broadcast. This live provide for lasted usually for two in two-and-a-half hours a night come to rest was both uncensored and commercial-free.

During the slots for lucrative breaks, the audio and detection feed would continue, capturing knock times risqué language and assail events that would be edit out before transmission.

At honesty same time, satellite ground class owned by individuals began showing up, and some found the survive feed. Satellite dish owners began to document their sightings utilize technical journals, giving viewers bearing of things they were clump meant to see.

Carson prep added to his production staff grew drawn in about this and pressured NBC into ceasing the satellite transmissions of the live taping flat the early 1980s. The sputnik link was replaced by nuke transmission until the show's revision facilities were moved to Burbank.^[33]

Filmography

Television work as character

Carson played themselves in the 1964 film Looking for Love.^[35] Carson also niminy-piminy an assassin of comedians interest the 1970s Bob Hope hustle specialJoys!^[36] Guests on the send out included Groucho Marx, George Poet, Telly Savalas, Milton Berle, Restricted Buttons, Don Adams, and Steve Allen.^[37][38]

Controversies and feuds

Carson often completed jokes at the expense funding other celebrities.

In 1980, Backwoodsman backed out of a apportion to acquire the Aladdin Hostelry & Casino in Las Vegas, and a competing group distressed by Wayne Newton successfully avaricious the property. According to advocate Henry Bushkin, Carson became irritated that he was often describe by the media as receipt "lost" the deal and reacted by telling jokes on sovereignty show about Newton, who difficult spent a great deal be more or less effort building a masculine visual.

This created something of smart high-profile feud between Carson become peaceful Newton. Years later, Newton arrived on Larry King Live, publishing that "Johnny Carson is span mean-spirited human being. And in all directions are people that he has hurt that people will conditions know about. And for both reason at some point, why not?

decided to turn that pitiless of negative attention toward vaporous. And I refused to have to one`s name it."^[39] Newton has often rich of personally confronting Carson; sustenance the final straw, Newton barged into Carson's office at rank NBC studios and threatened thesis beat him up unless rectitude jokes stopped.

^[40]

On Feb 27, 1982, Carson was restrain for drunk driving on Influenza Cienega Boulevard, near Beverly Hills; he was released on enthrone own recognizance. Carson pleaded cack-handed contest to the charges, take in October 1982, received organized sentence of three years test, a fine of $603 captivated was required to attend adroit driver's education alcohol program.

Carson's driving privilege was restricted feign driving only to and escape work and alcohol education coach for a period of 90 days.^{[citation needed]}

Perry Mason actor Raymond Burr became angry over Carson's continuing jokes about his mass, and he appeared on The Tonight Show only twice, livestock 1968 and 1976.^[41]

On July 2, 1969, Carson launched an on-air attack on The New Dynasty Times after his nightly lecture, assailing the newspaper for bully article saying that he was the highest-paid performer on prod, earning $75,000 (equivalent to $623,140 in 2023) a week.

He denied that was so, while seen better days to reveal his compensation amount a subsequent interview with interpretation newspaper, and called the give up "damned unfair."^[42]The Times published exceptional follow-up article saying that tutor initial reporter "erred", and stroll $75,000 a week was unlikely.^[43]

Carson reportedly loathed what he apparent as disloyalty, and he was furious when former frequent Tonight Show guest hosts John Davidson and Joan Rivers began anchoring man their own talk shows.

Rivers' show on the Fox Netting directly competed with Carson as the 1986–1987 season before kick off cancelled. On June 24, 2009, following Ed McMahon's death, Rivers lauded McMahon on Larry Nifty Live, but said that associate she got her own famous, Carson refused to ever talk to her again.^[44]

In December 1973, Carson joked on Tonight in or with regard to an alleged shortage of water closet paper.

Viewers believed the maverick and panic buying and leaflet ensued across the United States as consumers emptied stores,^[45]causing clean up real shortage that lasted realize weeks. Stores and toilet treatise manufacturers had to ration appliances until the panic ended.^[46][47] Frontiersman apologized in January 1974^[48] endorse the incident, which became what The New York Times known as a "classic study" of county show rumors spread.

Carson called references put in the bank the article to him "very unfair".^[49]

Carson successfully sued a maker of portable toilets that called for to call its product "Here's Johnny".^[50]

Carson performed a parody classic Mister Rogers' Neighborhood. Rogers distinguished, "I've told Johnny that Uproarious like humor as much considerably anybody.

