Late-Night TV Icon Johnny Carson Dies

Jan. 23, 2005 — -- Johnny Carson, the king of late-night television, died today at age 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."

Sotzing said no memorial service is planned, and NBC -- the network on which Carson starred for decades -- said Carson's death resulted from complications from emphysema, the AP reported.

Night after night, for 30 years, Johnny Carson was an American entertainment fixture with his soothing, consistent blend of comic timing and consummate charm.

When Carson took the helm of "The Tonight Show," he invented a new genre now followed by scads of imitators who often admit they envy the skills of the master. The show won 40 Emmy Awards during his long, illustrious tenure.

"I don't know of a person in comedy or television who didn't sort of grow up with Johnny Carson as a role model," David Letterman once said.

While Carson was launching the careers of comedians -- Don Rickles, Robin Williams, Joan Rivers, Bob Newhart and more -- he may have been ruining the sex lives of Americans. Dr. Ruth Westheimer once told "Entertainment Weekly" magazine, "On any given night he's hosting 'The Tonight Show,' there are 10 times more couples watching his monologue than making love."

His celebrity guests appreciated the attention, though. Bill Clinton once said, "Those 20 minutes on 'The Tonight Show' did more for my career than speaking for two days at the Democratic National Convention."

Carson, unlike many of today's slick hosts, was known to veer from script, have fun with guests and truly listen. And, as one guest said, "He never forgot the plug."

In addition to his timeless skits, Carson often brought animals on the show, perhaps most famously when a marmoset perched on his head and an elephant lifted him off the ground with her trunk.

Growing up in Norfolk, Neb., the young Carson walked around his house asking his family to "pick a card, any card." He soon became "The Great Carsoni," playing at the local Kiwanis club and in high school plays.