Johnny Carson's third wife Joanna Carson passes away at 88: All about her demise and health issues

Time of India

2 days ago

Joanna Carson, the third wife of late comedy legend
Johnny Carson
, passed away at the age of 93 last month. She is now being fondly remembered by her close friends. On 30 July, the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation paid tribute to the late model in a touching Facebook post, saying she and philanthropist Wallis Annenberg truly embodied the 'spirit of love and support' that founder
Elizabeth Taylor
believed in.
According to Extra, news of Joanna's passing was shared privately in July, and she was laid to rest last week during a quiet funeral service.
Their romance began in New York
Joanna met Johnny Carson in 1971 at the famous 21 Club in New York, during her time as one of Manhattan's highest-paid fashion models. Johnny was immediately charmed by her. As Joanna once told People, he 'flirted like a sophomore' when they first met. Their first date was a special one, they celebrated Johnny's 46th birthday together.
Marriage celebrated on 'The Tonight Show'
The couple got married in 1972, the same year Johnny finalised his divorce from his second wife, Joanne. He reportedly made the announcement during a celebration for the 10th anniversary of 'The Tonight Show'.
Their relationship drew admiration from many, including actor-turned-socialite Ruta Lee, who told PEOPLE, 'Joanna's very accomplished at being a woman. I admire her femininity—her accommodation to men.
It's as if she made a study of how Josephine handled Napoleon. I don't mean she's manipulative. She just has a wonderfully sensitive approach to men.'
Quiet end to their long marriage
After being together for over a decade, Johnny and Joanna divorced in 1985. Before her marriage to Johnny, Joanna had been married to Tim Holland, a backgammon champion, from 1960 to 1966. They had a son together, who sadly passed away in 1994, many years before Joanna's own demise.
No health issues publicly reported
While Joanna's exact cause of demise has not been revealed, it has been confirmed that she was not known to suffer from any specific health issues. By contrast, Joanne, Johnny Carson's second wife, had reportedly battled hypoglycaemia and later developed lung issues in her lifetime. However, no such ailments were ever linked publicly to Joanna.
Johnny Carson's final years and family
Following his divorce from Joanna, Johnny married for the fourth time, tying the knot with Alexis Maas.
They remained together until Johnny's own demise in 2005. Johnny had three sons with his first wife, Joan 'Jody' Morrill Wolcott.
Joanna's quiet legacy lives on
Though she kept a low profile in her later years, Joanna Carson is fondly remembered for her grace, elegance and kindness. Her warmth extended not just to those in her personal circle, but also through the charitable causes she supported. While the cause of her passing remains unknown, her memory continues to be cherished by friends and loved ones.