- Born
- Died
- Birth nameJohn Franklin Carson
- Nicknames
- John Carson
- Johnny Carson
- Height5′ 11″ (1.80 m)
- John Franklin Carson was born and raised in Hollywood, California. His father was actor Kit Carson (born Eldridge Franklin Carson), who appeared in many Western films, most notably working with Dale Robertson. His mother, the former Rosemonde James, also had some acting experience, albeit primarily as a fashion model, and was elected president of the Mannequins Association of Los Angeles in 1968. Young Johnny started his career doing commercials, including one at age 5 or 6 portraying a circus ringmaster for a local department store. He later did cartoon voices for Hanna-Barbara. While attending Valley College, he played a lead role in "Taming of the Shrew", staged by the drama department in November 1969.
After his feature film debut, there was a dispute with Johnny Carson regarding use of the name John Carson. As a result, he began to use the name John David Carson professionally. He was romantically linked with Kim Darby at the time of her ex-husband (James Stacy)'s motorcycle accident, in which Stacy lost an arm and a leg, becoming a paraplegic. Carson and Darby met while the two were filming Joie (1973).- IMDb Mini Biography By: Jan Rupert (updated by R.M. Sieger)
- SpousesDiana Carson(February 5, 2007 - October 27, 2009) (his death)Colette Trygg(October 31, 1981 - May 7, 1993) (divorced)Vicky Tama(January 10, 1976 - October 1977) (divorced)
- Parents
- Often played thoughtful, passive, "nice guy" characters.
- Thick black hair & matching dark eyes
- Often played duplicitous men who appear good but are bad guys
- His ex-wife, model Vicky Tama, had been the mistress of wealthy businessman Alfred Bloomingdale, a close adviser to US President Ronald Reagan, and was murdered in 1983 by a crazed admirer in a well-publicized case.
- A serious motorcycle accident as a teen left him almost completely deaf in his left ear.
- Wrote a screenplay after retiring from acting and living in Las Vegas, NV, which was semi-autobiographical and reflected the trials and experiences of his life as an actor. George C. Scott, his former co-star and a close friend, was to star and help produce the screenplay, but the project was abandoned after Scott's death.
- In 2007, when he married his third wife (and widow), Diana, they resided at Bee's Residential Inn in Las Vegas, Nevada, located at 2112 Paradise Road. The couple also managed the inn. The property has since been razed. He had no children but had two stepdaughters by Diana: Amber and Alana. When Carson died of lymphoma at 8:22 pm PST in Clark County, Nevada, Diana was at his bedside.
- The actor later changed his name to John David Carson, after talk show legend Johnny Carson complained he was using his name.
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