New biography reveals beloved ‘Tonight Show’ host Johnny Carson’s battles with alcohol, complex marriages, and journey to find peace in his final years.
Johnny Carson charmed millions on “The Tonight Show,” but off-camera, America’s favorite host fought personal demons.
A new biography, “Carson the Magnificent,” unveils the complex man behind the television persona.
The book details Carson’s struggle with alcohol, which transformed the charming host into what colleagues called “a different person.”
His drinking particularly impacted his first three marriages, often leading to volatile situations and deep remorse.
Carson’s relationship challenges are traced back to his complicated relationship with his emotionally distant mother.
This dynamic seemed to echo through his marriages to Jody Wolcott (1949-1963), Joanne Copeland (1963-1972), and Joanna Holland (1972-1985).
Each marriage followed a similar pattern: alcohol-fueled conflicts, followed by profound regret.
However, remarkably, his second and third wives remained close to him even after their divorces.
Hope arrived with his fourth marriage to Alexis Maas in 1987. This union, lasting until he died in 2005, proved more peaceful.
Retirement from “The Tonight Show” helped, allowing Carson to enjoy life’s simpler pleasures.
Tragedy struck in 1991 when his son Richard died in a car accident. The loss deeply affected Carson, who regretted not being closer to his children during his career-focused years.
His final years were spent enjoying friendships with celebrities like Steve Martin and Carl Reiner, sailing on his yachts, and finding contentment until his death from emphysema at 79.
The biography reveals a more human side of Carson – talented yet troubled, successful yet searching, and ultimately finding peace in his later years.