Johnny Carson

Known for: Acting

Born: 1925-10-23 – 2005-01-23 (aged 79)

From: Corning, Iowa, USA

John William Carson (October 23, 1925 – January 23, 2005) was an American television host, comedian, writer, and producer. He is best known as the host of The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962–1992). Carson received six Primetime Emmy Awards, the Television Academy's 1980 Governor's Award, and a 1985 Peabody Award. He was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 1987. Carson was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 1992 and received a Kennedy Center Honor in 1993.

Filmography (135)

TV
Soccer's American Dream
2026
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE★ 6.8
Breakdown: 1975
2025
as Self - Host, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (archive footage)
TV★ 7.0
Raise the Flags: 50 Years of Buccaneers Football
2025
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE★ 7.9
John Candy: I Like Me
2025
as Self - Host, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (archive footage)
MOVIE★ 8.0
6 morts dans la nuit : « De sang-froid » – Truman Capote
2024
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE★ 8.0
Luther: Never Too Much
2024
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE★ 7.0
Bad Hostage
2024
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE★ 7.9
Jim Henson Idea Man
2024
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE★ 8.3
Butterfly in the Sky
2024
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE
Gone Before His Time: Freddie Prinze Sr.
2023
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE
The Man Who Stole Einstein's Brain
2023
as Self (archive footage)
TV★ 7.4
Pretty Baby: Brooke Shields
2023
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE★ 7.2
The Many Faces of Jim Carrey
2023
as Self (Archive Footage)
MOVIE★ 6.4
Untold: Caitlyn Jenner
2022
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE
Finster
2022
MOVIE★ 7.1
Lucy and Desi
2022
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE★ 5.9
The Capote Tapes
2021
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE★ 7.4
Street Gang: How We Got to Sesame Street
2021
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE★ 7.1
Audrey
2020
as Self - TV Host (archive footage)
TV
The Sounds of Baseball
2020
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE★ 7.1
My Darling Vivian
2020
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE★ 5.9
The Sit-In: Harry Belafonte Hosts The Tonight Show
2020
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE
The Great Toilet Paper Scare
2020
as Himself
MOVIE★ 7.6
Linda Ronstadt: The Sound of My Voice
2019
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE★ 6.5
Mike Wallace Is Here
2019
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE★ 10.0
Jeff Dunham: Talking Heads
2019
as Self (archive footage)
TV
Biography: Comedy Icons
2019
as Self
MOVIE★ 5.9
The Front Runner
2018
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
MOVIE★ 8.0
Won't You Be My Neighbor?
2018
as Self - TV Host (archive footage)
MOVIE★ 7.4
Game Changers
2018
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE★ 8.0
This Is Bob Hope...
2017
as Self (archive footage)
TV★ 6.4
There's... Johnny!
2017
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE★ 6.8
Jerry Before Seinfeld
2017
as Self (archive footage)
TV★ 6.9
The Nineties
2017
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE★ 6.5
Whitney: Can I Be Me
2017
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
MOVIE
The Swingin' A's
2017
as Self (archive footage)
TV★ 7.4
The Seventies
2015
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE★ 6.0
Mr. Baseball, Bob Uecker
2014
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE★ 7.5
Life Itself
2014
as Self - TV Host (archive footage)
MOVIE★ 7.4
The Battered Bastards of Baseball
2014
as Himself (Archive Footage)
MOVIE★ 7.8
Gore Vidal: The United States of Amnesia
2013
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE★ 7.7
Llyn Foulkes One Man Band
2013
as Himself
MOVIE★ 6.6
Behind the Candelabra
2013
as Self (archive footage) (uncredited)
MOVIE★ 7.0
Quality Balls: The David Steinberg Story
2013
as Self (Archive Footage)
MOVIE★ 7.1
Richard Pryor: Omit the Logic
2013
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE★ 7.8
Johnny Carson: King of Late Night
2012
as Self
MOVIE
The Best of Johnny Carson
2010
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE
The Minnie Riperton Story
2009
as (archive footage)
MOVIE
Johnny Carson Celebrates Christmas
2008
as Self
MOVIE★ 6.5
Jimmy Carter Man from Plains
2007
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE
The Best of The Tonight Show: Stand - Up Comedians
2007
MOVIE★ 10.0
The Best of Carson, Volume 1
2006
MOVIE
Carson Country
2006
MOVIE★ 7.8
Seinfeld: How It Began
2004
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE★ 7.8
