John William Carson was born on October 23, 1925, in Corning, Iowa, to Ruth Elizabeth (Hook) Carson (1901–1985) and Homer Lloyd 'Kit' Carson (1899–1983), a power company manager. Carson is a cultural icon and widely regarded as the king of late-night television. Former late-night host and friend David Letterman, as well as many others, have cited Carson's influence. He adopted a casual, conversational approach with extensive interaction with guests, an approach pioneered by Arthur Godfrey and previous Tonight Show hosts Steve Allen and Jack Paar but enhanced by Carson's lightning-quick wit. He remained an American icon even after his retirement in 1992. He moved from radio to TV and took over as host of the late-night talk show Tonight from Jack Paar in 1962. After the war, Carson started a career in radio. ĭuring World War II, Carson served in the Navy. Carson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1992 and received a Kennedy Center Honor in 1993. He was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1987.
Carson received six Primetime Emmy Awards, the Television Academy's 1980 Governor's Award, and a 1985 Peabody Award. He is best known as the host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962–1992). John William Carson (October 23, 1925 – January 23, 2005) was an American television host, comedian, writer, and producer.
