Johnny Carson siblings: Meet Dick Carson, Catherine Carson
John William Carson (October 23, 1925 – January 23, 2005) was a television host, comedian, writer, and producer from the United States. He is best known as the host of Johnny Carson’s Tonight Show (1962–1992). Carson got six Primetime Emmy Awards, the Television Academy’s Governor’s Award in 1980, and a Peabody Award in 1985. In 1987, he was elected into the Television Academy Hall of Fame. Carson earned the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1992 and a Kennedy Center Honor in 1993.
Carson served in the Navy during WWII. Carson began a career in radio after the war. He transitioned from radio to television, succeeding Jack Paar as host of the late-night chat show Tonight. Although his program was already profitable by the end of the 1960s, Carson became an American hero throughout the 1970s and remained so even after his retirement in 1992. He took a casual, conversational approach with substantial contact with guests, similar to Arthur Godfrey and previous Tonight Show hosts Steve Allen and Jack Paar, but complemented by Carson’s lightning-quick wit. Carson’s influence has been mentioned by numerous people, including former late-night host and friend David Letterman. He is a cultural icon and is largely regarded as the king of late-night television.
Johnny Carson siblings: Meet Dick Carson, Catherine Carson
He was the second of three children. He had an older sister, Catherine “Kit” (Carson) Sotzing (1923-2014), and a younger brother, Richard Carson (1929-2021).
