About Johnny Carson
John William Carson was born on October 23, 1925, in Corning, Iowa, and grew up in Norfolk, Nebraska. At 14 he was already performing as a magician-comic, "The Great Carsoni." He served as a Navy ensign in World War II, then graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1949 with a degree in radio and speech and a minor in physics.
After college he worked in local broadcasting at WOW in Omaha, then went to Los Angeles, where he hosted Carson's Cellar on KNXT and wrote for The Red Skelton Show. In 1957 he became quizmaster of ABC's daytime Who Do You Trust?. On October 1, 1962, he hosted his first Tonight Show as its permanent host.
He kept the job for 30 years, with Ed McMahon announcing "Heeeeere's Johnny!" and, from 1967, Doc Severinsen leading the band, and with characters like Carnac the Magnificent, Aunt Blabby and Art Fern. He won multiple Emmy Awards and a Peabody, and received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1992 and the Kennedy Center Honors in 1993. His last Tonight Show aired on May 22, 1992. His gifts to the University of Nebraska, with those of his estate and foundation, have passed $50 million, according to the University of Nebraska Foundation. He died in Los Angeles on January 23, 2005, at 79.
A Life in Time
- 1925: Born October 23 in Corning, Iowa; grows up in Norfolk, Nebraska
- 1943: Joins the U.S. Navy; serves as an ensign in World War II
- 1949: Graduates from the University of Nebraska in radio and speech
- 1951: Hosts Carson's Cellar on KNXT in Los Angeles
- 1957: Becomes quizmaster of ABC's Who Do You Trust?
- Oct 1, 1962: Hosts his first Tonight Show as permanent host
- 1972: The Tonight Show moves from New York to Burbank
- 1985: Receives a Peabody Award
- 1987: Inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame
- May 22, 1992: Signs off from his last Tonight Show after 30 years
- 1992: Receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom
- 1993: Receives the Kennedy Center Honors
- Jan 23, 2005: Dies in Los Angeles, at 79
Connected lives
- Gene Hackman · Tonight Show guest · 1974
- Elizabeth Taylor · First Tonight Show appearance · 1992
- Doc Severinsen · Tonight Show bandleader
- University of Nebraska · Class of 1949 · benefactor
- Burbank, CA · Home of The Tonight Show from 1972
- Dolly Parton · Frequent musical guest
- Chuck Norris · Taught him karate on the air · 1973
- Michael Jackson · Jackson 5 performance · 1974
- Ed McMahon · Announcer and sidekick · 30 years
- Norfolk, Nebraska · Hometown
- Corning, Iowa · Birthplace
- Catherine O'Hara · Tonight Show guest · 1990
- Christopher Reeve · Tonight Show guest
- Johnny Cash · Tonight Show guest
- Ted Turner · Tonight Show guest · 1986