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Johnny Carson Biography

Fast Facts

John William Carson

Born on October 23, 1925 in Corning, Iowa

Raised in Norfolk, Nebraska

Began entertaining as a youngster doing magic tricks

Served in the navy 1943-46

1957 hosted the game show "Who Do You Trust" with sidekick Ed McMahon

Claim to Fame: Hosted The Tonight Show and was king of late night for nearly 3 decades (1962-92)

His younger brother Dick is a director for the game show "Wheel of Fortune"

He married 4 times

Died January 23,2005

Johnny Carson Biography

"When...lucky moments happen, you just go with them and enjoy the experience and the high of the moment." Johnny Carson

Johnny Carson was born to Homer "Kit" Carson ( a power company manager ) and Ruth Carson, nee Hook, ( a homemaker ). He started entertaining early in life, sending away for a magic kit when he was twelve. Two years later he performed as "The Great Carsoni" at the Elk, Moose and Redmen Lodges.

Johnny is best known for his role as late night host of the talk show The Tonight Show. He took this job in 1962 and for the next 30 years became a familiar face in people's homes on a nightly basis. People were charmed by his mid-western innocence mixed with cosmopolitan wit..."millions of kids grew up over the years hearing the voices of Carson, Ed McMahon, Doc Severinsen and myriad celebrity guests emanating from the tube in their parents' bedroom. Cackles of laughter ensued. Often it sounded like mom and dad were having a party in there. They were."*

He brought Vaudeville into the show with a modern flair, doing skits with recurring 
characters like Carnac the Psychic, and improvisation. The golf swing that 
ended his monologues, McMahon's famous introductions of "Heeere's Johnny!" ,
Carson's monologue, followed by guest interviews—a mix of 
celebrities and small-town types--punctuated by Doc Severinsen's music provided

a familiarity that was the real secret to the show's popularity.

Carson’s leadership of the talk show genre inspired a generation of imitators 
and admirers, most notably Jay Leno, his “Tonight Show” heir, and David 
Letterman, who talked of Carson as his mentor.  

 Carson took a risk by threatening to quit the show in 1979.  As a result he was 
awarded a new contract which shortened the show from ninety to sixty minutes, 
gave him more vacation time, and increased his salary.  In 1991, many 
were surprised to hear Carson’s announcement that he would retire the 
following year, on May 22nd.  His final guests, on his second-to-last 
show, were Robin Williams and Bette Midler, but on his final show the next 
night he reminisced with McMahon and Severinsen, and played favorite 
clips from past shows.  The audience for his last show was estimated at 
fifty million viewers. 

In private life, Carson was almost the opposite of his spontaneous, 
charming onstage personality; he was married four times and was reputed to 
be rather distant, even cool in his dealings with most people. He 
formed his own production group, Carson Productions, in 1980 and became 
immensely wealthy from his own and other shows (his high alimony payments 
were the source of many jokes over the years). He had been married to 
fourth wife, Alexis Carson (nee Mass) since 1987.  Inducted into the 
Television Hall of Fame in 1987, Carson won numerous Emmys for his hosting 
skills, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1992, and the 
Kennedy Center Honors Lifetime Achievement Award in 1993.

He was a heavy smoker for most of his life and on January 23, 2005 he died of
emphysema..

"If life was fair, Elvis would be alive and all the impersonators would be dead"

Johnny Carson

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Resources:*Michael Ventre @ MSNBC News, A&E's Biographies

Ed McMahon: America's Sidekick Johnny Carson's famous sidekick has long been one of the hardest working men in show business.