Live and Swingin': The Ultimate Rat Pack Collection
2003
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE
Biography: Bob Hope: America's Entertainer
2003
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE
The Ultimate Collection Starring Johnny Carson - The Best of the 60s and 70s
2002
MOVIE
The Ultimate Collection starring Johnny Carson - The Best of the 70s and 80s
2002
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE
50 Years of NBC Late Night
2001
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 1
2001
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE
The Best of Bob Hope: 50 Years of Laughter — Volume 2
2001
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE★ 6.5
The Best of the Dean Martin Celebrity Roasts
1998
as Self - Roastee (archive footage)
MOVIE★ 8.3
Bob Hope: Laughing With the Presidents
1996
as Self (archive footage)
TV★ 8.2
E! True Hollywood Story
1996
MOVIE★ 7.4
The World of Jim Henson
1994
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE
Johnny Carson - His Favorite Moments from 'The Tonight Show' - '60s & '70s: Heeere's Johnny!
1994
as Self - Host
MOVIE
Johnny Carson - His Favorite Moments from 'The Tonight Show' - '70s & '80s: The Master of Laughs!
1994
as Self - Host
MOVIE
Johnny Carson - His Favorite Moments from 'The Tonight Show' - '80s & '90s: The King of Late Night
1994
as Self - Host
MOVIE★ 8.0
Johnny Carson - His Favorite Moments from 'The Tonight Show' - The Final Show: America Says Farewell
1994
as Self - Host
MOVIE★ 9.0
Jack Benny: Comedy in Bloom
1992
as Himself
MOVIE★ 7.0
Laurel and Hardy: A Tribute to the Boys
1992
as Self
TV★ 8.0
The Simpsons
1989
as Johnny Carson (voice)
MOVIE
Whales!
1987
as Narrator
MOVIE★ 7.0
It's Howdy Doody Time: A 40-Year Celebration
1987
as Himself - Guest
MOVIE★ 7.0
Jay Leno's Family Comedy Hour
1987
as Self
MOVIE★ 6.5
James Stewart: A Wonderful Life
1987
as Self
MOVIE
TV's Funniest Comedians - 14 Stars Do Classic Routines
1986
as Self
MOVIE★ 9.0
Kraft Salutes the George Burns 90th Birthday Special
1986
as Self
MOVIE★ 8.0
The Garry Shandling Show: 25th Anniversary Special
1986
as Himself
MOVIE
The NBC All Star Hour: Let's All Be There
1985
MOVIE★ 2.0
Hollywood's Funniest All-Star Bloopers
1985
as Self (archive footage)
TV★ 7.3
Night Court
1984
as Johnny Carson
MOVIE★ 8.0
George Burns Celebrates 80 Years in Show Business
1983
as Self
MOVIE★ 7.9
Koyaanisqatsi
1983
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE
Sheena Easton: Act One
1983
as Self (uncredited)
TV★ 7.1
Newhart
1982
TV★ 7.6
Cheers
1982
as Johnny Carson
MOVIE★ 8.0
Johnny Goes Home
1982
as Self
MOVIE
A Love Letter to Jack Benny
1981
as Himself
MOVIE★ 3.3
Lucy Moves to NBC
1980
as Self
TV★ 7.4
The Kennedy Center Honors
1978
as Self
MOVIE★ 9.0
Mickey's 50
1978
as Self
MOVIE★ 9.0
Life Goes to War: Hollywood and the Home Front
1977
as Himself
MOVIE★ 7.3
CBS Salutes Lucy: The First 25 Years
1976
as Self
MOVIE
NBC: The First Fifty Years
1976
as Self
MOVIE
Bob Hope's World of Comedy
1976
as Self (archive footage)
MOVIE★ 6.0
Joys
1976
as Self
MOVIE
Don Rickles: Alive and Kicking
1972
as Self
MOVIE★ 6.5
Cancel My Reservation
1972
as Himself (uncredited)
MOVIE★ 8.0
Pure Goldie
1971
as Self
MOVIE
Friars Club Roast of Don Rickles
1970
as Self - Host
MOVIE★ 7.6
The Dean Martin Christmas Show
1968
as Self (uncredited)
TV★ 6.7
Here's Lucy
1968
as Johnny Carson
TV★ 8.0
The Beautiful Phyllis Diller Show
1968
as Self
MOVIE★ 7.0
Carnival Nights
1968
as Self
TV★ 6.8
Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In
1968
as Self
TV★ 6.5
The Danny Thomas Hour
1967
as Narrator
MOVIE
Murder at N.B.C.
1966
TV★ 7.6
Space Ghost and Dino Boy
1966
MOVIE
Stuart Little
1966
as Narrator (voice)
TV★ 7.9
Get Smart
1965
as Herald (uncredited)
MOVIE★ 9.0
Frank Sinatra Spectacular
1965
as Self - Host
MOVIE★ 5.8
Looking for Love
1964
as Self
TV★ 7.5
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
1962
as Self - Host
TV
You're in the Picture
1961
as Himself
TV★ 5.4
Kraft Music Hall
1958
as Self
TV★ 6.7
The Dick Clark Show
1958
as Self
TV★ 7.5
Tonight Starring Jack Paar
1957
as Self - Guest Host
MOVIE
Three Men on a Horse
1957
as Erwin Trowbridge
TV★ 6.4
The Dinah Shore Chevy Show
1956
as Self
TV★ 6.2
The Steve Allen Show
1956
as Self
TV
Tony Awards
1956
as Self - Presenter
MOVIE★ 6.5
Lucy's Really Lost Moments
1956
as Self
TV★ 6.0
Miss Universe
1955
as Host
TV★ 7.8
The Johnny Carson Show
1955
as Himself
TV★ 7.9
The Wonderful World of Disney
1954
as Self
TV★ 6.3
The United States Steel Hour
1953
TV★ 7.0
The Oscars
1953
as Self
TV★ 7.4
The Red Skelton Show
1951
as Knight Who Makes Point of Order
TV★ 7.8
The Jack Benny Program
1950
as Johnny Carson
TV★ 7.0
The Bob Hope Show
1950
as Self
TV★ 7.0
What's My Line?
1950
as Self - Mystery Guest
TV★ 7.9
The Emmy Awards
1949
as Self
TV★ 6.8
The Ed Sullivan Show
1948
as Self
MOVIE
Untitled Joan Rivers Documentary
—
as Self (archive footage)