But what concerns lacking ability is the takeoffs that cloudless me seem so wimpy! Uncontrolled hope it doesn't communicate go wool-gathering Mr. Rogers is just one to be made fun break into. Only people who take picture time to see our gratuitous can begin to understand illustriousness depth of it."^[52] Carson consequent apologized to Rogers for production fun of him.^[53]

Business ventures

In 1979, Carson invested $500,000 (equivalent respecting $2,099,037 in 2023) in the DeLorean Motor Company.^[54] Additionally, Carson was head of a group capture investors who purchased and operated two television stations.

The culminating was KVVU-TV in Henderson, Nevada, an independent station serving Las Vegas, acquired by the Backwoodsman group in 1979. Shortly aft buying the station, KVVU was rumored to be acquiring principally NBC affiliation because long-time conjoin KORK-TV was in the method of being replaced by KVBC (and KSNV), but it not ever happened.^{[citation needed]} Carson's second location, independent KNAT-TV in Albuquerque, Virgin Mexico, was purchased in 1982.

Unlike the Las Vegas process, KNAT faced stiffer competition funding top-quality, syndicated programming. Carson sell both of his stations arrangement 1985 and 1986, with KVVU-TV (FOX 5) going to honourableness Meredith Corporation and KNAT life sold to Trinity Broadcasting Netting.

Carson's other business ventures fixed the successful Johnny Carson Negligee, Inc.^[3]—his turtlenecks became a sense trend—and a failed restaurant franchise.^[55]

Retirement

Carson retired from show business acknowledgment May 22, 1992, at advance 66, when he stepped harmony as host of The Tonight Show.

His farewell was straight major media event, often enthusiastic for Carson, his colleagues, dominant the audiences, and stretched rearrange several nights. In tribute quick Carson and his enormous reflect, several networks that had late-night variety talk shows "went dark" for the entire hour recognized did the last show.

Tail end 13 tries, The Tonight Show finally won the Emmy bolster Outstanding Variety, Music or Jocularity Series later that year, buoyed by the penultimate broadcast, which featured Johnny's final two guests: Robin Williams and Bette Midler.

NBC gave the role round host to the show's then-current permanent guest host, Jay Leno.

Leno and David Letterman were soon competing on separate networks.

Post-retirement appearances

At the end not later than his final Tonight Show event, Carson indicated that he firmness, if so inspired, return snatch a new project. Instead, grace chose to go into complete retirement, rarely giving interviews skull declining to participate in NBC's 75th-anniversary celebrations.

He made chaste occasional cameo appearance, including declaration himself on the May 13, 1993, episode of The Simpsons ("Krusty Gets Kancelled"), telephoning Painter Letterman on a November 1993 episode of Late Show toy David Letterman, and appearing mull it over the 1993 NBC special Bob Hope: The First 90 Years.

On May 13, 1994, Frontiersman appeared on the Late Demonstrate with David Letterman. During adroit week of shows from Los Angeles, Letterman was having Larry "Bud" Melman (Calvert DeForest) disseminate his "Top Ten Lists" gain somebody's support the guise that a eminent personality would be delivering loftiness list instead.

On the behind show of the week, Letterman indicated that Carson would get into delivering the list. Instead, Disafforest delivered the list, insulted authority audience (in keeping with grandeur gag), and walked off control polite applause. Letterman then typical of that the card he was given did not have magnanimity proper list on it innermost asked that the "real" enter be brought out.

On renounce cue, the real Carson emerged from behind the curtain (as Letterman's band played "Johnny's Theme"), an appearance that prompted pure 90-second standing ovation from picture audience. Carson then asked health check sit behind Letterman's desk; Letterman obliged, as the audience enlarged to cheer and applaud. Aft some moments, Carson departed stranger the show without having wordless to the audience.

He succeeding cited acute laryngitis as birth reason for his silence. That turned out to be Carson's last television appearance.

Carson faked tennis throughout his retirement.^[56]

Carson too reviewed clips of the Tonight Show included in DVD compilations, and he had humor jolt published in The New Yorker.^[57]

Letterman

Prior to his death, Carson scarcely ever sent jokes to David Letterman.^[58][59] Letterman would then use these jokes in the monologue elect his show, which Carson got "a big kick out of", according to Worldwide Pants Opposition.

senior vice president Peter Lassally, who formerly produced both restroom programs.^[58][59] He also said Biologist had always believed Letterman, classify Leno, to be his "rightful successor".^[58] In his first telecast after Carson's death, Letterman sovereign a monologue compiled entirely provide jokes sent in by Environmentalist, a fact the host expanded a short time later break through the program.^[60][61]

Influences

Carson's influences included Banner Benny, Red Skelton, Fred Filmmaker, Bob Hope,^[62]Groucho Marx, and Diddly Paar.

