Johnny Carson
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Johnny Carson, King of Late Night, Dies at Age 79
By JEFF WILSON, AP
AP
Johnny Carson at his 'Tonight Show' desk for the last time, May 22, 1992.
LOS ANGELES (Jan. 23) - Johnny Carson, the ''Tonight Show'' TV host who served America a smooth nightcap of celebrity banter, droll comedy and heartland charm for 30 years, has died. He was 79.
''Mr. Carson passed away peacefully early Sunday morning,'' his nephew, Jeff Sotzing, told The Associated Press. ''He was surrounded by his family, whose loss will be immeasurable. There will be no memorial service.''
Sotzing would not give further details, including the time of death or the location.
The boyish-looking Nebraska native with the disarming grin, who survived every attempt to topple him from his late-night talk show throne, was a star who managed never to distance himself from his audience.
His wealth, the adoration of his guests - particularly the many young comics whose careers he launched - the wry tales of multiple divorces: Carson's air of modesty made it all serve to enhance his bedtime intimacy with viewers.
''Heeeeere's Johnny!'' was the booming announcement from sidekick Ed McMahon that ushered Carson out to the stage. Then the formula: the topical monologue, the guests, the broadly played skits such as ''Carnac the Magnificent.''
But America never tired of him; Carson went out on top when he retired in May 1992. In his final show, he told his audience: ''And so it has come to this. I am one of the lucky people in the world. I found something that I always wanted to do and I have enjoyed every single minute of it.''
His personal life could not match the perfection of his career. Carson was married four times, divorced three. In 1991, one of his three sons, 39-year-old Ricky, was killed in a car accident.
Nearly all of Carson's professional life was spent in television, from his postwar start at Nebraska stations in the late 1940s to his three decades with NBC's ''The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.''
Carson choose to let ''Tonight'' stand as his career zenith and his finale, withdrawing into a quiet retirement that suited his private nature and refusing involvement in other show business projects.
In 1993, he explained his absence from the limelight.
''I have an ego like anybody else,'' Carson told The Washington Post, ''but I don't need to be stoked by going before the public all the time.''
AP-NY-01-23-05 1400EST
By JEFF WILSON, AP
AP
Johnny Carson at his 'Tonight Show' desk for the last time, May 22, 1992.
LOS ANGELES (Jan. 23) - Johnny Carson, the ''Tonight Show'' TV host who served America a smooth nightcap of celebrity banter, droll comedy and heartland charm for 30 years, has died. He was 79.
''Mr. Carson passed away peacefully early Sunday morning,'' his nephew, Jeff Sotzing, told The Associated Press. ''He was surrounded by his family, whose loss will be immeasurable. There will be no memorial service.''
Sotzing would not give further details, including the time of death or the location.
The boyish-looking Nebraska native with the disarming grin, who survived every attempt to topple him from his late-night talk show throne, was a star who managed never to distance himself from his audience.
His wealth, the adoration of his guests - particularly the many young comics whose careers he launched - the wry tales of multiple divorces: Carson's air of modesty made it all serve to enhance his bedtime intimacy with viewers.
''Heeeeere's Johnny!'' was the booming announcement from sidekick Ed McMahon that ushered Carson out to the stage. Then the formula: the topical monologue, the guests, the broadly played skits such as ''Carnac the Magnificent.''
But America never tired of him; Carson went out on top when he retired in May 1992. In his final show, he told his audience: ''And so it has come to this. I am one of the lucky people in the world. I found something that I always wanted to do and I have enjoyed every single minute of it.''
His personal life could not match the perfection of his career. Carson was married four times, divorced three. In 1991, one of his three sons, 39-year-old Ricky, was killed in a car accident.
Nearly all of Carson's professional life was spent in television, from his postwar start at Nebraska stations in the late 1940s to his three decades with NBC's ''The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.''
Carson choose to let ''Tonight'' stand as his career zenith and his finale, withdrawing into a quiet retirement that suited his private nature and refusing involvement in other show business projects.
In 1993, he explained his absence from the limelight.
''I have an ego like anybody else,'' Carson told The Washington Post, ''but I don't need to be stoked by going before the public all the time.''
AP-NY-01-23-05 1400EST
always knew what channel to get up to and turn the knob to when i had trouble sleeping(remoteless) u knew it was always good 4 a laugh
Grew up falling asleep with him on.
Loved Carnac but Art Fern the tea time announcer was my favorite.He had that girl[can't remember her name,she drowned] with her cleavage showing..wow
So many high lites on that show.Ed Ames and the tomahawk,Arnie Palmer and his putter line.
Sad day today. That man made me laugh many times.
Loved Carnac but Art Fern the tea time announcer was my favorite.He had that girl[can't remember her name,she drowned] with her cleavage showing..wow
So many high lites on that show.Ed Ames and the tomahawk,Arnie Palmer and his putter line.
Sad day today. That man made me laugh many times.
......"and cut off your Slawson!"
Wayne died under "shady" curcumstances in 1985. She hated the water, and could not swim, but "drowned" fully clothed in 4 feet of water along a Mexican beach.
The guy she spent the weekend with returrned to the States without her, before anyone knew she was "missing".
Hmmmmmmm.......
Oh, and he was the same guy who was with Art Linkletter's daughter when she "commited suicide", a few years earlier!
Wayne died under "shady" curcumstances in 1985. She hated the water, and could not swim, but "drowned" fully clothed in 4 feet of water along a Mexican beach.
The guy she spent the weekend with returrned to the States without her, before anyone knew she was "missing".
Hmmmmmmm.......
Oh, and he was the same guy who was with Art Linkletter's daughter when she "commited suicide", a few years earlier!
A lot of Great things cross my mind
The Daniel Boone Tomahawk throw, Rac Welch and her Damn cat and all the animals that craped or scared him. He will be missed, at least they will show a bunch of re-runs to honor him, that will be nice.
The Daniel Boone Tomahawk throw, Rac Welch and her Damn cat and all the animals that craped or scared him. He will be missed, at least they will show a bunch of re-runs to honor him, that will be nice.
