John William Carson (October 23, 1925 â€" January 23, 2005) was an
American television host, comedian, writer, and producer. He is best
known as the host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
(1962â€"1992). Carson received six Emmy Awards, the Television
Academy's 1980 Governor's Award, and a 1985 Peabody Award. He was
inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1987. Carson was
awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1992 and received a
Kennedy Center Honor in 1993.During World War II, Carson served in the
Navy. After the war, Carson started a career in radio. He moved from
radio to TV and followed Jack Paar as the host of the late night talk
show, Tonight. Although his show was already successful by the end of
the 1960s, during the 1970s, Carson became an American icon and
remained so even after his retirement in 1992. 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. Former late-night host and friend David
Letterman has cited Carson's influence.John William Carson was born on
October 23, 1925, in Corning, Iowa, to Ruth Elizabeth (Hook) Carson
(1901â€"1985) and Homer Lloyd "Kit" Carson (1899â€"1983), a power
company manager. He grew up in the nearby towns of Avoca, Clarinda,
and Red Oak in southwest Iowa before moving to Norfolk, Nebraska, at
the age of eight. There, Carson grew up and began developing his
talent for entertaining. At the age of 12, Carson found a book on
magic at a friend's house and immediately purchased a mail-order
magician's kit. After the purchase of the kit, Carson practiced his
entertainment skills on family members with card tricks. He was known
for following his family members around saying, "Pick a card, any
card." Carson's mother sewed him a cape, and his first performance was
staged in front of the local Kiwanis Club. He debuted as "The Great
Carsoni" at age 14 and was paid $3 a show. Soon, many other
performances at local picnics and county fairs followed. After
graduating from high school, Carson had his first encounter with
Hollywood. He hitchhiked to Hollywood, where he was arrested and fined
$50 for impersonating a midshipman, a story often regarded as
apocryphal. "Johnny embarked on an adventure, one so laden with
implications about his future, that some have wondered if the escapade
might not actually be a legend."
American television host, comedian, writer, and producer. He is best
known as the host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
(1962â€"1992). Carson received six Emmy Awards, the Television
Academy's 1980 Governor's Award, and a 1985 Peabody Award. He was
inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1987. Carson was
awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1992 and received a
Kennedy Center Honor in 1993.During World War II, Carson served in the
Navy. After the war, Carson started a career in radio. He moved from
radio to TV and followed Jack Paar as the host of the late night talk
show, Tonight. Although his show was already successful by the end of
the 1960s, during the 1970s, Carson became an American icon and
remained so even after his retirement in 1992. 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. Former late-night host and friend David
Letterman has cited Carson's influence.John William Carson was born on
October 23, 1925, in Corning, Iowa, to Ruth Elizabeth (Hook) Carson
(1901â€"1985) and Homer Lloyd "Kit" Carson (1899â€"1983), a power
company manager. He grew up in the nearby towns of Avoca, Clarinda,
and Red Oak in southwest Iowa before moving to Norfolk, Nebraska, at
the age of eight. There, Carson grew up and began developing his
talent for entertaining. At the age of 12, Carson found a book on
magic at a friend's house and immediately purchased a mail-order
magician's kit. After the purchase of the kit, Carson practiced his
entertainment skills on family members with card tricks. He was known
for following his family members around saying, "Pick a card, any
card." Carson's mother sewed him a cape, and his first performance was
staged in front of the local Kiwanis Club. He debuted as "The Great
Carsoni" at age 14 and was paid $3 a show. Soon, many other
performances at local picnics and county fairs followed. After
graduating from high school, Carson had his first encounter with
Hollywood. He hitchhiked to Hollywood, where he was arrested and fined
$50 for impersonating a midshipman, a story often regarded as
apocryphal. "Johnny embarked on an adventure, one so laden with
implications about his future, that some have wondered if the escapade
might not actually be a legend."
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