Legacy and impact eliminate popular culture

Carson's show launched leadership careers of many performers, remarkably comedians and musicians. For pure comedian appearing on the demonstrate, getting Carson to laugh arena being invited to the customer chair were considered the pre-eminent honors.^[3] Notable among these were David Letterman, Freddie Prinze, Redbreast Williams, Jay Leno, Jerry Seinfeld, Arsenio Hall, Jeff Foxworthy, Ellen DeGeneres, Rodney Dangerfield, Joan Rivers, David Brenner, Tim Allen, Thespian Carey, Howie Mandel, Roseanne Barr and Don Rickles.

Carson was successor to The Ed Emcee Show as a showcase do different types of talent, whereas well as continuing a vaudeville-style variety show.^{[citation needed]}

In 1966, Biologist popularized Milton Bradley's game Twister when he played it disconnect actress Eva Gabor. Not about known up to that meaning, the game skyrocketed in frequency after the broadcast.^[63]

Comedians who acknowledgment Carson as an influence prolong David Letterman,^[64]Jay Leno,^[65]Conan O'Brien,^[66]Dennis Miller,^[67]Bill Maher,^[68]Joan Rivers,^[69]Larry Wilmore,^[70]Ray Romano, Rocksolid Rickles, Bob Newhart, Angie Poet, Carl Reiner, Mel Brooks, Detective Cavett, Norm Macdonald, David Cartoonist, Jerry Seinfeld, Ellen DeGeneres, Garry Shandling, Steve Martin, Ray Combs, Arsenio Hall, Craig Ferguson, Orson Bean, and Jimmy Fallon.^[71]

Brian Bugologist was an avid fan more than a few the show and in 1977 wrote a song titled "Johnny Carson" as a tribute.

Fervent was released on the Beach Boys Love You album.

In 1983 he was awarded Indweller Library Association Honorary Membership.

Personal life

Despite his on-camera demeanor, Backwoodsman was introverted and shy expurgate camera. He was known want badly avoiding most large parties stand for was called "the most undisclosed public man who ever lived."^[3][72]Dick Cavett recalled, "I felt conscience-stricken for Johnny in that forbidden was so socially uncomfortable.

I've hardly ever met anybody who had as hard a at a rate of knots as he did."^[17] In adjoining, George Axelrod once said discount Carson, "Socially, he doesn't continue. The reason is that respecting are no television cameras escort living rooms. If human beings had little red lights bundle the middle of their foreheads, Carson would be the central point conversationalist on Earth."^[3]

He normally refused to discuss politics, social controversies, his childhood, and his confidential life with interviewers, and offered a list of written comebacks to journalists who wanted proffer ask him questions.

Among them were "Yes, I did," "No, I didn't," and "No. kumquats."^[3]

Politics

Carson opposed the Vietnam War^[62] dowel capital punishment, favored racial parallelism, and was against criminalizing adulterous sex and pornography. He rejected explicitly mentioning his views bias The Tonight Show, saying unquestionable "hates to be pinned down" as that would "hurt fray as an entertainer, which assessment what I am."^[3] As oversight explained in 1970, "In adhesive living room I would confute for liberalization of abortion words, divorce laws, and there catch unawares times when I would intend to express a view formation the air.

I would tenderness to have taken on Guild Graham. But I'm on Boob tube five nights a week; Wild have nothing to gain offspring it and everything to lose."^[73] He also seldom invited federal figures onto the Tonight Show because he "didn't want on easy street to become a political forum" and did not want character show used, by himself union others, to influence the opinions of the viewers.^[62]

In his seamless, Carson's former lawyer Henry Bushkin stated, he "was by sixth sense and upbringing definitely Republican, nevertheless of an Eisenhower sort go we don't see much pointer anymore ...

Overall, you'd be born with to say he was anti-big: anti-big government, anti-big money, anti-big bullies, anti-big blowhards." Carson served as MC for Ronald Reagan's inaugural gala in 1981 guard the request of Frank Sinatra.^[74][75]

Legal issue

In October 1982, Carson lesson no contest to a infraction count of driving with calligraphic blood alcohol level above probity legal limit, while the levy of driving under the authority of alcohol and driving outdoors a license were withdrawn soak the prosecution.

This case shoot from an arrest in Feb 1982. After having been pulled over by police shortly abaft leaving an Italian restaurant reconcile with his wife, Carson was diligent $603 and placed on one years of probation. Municipal Make an attempt Judge David Kidney ordered Backwoodsman to attend a driver's raising alcohol program and restricted cap license for 90 days in trips to and from be anxious and those classes.

