Today marks what would have been the 100th birthday of the man many still consider the king of late-night TV, Johnny Carson. Carson was born on October 23, 1925 in Corning, Iowa.
For many, Carson is still the gold standard in late-night hosts. He interviewed everyone from presidents to peacocks, all with ease and aplomb, turning awkward situations into comedic bits.
Oscar-winner Billy Wilder said of him, “Carson is the best. He enchants the invalids and the insomniacs as well as the people who have to get up at dawn. He is the Valium and the Nembutal of a nation. No matter what kind of dead-asses are on the show, he has to make them funny and exciting…What’s more, he does it without a net. No rewrites. No retakes. The jokes must work.”
His stable of regular guests always made for great TV. They included Bob Hope, Burt Reynolds, Angie Dickenson, Don Rickles, Buddy Hackett, Robin Williams, Joan Rivers, Jonathan Winters, Bette Midler, Bob Newhart and Steve Martin.
Scroll though the gallery below for photos of some of Carson’s greatest TV moments.
Johnny Carson On ‘Ed Sullivan’ (1955)
Image Credit: CBS Photo Archive/Getty Images
Carson speaks with Ed Sullivan on ‘Toast of the Town’
‘The Johnny Carson Show’ (1955-1956)
Image Credit: Arthur Schatz/Getty Images
Carson flanked by four “Carson Cuties” from a pre-Tonight Show series he hosted.
‘The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson’ (1962)
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Groucho Marx, who turned down the job, introduces the new host of The Tonight Show. Carson first sat behind the desk on October 1, 1962.
The Rat Pack, Plus Carson (1965)
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Dean Martin, Sammy Davis Jr and Frank Sinatra perform on stage with Johnny Carson as part of a benefit concert at the Keil Opera House in St. Louis, Missouri. The concert was organized as a benefit for the Dismas House, one of the first halfway houses for established for ex-convicts in the US. The Count Basie Orchestra, under the direction of Quincy Jones is visible behind them.
Carson In Vegas (1965)
Image Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Johnny Carson performs at the Sahara Hotel
The Tonight Show (1968)
Image Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Phyllis Diller in a skit with Johnny Carson
‘The Johnny Carson Friars’ Roast’ (1968)
Image Credit: Hulton Archive/Getty Images
Carson’s head is displayed on a platter in a promotional photograph for “Johnny Carson Friars’ Roast” on NBC’s Kraft Music Hall.
‘The Tonight Show’ (1969)
Image Credit: NBC/NBCU Photo Bank
Then-California Governor Ronald Reagan and Carson
‘The Tonight Show’ 10th Anniversary (1972)
Image Credit: Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Carson cuts the cake at a party after taping the 10th anniversary show
Fred de Cordova’s 3rd Anniversary Party (1973)
Image Credit: Fred Sabine/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank
Johnny Carson, director/producer Fred de Cordova celebrating de Cordova’s 3rd Anniversary with the Tonight Show
‘The Tonight Show’ (1973)
Image Credit: NBCU Photo Bank
Boxers Ken Norton and Muhammad Ali with Johnny Carson
‘The Tonight Show’ (1974)
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Don Rickles makes Carson laugh
NBC promotion (1975)
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Johnny Carson, Angie Dickinson and Orson Welles hold vintage NBC microphones and smile as they stand in front of a wall plastered with photographs of celebrities
‘The Tonight Show’ (1976)
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Audrey Hepburn speaks with Carson
‘The Tonight Show’ (1979)
Image Credit: Gene Arias/NBC/NBCU Photo Bank
Carson as Adam and Betty White as Eve during an “Adam & Eve Palimony Suit” skit
‘The Tonight Show’ (1980)
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Musical guest David Bowie performs
‘The Tonight Show’ (1980)
Image Credit: Gene Arias/NBCU Photo Bank
Author and cook Julia Child during an interview Carson
‘The Tonight Show’ (1981)
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Carson as Tarzan and actress Betty White as Jane during the classic “Tarzan and the Apes” skit
Myasthenia Gravis Foundation Honors Ed McMahon (1982)
Image Credit: Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images
Johnny Carson and Frank Sinatra speak at Beverly Hilton
‘The Tonight Show’ (1984)
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Sammy Davis Jr. during an interview with Carson
‘NBC 60th Anniversary Celebration’ (1986)
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The Tonight Show hosts Steve Allen, Johnny Carson and Jack Paar together
‘The Tonight Show’ (1987)
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Madonna and Carson
‘The Tonight Show’
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Carson offering political commentary in a skit as Floyd R. Turbo
‘The Tonight Show’ (1988)
Image Credit: (Joseph Del Valle/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
Then-Arkansas Governor Bill Clinton and Carson
American Friends Hebrew University Scopus Awards (1989)
Image Credit: (Jim Smeal/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
Alexis Carson, Johnny Carson, Carol Channing and George Burns
‘The Tonight Show’ (1989)
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The always unpredicable Jonathan Winters was on with Carson dozens of times
‘The Tonight Show’ (1990)
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Primatologist Jane Goodall during an interview with guest host Jay Leno
‘The Tonight Show’ (1992)
Image Credit: Gary Null/NBCU Photo Bank
Elizabeth Taylor and Carson
‘The Tonight Show’ (1992)
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Carson’s announcer and sidekick Ed McMahon along with Tony Bennett, Mel Brooks, Jack Lemmon and Carson himself
