Richard Carson was the son of the late American television host, comedian, writer, and producer Johnny Carson. Richard’s father Johnny was the host of “The Squirrel’s Nest”. Dubbed “King of Late Night TV”, he was best known as the host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962–1992). Although he has passed away, he is still regarded as a cultural icon.
Richard Carson: Bio Summary
| Name | Richard Carson |
| Date of birth | 18 June 1952 |
| Place of birth | California, USA |
| Died | 21 June 1991 (aged 39) |
| Famous as | son of Johnny Carson |
| Nationality | American |
| Siblings | Christopher Carson and Cory Carson |
| Parents | Johnny Carson and Jody Morrill Wolcott |
| Grandparents | Ruth Carson and Homer Lloyd Carson |
Who Was Johnny Carson’s Son, Richard Carson?
Richard Wolcott “Rick” Carson is the late son of Johnny Carson born John William Carson (October 23, 1925 – January 23, 2005) and his ex-wife Jody Morrill Wolcott. Johnny and his former wife Jody had three sons together and Richard happens to be one of them. Richard arrived in the world on the 18th of June 1952, in California, United States.
Richard was the middle son of his parents, meaning he had an older sibling and a younger sibling. As mentioned earlier, Richard’s parents had only sons, which is why Richard has no sisters but brothers. His older brother Christopher “Kit” Carson became a golf instructor. He is said to have worked as a professional golfer for years.
Christopher had a daughter with his ex Tanena Love Green. Richard’s younger brother Cory Carson is a guitarist and a songwriter. Cory has also worked as an additional crew in television series such as “Card Sharks”, “Blockbusters”, “Password Plus”, and “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson”. Richard and his siblings reportedly had a strained relationship with their father.
According to Closer Weekly, the Carson siblings and their father Johnny Carson “had a hard time seeing eye to eye.” It looks like Johnny put his showbiz career before his family. On his father’s side, Richard Carson is the grandson of Ruth Elizabeth (Hook) Carson (1901–1985) and Homer Lloyd “Kit” Carson (1899–1983), a power company manager.
ALSO, READ: Christopher Carson: Where Is Johnny Carson’s Son Now?
Nothing is known regarding Richard Carson’s education. He had enlisted in the U.S. Navy but things didn’t work out for him. He served as a production assistant with NBC’s Tomorrow Show, according to PEOPLE. He was also into photography. He was a photographer and he was especially interested in capturing images of landscapes and the natural world.
Richard had a drinking problem and developed some mental health issues. He was once arrested for the possession of marijuana but he was released after a payment of $1000, per sources. He went for treatment at Bellevue Hospital in New York City but his father Johnny Carson allegedly never came to visit.
How Did Johnny Carson’s Son Die?
Johnny Carson’s son, Richard Carson died on 21 June 1991, at age 39 in a car accident. His vehicle plunged down a steep embankment along a paved service road off Highway 1 near Cayucos, California. The accident occurred while Richard was taking pictures. “It appears as though he was taking photographs. There was camera equipment alongside the road,” Johnny Carson said.
“It appears his attention was just diverted. He wasn’t traveling at a high rate of speed or carelessly.” After Richard Carson passed away his father “Johnny was unable to do the show for a while,” writer Andrew Nicholls told Closer. On the first Tonight Show after Richard died, his father paid tribute to his photographic work by displaying his nature slides.
Richard Carson’s father Johnny Carson died on January 23, 2005, at age 79. Before his death, he suffered a severe heart attack in 1999 at his home in Malibu, California, United States. He was hospitalized and underwent quadruple bypass surgery. In 2002, he disclosed that he had emphysema but denied he was terminally ill.
ALSO, READ: Cory Carson: Who Is Johnny Carson’s Son?
Johnny Carson who was a heavy smoker died at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles of respiratory failure arising from emphysema. He was cremated and his ashes were given to his wife, Alexis Maas. No public memorial service was held. A documentary about his life, Johnny Carson: King of Late Night, aired on PBS in 2012.
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