Johnny Carson
Age: 79
Summary: beloved host of NBC-TV's The Tonight Show
from 1962 to 1992 who started in show business as a magician at the age
of 14 as "The Great Carsoni", who worked in local radio and TV in
Nebraska before moving to L.A. in 1950 and was one of TV's wealthiest
stars by the mid-1960's but still retained his Midwestern down-to-earth
manner, who is credited with launching the careers of countless
comedians including his eventual Tonight Show
successor Jay Leno and fellow talk show host David Letterman, who won
four consecutive Emmy awards in the 1970's and received a Presidential
Medal of Freedom, the nation's highest civilian honor, in 1992 but was
celebrated with a prestigious Kennedy Center Honor for career
achievement in 1993 and left the game on top, withdrawing into a quiet
retirement that suited his private nature and refusing furthur
involvement in show business.
Cause of Death: Emphysema
Born: October 23, 1925
Died: January 23, 2005
Location: Los Angeles, California