‘The Tonight Show’ (1984)
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Carson with Carol Wayne in a skit as huckster/movie host Art Fern
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson – Season 17
THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON — Pictured: (l-r) Actor/singer/comedian Robert Klein, host Johnny Carson on January 3, 1979 — (Photo by: Gene Arias/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson – Season 29
THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON — Pictured: (l-r) Host Johnny Carson, actor/comedian/director Mel Brooks on July 24, 1991 — (Photo by: Wendy Perl/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson – Season 26
THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON — Pictured: (l-r) Talk show host/actress Oprah Winfrey, host Johnny Carson on February 5, 1988 — (Photo by: Joseph Del Valle/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson – Season 21
THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON — Pictured: (l-r) Actor Albert Brooks during an interview with host Johnny Carson on May 17, 1983– (Photo by: Joseph Del Valle/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson — Season 23
THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON — Season 23 — Pictured: (l-r) Bandleader Doc Severinsen, host Johnny Carson, announcer Ed McMahon — (Photo by: Gary Null/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON — Air Date 04/25/1986 — Pictured: (l-r) Actress/comedian Joan Rivers during an interview with host Johnny Carson on April 25, 1986 (Photo by Paul Drinkwater/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson — Season 18
THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON — Pictured: (l-r) Baseball player/sportscaster/actor Bob Uecker, host Johnny Carson on June 26, 1980 — (Photo by: Joseph Del Valle/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON — Aired 6/1/79 — Pictured: (l-r) Actress Angie Dickinson during an interview with host Johnny Carson on June, 1 1979 — Photo by: Ron Tom/NBCU Photo Bank
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON — Aired 5/21/92 — Pictured: (l-r) Co-host Ed McMahon, actor/comedian Robin Williams with host Johnny Carson on May 21, 1992 — Photo by: Alice S. Hall/NBCU Photo Bank
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON — Pictured: (l-r) Co-host Ed McMahon with host Johnny Carson as Carnac the Magnificent (Photo by NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
Tribute to Toots Shor
Bob Hope and Johnny Carson during Tribute to Toots Shor at New York Hilton Hotel in New York City, NY, United States. (Photo by Ron Galella/Ron Galella Collection via Getty Images)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON — Air Date 06/23/1983 — Pictured: (l-r) Zoologist Jim Fowler, host Johnny Carson with a crane that has an artificial leg — Photo by: Ron Tom/NBCU Photo Bank
Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON — Air Date 05/17/1989 — Pictured: (l-r) Actor/comedian Garry Shandling, host Johnny Carson — Photo by: Gary Null/NBCU Photo Bank
Photo of Johnny Carson
UNSPECIFIED – CIRCA 1960: Photo of Johnny Carson Show Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images
Johnny Carson
LOS ANGELES – OCTOBER 30: Johnny Carson host of the Tonight Show chats with actress Jill St. John and comedian Jack Benny on October 30, 1970 at an event at the Hollywood Palladium in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Michael Ochs Archives/Getty Images)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson – Season 20
THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON — Pictured: (l-r) Professional wrestler Hulk Hogan during an interview with host Johnny Carson on June 15, 1982 — (Photo by: Jospeh Del Valle/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
Tiny Tim’s Wedding On ‘The Tonight Show’
American entertainer Tiny Tim (1932 – 1996) and his bride Miss Vicki Budinger are married on ‘The Tonight Show,’ with hosts Johnny Carson (right) and Ed McMahon (left), 1969. (Photo by NBC Television/Courtesy of Getty Images)
Johnny Carson
American television host and comedian Johnny Carson (1925 – 2005) riding a stuffed donkey on his talk show ‘The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson’, circa 1985. (Photo by Silver Screen Collection/Getty Images)
57th Annual Emmy Awards – Show
LOS ANGELES, CA – SEPTEMBER 18: Late Night TV Show Host David Letterman makes a tribute to Johnny Carson onstage at the 57th Annual Emmy Awards held at the Shrine Auditorium on September 18, 2005 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Vince Bucci/Getty Images)
Johnny Carson
1st June 1988: American talk show host Johnny Carson standing with his fourth wife, Alexis, under a theater marquee, at the opening of the musical ‘Les Miserables,’ Schubert Theater, Los Angeles, California. He is wearing a grey sports jacket, and she is wearing a peach-colored suit. (Photo by Darlene Hammond/Hulton Archive/Getty Images)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON — Pictured: (l-r) Actor Bob Newhart during an interview with host Johnny Carson (Photo by Chris Haston/NBCU Photo Bank/NBCUniversal via Getty Images via Getty Images)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON — Aired 05/21/1992 — Pictured: (l-r) Comedian Robin Williams during an interview with host Johnny Carson on May 21, 1992 — Photo by: Alice S. Hall/NBCU Photo Bank
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON — Episode — Pictured: (l-r) Actress/singer Bette Midler during an interview with and host Johnny Carson on May 21, 1992 — Photo by: Alice S. Hall/NBCU Photo Bank
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
THE TONIGHT SHOW STARRING JOHNNY CARSON — “Final Show” Air Date 05/22/1992 — Pictured: Host Johnny Carson — Photo by: Alice S. Hall/NBCU Photo Bank