Carson is best known for hosting The Tonight Show, for over thirty years. Consistently at the top of the ratings, his breezy, relaxed manner, comic monologue, and selection of guests made him an American institution.
After serving in the U.S. Navy (1943--46), he graduated from the University of Nebraska (1949) and went to work in California (1950), where he worked for various local radio and television shows. He hosted Carson's Cellar (1951) and wrote and performed on The Red Skelton Show (1954). Moving to New York City in 1956, he hosted the television quiz show Who Do You Trust? (1958--63), making it ABC's top daytime program. He first appeared on The Tonight Show in 1958, and as permanent host from 1962 to 1992, he turned it into one of National Broadcasting Company's biggest moneymakers.
His talk show personality combined mid-western innocence with cosmopolitan wit. Though known for his impersonations, skits with recurring characters like Carnac the Psychic, improvisation, and the golf swing that ended his monologues, the program's appeal was its familiar formula: sidekick Ed McMahon introduced him by announcing, "Heeere's Johnny!"; then Carson did a monologue followed by guest interviews—a mix of celebrities and small-town types--punctuated by Doc Severinsen's music. Carson’s command of the talk show genre inspired a generation of imitators and admirers, most notably Jay Leno, his “Tonight Show” heir, and David Letterman, who spoke of Carson as a mentor.
Carson threatened to quit the show in 1979. As a result he was awarded a new contract which shortened the show from ninety to sixty minutes, gave him more vacation time, and increased his salary. In 1991, many were surprised to hear Carson’s announcement that he would retire the following year, on May 22nd. His final guests, on his second-to-last show, were Robin Williams and Bette Midler, but on his final show the next night he reminisced with McMahon and Severinsen, and played favorite clips from past shows. The audience for his last show was estimated at fifty million viewers.
In private life, Carson was almost the opposite of his spontaneous, charming onstage personality; he was married four times and was reputed to be rather distant, even cool in his dealings with most people. He formed his own production group, Carson Productions, in 1980 and became immensely wealthy from his own and other shows (his high alimony payments were the source of many jokes over the years). He has been married to fourth wife, Alexis Carson (nee Mass) since 1987. Inducted into the Television Hall of Fame in 1987, Carson won numerous Emmys for his hosting skills, received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1992, and the Kennedy Center Honors Lifetime Achievement Award in 1993.