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Johnny
William Carson was born in Corning, Iowa on October 23, 1925 to Ruth
and Homer "Kit" Carson. He has a brother Dick (director) and a
sister Catherine.
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When
Carson was a toddler, the family, which included the boy's sister
Catherine and brother Richard, moved to Clarinda. Later came moves
to Red Oak, Avoca, and, finally, Norfolk, Neb., when Carson was 8.
As a youth he had an interest in magic – even performed on the side
during High School and College. He also did ventriloquism.
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Carson
has never forgotten his days in Iowa. He has donated to
community projects in Avoca, Corning, Clarinda and Logan, where
his grandfather, Christopher Carson, served as mayor.
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Served
with the U.S. Navy from 1943 to 1946 on the USS Pennsylvania.
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Carson
graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1949 with a degree in
radio drama. He also worked at the college radio station (KFAB)
as a disc jockey in Lincoln, Nebraska.
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In
October 1949, he was married for the first of four times. His first
marriage was to Joan Morrill Wolcott, his college sweetheart and
assistant in his magic acts. The marriage lasted fourteen years
until they were divorced in 1963. They had three children together:
Chris, Cory and Richard (d. 1991).
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He
took a
job as a disc jockey at Omaha radio station WOW, which soon offered
television coverage. He received his first job on screen as
the host of an afternoon talk show called The Squirrel's Nest.
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Success
in Omaha led Carson to Los Angeles and he hosted a small time local
show called Carson's Cellar.
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Carson
became a writer for the Red Skelton Show and received his first big
break to appear on national television when Skelton ran into a door
and knocked himself unconscious. Since Carson new the material, the
producers put him on in Skelton’s place.
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Because
of some mild success with hosting some local shows, he was given a
shot at his own series named The Johnny Carson Show, however,
it did not receive great ratings and was cancelled after only a
short time.
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Carson's
second major break came when he first subbed for "Tonight" show host
Jack Parr in 1958.
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Carson
took over the Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson on Oct. 1,
1962, His first guest was Groucho Marx.
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His
second marriage was in August 1963 to actress Joanne Copeland. This
marriage lasted 9 years until their divorce in 1972.
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In
1972, Carson was married for the third time to model Joanna Holland
without telling many friends, nor the media. The marriage lasted
until their divorce in 1985.
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He
was married in June 1987 to Alexis Maas, who he remained married to
until his death in 2005.
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In
1987 he was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame
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Johnny
Carson made his final farewell to the Tonight Show Audience on May
22, 1992 after 30 years as its host. His last guest was Bette
Midler.
Biography by Ian Ripley,
PopStarsPlus.com, Sr. Staff Writer
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