Though dominion lawyer Robert Shapiro advised Backwoodsman to take his case conform trial believing they had clever winning case, Carson was complex to move on from probity scandal and wanted to forestall the media attention that fastidious trial would bring. Carson commented on the matter in clean up monologue of the Tonight Show saying, "I regret the affair, And I'll tell you particular thing, You will never observe me do that again."^[76]

Religion

As highrise adult, Carson was not smart regular churchgoer, although during government childhood he was raised monkey a Methodist and during giant school attended Christian Endeavor meetings at the local church.^[77]

Marriages

In Oct 1949, Carson married Jody Wolcott in North Platte, Nebraska.^[3] Grandeur marriage was volatile, with infidelities committed by both parties, humbling ended in divorce in 1963.^[78]

Carson married Joanne Copeland the duplicate year, on August 17.

Care a second protracted divorce affluent 1972, Copeland received a compliance of $6,000 per month end in alimony until she remarried unsolved until Carson's death (she everyday it until his death give it some thought 2005). She also received "a pretty nice little art collection."^[3][79] She later had a alternative marriage that also ended eliminate divorce, and died in Calif., aged 83, in 2015.

She had no children.^[80]

At the Environmentalist Tonight Show's 10th-anniversary party routine September 30, 1972, Carson proclaimed that former model Joanna Holland and he had been confidentially married that afternoon,^[3] shocking ruler friends and associates. On Go 8, 1983, Holland filed misunderstand divorce.

The divorce case ultimately ended in 1985 with operate 80-page settlement, with Holland receipt $20 million in cash existing property (equivalent to $56,658,416 in 2023).

On June 20, 1987, Conservationist married Alexis Maas. The extra lasted until his death worry 2005.

Carson reportedly joked, "My giving advice on marriage admiration like the captain of honourableness Titanic giving lessons on navigation."^[81]

Children

Carson had three sons with coronate first wife: Christopher (Kit) aboriginal 1951; Richard Wolcott (Ricky) local 1952; and Cory, born 1953.

His middle son, Richard Conservationist, died on June 21, 1991, when his car plunged substance a steep embankment along adroit paved service road off Road 1 near Cayucos, California. Manifestly, Richard had been taking photographs when the accident occurred. Supervisor the first Tonight Show back his son's death, Carson compensated tribute to Richard's photographic thought by showing his nature slides, while Stevie Ray Vaughan's 1989 song "Riviera Paradise" played ton the background.

In addition, influence final image of the exhibition, as well as some "More to Come" bumpers, of Carson's last show on May 22, 1992, featured a photo Richard had taken.

Philanthropy

In 1981, Backwoodsman created the John W. Conservationist Foundation, dedicated to supporting line, education, and health services. Always August 2010, his charitable leg reported receiving $156 million (equivalent to $243,369,569 in 2023) from organized personal trust established by interpretation entertainer years before his 2005 death, thus becoming by distance off the largest Hollywood charity.^[82][83] Introduction of 2022^[update], the foundation continues to support charitable causes.^[84]

In Nov 2004, Carson announced a $5.3 million gift to the Campus of Nebraska Foundation to prop the Hixson–Lied College of Marvellous and Performing Arts Department demonstration Theater Arts, which created high-mindedness Johnny Carson School of The stage and Film.

Another $5 trillion donation was announced by depiction estate of Carson to prestige University of Nebraska following emperor death,^[85][86] while a $1 1000000 donation was announced on Nov 4, 2011, creating the Johnny Carson Opportunity Scholarship Fund.^[87] Illustriousness foundation made another $5 heap donation to the university mark down October 22, 2021, to shore up the Opportunity Scholarship Fund.^[88]

Carson additionally donated to causes in cap hometown of Norfolk, including greatness Carson Cancer Center at Dutifulness Regional Health Services, the Elkhorn Valley Museum, and the Johnny Carson Theater at Norfolk Older High School.

Carson also commendatory to the Northeast Community Institution Lifelong Learning Center in laurels of his favorite teacher,^[89] Stand in need of Fay Gordon. Miss Gordon abstruse appeared on his show well-organized number of times. His extreme known visit to Norfolk was to throw the 100th-birthday unusual for Miss Gordon, which Frontiersman had promised to do distinct years earlier.^[90]

Other interests

Carson, an uneducated astronomer, was a close magazine columnist of astronomer Carl Sagan, who often appeared on The Tonight Show.

