Johnny carson biography 1962 1992

(1925-2005)

Who Was Johnny Carson?

After college, comedian Johnny Carson worked as a television writer for Red Skelton's show. He moved to New York City and in 1962, Carson replaced Jack Paar as host of The Tonight Show for an Emmy Award-winning run that lasted three decades.

Carson's 1992 final appearance as host attracted an estimated 50 million viewers. He died in 2005.

Early Years

Born in Corning, Iowa, on October 23, 1925, to Ruth and Homer R. Carson, a power company manager, Johnny Carson learned how to reel in audiences at a young age.

He fell in love with magic when he was 12 years old, and after purchasing a magician's kit through the mail, he began performing magic tricks in public, as "The Great Carsoni."

Following high school, in 1943, an 18-year-old Carson joined the U.S.

Navy as an ensign and then decoded encrypted messages as a communications officer. Serving aboard the USS Pennsylvania, he continued performing magic, mainly for h