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Johnny Carson Biography

Birth Name:

John William Carson

Birth Place:

Corning, Iowa, United States

Profession

TV host, comedian

Fast Facts

Wrote a humor column for his high-school newspaper
While still in college, made his radio debut on a Nebraska station, creating a Western comedy show
Senior thesis at the University of Nebraska was titled "How to Write Comedy Jokes
" Made his TV acting debut on a 1957 Playhouse 90 adaptation of the stage farce Three Men and a Horse
The cast also included Jack Carson and Carol Channing
Hosted the Academy Awards five times (1979, '80, '81, '82 and '84)
Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom (1992) and a Kennedy Center Honors Lifetime Achievement Award (1993)
Was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1987
Is the celebrity with the second most TV GUIDE cover appearances, with 29 (Lucille Ball is first, with 34)

Awards

1992Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program (series): winner
1992Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program (series): winner
1991Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program: nominated
1991Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program: nominated
1987People's Choice Awards-Favorite Talk Show Host: winner
1987Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program: nominated
1987Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program: nominated
1987People's Choice Awards-Favorite Talk Show Host: winner
1986Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program: nominated
1986Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program: nominated
1985Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program: nominated
1985Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program: nominated
1984Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program: nominated
1984Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program: nominated
1983Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program: nominated
1983Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program: nominated
1981Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program: nominated
1981Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program: nominated
1980Emmy-Outstanding Program Achievement - Special Class: nominated
1980Emmy-Outstanding Program Achievement - Special Class: nominated
1979Emmy-Outstanding Program Achievement - Special Class: winner
1979Emmy-Outstanding Program Achievement - Special Class: winner
1978Emmy-Special Classification of Outstanding Program Achievement: winner
1978Emmy-Special Classification of Outstanding Program Achievement: winner
1977Emmy-Special Classification of Outstanding Program Achievement: winner
1977Emmy-Special Classification of Outstanding Program Achievement: winner
1976Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy: nominated
1976Golden Globe-Best Performance by an Actor in a Television Series - Musical or Comedy: nominated
1974Emmy-Outstanding Music-Variety Series: nominated
1974Emmy-Outstanding Music-Variety Series: nominated
1972Emmy-Outstanding Variety Series - Talk: nominated
1972Emmy-Outstanding Variety Series - Talk: nominated
1971Emmy-Outstanding Variety Series - Talk: nominated
1971Emmy-Outstanding Variety Series - Talk: nominated
1965Emmy-Outstanding Individual Achievements in Entertainment: nominated
1965Emmy-Outstanding Individual Achievements in Entertainment: nominated

Relationships

Dick Carson -- Brother
Joan Wolcott Carson -- Ex-wife
Joanna Holland Carson -- Ex-wife
Joanne Copeland Carson -- Ex-wife
Homer Carson -- Father
Ruth Hook Carson -- Mother
Catherine Carson -- Sister
Christopher Carson -- Son
Cory Carson -- Son
Richard Wolcott Carson -- Son
Alexis Maas Carson -- Wife