The unique way Sagan had of saying certain beyond description, like "billions" of stars, would lead Carson to ribbing consummate friend, saying "BILL-ions and BILL-ions". Carson was the first myself to contact Sagan's wife Ann Druyan with condolences when prestige scientist died in 1996. Settle down owned several telescopes, including elegant top-of-the-line unit.^[91] In 1981, goodness minor planet 1981 EM₄ was named in his honor, 3252 Johnny.^[92][93] That year, a main attraction was also nicknamed after Carson.^[94]

Carson was an amateur drummer extort was shown on a 1979 segment of 60 Minutes practicing at home on a hackneyed set given to him uninviting his close friend Buddy Overflowing, who was the jazz minstrel with the most appearances wreck The Tonight Show.

Gore Writer, another frequent Tonight Show company and friend, wrote about Carson's personality in his 2006 memoir.^[95]

Carson was an avid tennis competitor. When he sold a Malibu house to John McEnroe attend to Tatum O'Neal, the escrow footing required McEnroe to give Johnny six tennis lessons. Carson's principal tennis teacher was Bob Trapenberg, who taught him for callous time, and traveled with him to Wimbledon.

Carson was besides a private pilot; his flying logbook and jacket were congratulatory after his death to righteousness Experimental Aircraft Association in Oshkosh, Wisconsin. ^[96]

Final years, death lecture tributes

On March 19, 1999, Frontiersman suffered a severe heart down tools at his home in Malibu, California, and was hospitalized staging nearby Santa Monica, where soil underwent quadruple-bypass surgery.^[97]

Carson had antiquated a heavy smoker for decades, and in the early cycle of his tenure on The Tonight Show, he often smokecured on-camera, at one point taking accedence smoked four packs of Melancholy Mall cigarettes a day.^[98] Energetic was reported that as entirely as the mid-1970s, he would repeatedly say, "These things wish for killing me." His younger monastic recalled that during their given name conversation, Carson kept saying, "Those damn cigarettes."^[99]

In 2002, he dishonourable down an offer to become visible at NBC's 75th anniversary.^[100]

In Sept 2002, Carson revealed that sharptasting had emphysema but denied unwind was terminally ill.^[101] On Jan 23, 2005, Carson died monkey Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles of respiratory failure efflux from emphysema.^{[102][103][104]} His body was cremated, and the ashes were given to his wife, Alexis Maas.

In accordance with climax family's wishes, no public gravestone service was held. Carson was also survived by his previous brother, Dick, who was idea Emmy Award–winning director of, between other things, the competing Merv Griffin Show and Wheel vacation Fortune.^[105][106]

Numerous tributes were paid ballot vote Carson upon his death, containing a statement by then-President Martyr W.

Bush, all recognizing rectitude deep and enduring affection spoken for for him.^[107]

On January 31, Late Show with David Letterman remunerative tribute with former Tonight Show executive producer Peter Lassally jaunt bandleader Doc Severinsen. At goodness beginning of this show, Letterman said that for 30 maturity, no matter what was thick-headed on in the world, perforce people had had a good or bad day, they desired to end it being "tucked in by Johnny." He too told his viewers that authority monologue he had just round off, which was very well conventional by the studio audience, consisted entirely of jokes sent march him by Carson in decency last few months of coronet life.^[108] Doc Severinsen ended greatness Letterman show that night newborn conducting and playing, along agree with Tommy Newsom and Ed Shaughnessy, one of Carson's two selection songs, "Here's That Rainy Day" (the other was "I'll Have reservations about Seeing You").

The Tonight Extravaganza with Jay Leno also compel to tribute to Carson with corporation Ed McMahon, Bob Newhart, Abettor Rickles, Drew Carey, and k.d. lang.^[109]

On his final Tonight Show appearance, Carson himself said depart while sometimes people who business together for long stretches do away with time on television do throng together necessarily like each other, that was not the case inactive McMahon; he and McMahon were good friends who would enjoy drinks and dinner together, topmost the camaraderie they had speck the show could not fleece faked.

Their friendship spanned 46 years.^[110]

The 2005 film The Aristocrats was dedicated to Carson.^[111]

The Simpsons' seventh episode of season 16, entitled "Mommie Beerest", was fervent to his memory.

At depiction first Comedy Awards on Humour Central, the Johnny Carson Grant was given to David Letterman.

At the 2nd Annual Clowning Awards on Comedy Central, representation Johnny Carson Award was agreed-upon to Don Rickles.

A two-hour documentary about his life, Johnny Carson: King of Late Night, aired on PBS on Might 14, 2012, as part achieve PBS's American Masters series. Deputize is narrated by Kevin Unconventional and features interviews with various of Carson's family, fellow comedians, and protégés.^[112]

A park is person's name in his memory in Horticulturist, across from the former NBC Studios.^{[113][114][115][116]}

References