logo
Joanna Carson, talk show host and former wife of Johnny Carson, dies at 88 in California

Joanna Carson, talk show host and former wife of Johnny Carson, dies at 88 in California

Time of India6 hours ago
Joanna Carson, one of Manhattan's most sought-after fashion models in the 1970s and the third wife of late talk show legend Johnny Carson, has passed away. According to close friends and social media posts, her death was kept private and her funeral was held quietly last week.
Joanna Carson, who once lit up New York's runways, passed away at 88
The Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation publicly acknowledged Joanna's passing on July 30, paying tribute to her legacy and dedication. They described her, alongside philanthropist Wallis Annenberg, as someone who embodied Elizabeth Taylor's spirit of 'love and support.'
A love story written in stardust
Joanna met Johnny Carson in 1971 at the iconic 21 Club in New York City. Johnny himself once described their first interaction as 'flirting like a sophomore.' At the time, Joanna was already a major figure in the modelling world, known for her grace and strength both on and off the runway.
What followed was a courtship straight out of a movie. Johnny reportedly called Joanna every single day at exactly 4:30 p.m. for a year before they married in 1972. The announcement of their marriage came as a surprise during a Tonight Show celebration, proving Johnny's love for dramatic flair.
A life of strength behind the spotlight
Though their marriage ended in 1985, Joanna remained a figure of intrigue and admiration. Friends, like actress Ruta Lee, often praised her subtle power and understanding of relationships. Lee once told PEOPLE that Joanna was 'accomplished at being a woman,' comparing her grace to that of Josephine with Napoleon.
Joanna lived a life full of reinvention, love, and grace. She was previously married to Tim Holland, with whom she had a son. Tragically, her son passed away in 1994. Her ex-husband Johnny Carson later married Alexis Maas, with whom he remained until his death in 2005.
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Joanna Carson passes away: All about Johnny Carson's third wife's net worth
Joanna Carson passes away: All about Johnny Carson's third wife's net worth

Time of India

time2 hours ago

  • Time of India

Joanna Carson passes away: All about Johnny Carson's third wife's net worth

Joanna Carson, model and third wife of , passed away at the age of 88. As per the reports, her death was announced privately in July this year. Reportedly, the funeral was held last week. The AIDS Foundation confirmed the news with a Facebook post on July 30. Tired of too many ads? go ad free now The post read, "Remembering ETAF's dear friends and supporters, Joanna Carson and Wallis Annenberg, who embodied our founder, Elizabeth Taylor's spirit of love and support." Now, for those who have come to read about Joanna's net worth, let's check it out. Joanna Carson's net worth According to a website named BiographyKind, the estimated net worth of Jonanna was USD 20–30 million. On the other hand, Global Stardom reported it to be between USD 5 million and USD 12 million. As per the report, Joanna's sources of income were said to be her divorce settlements and other investments, along with what she earned during her modelling days. Joanna divorced Johnny Carson in 1985, ending their 12-year marriage. And as per HOLA!, the settlement amount paid during that time was USD 20 million. Also, it goes without saying that the divorce is considered as one of the most expensive ones in the entertainment world. Joanna and Johnny's love story The couple got hitched in 1972. Their romance started after they met at the 21 Club in New York a year before. The TV host and comedian once told PEOPLE that he was flirting like a "sophomore" when they met for the first time. Reportedly, she was the highest-paid model at that time. She was living with her son Tim from her first marriage with former World Backgammon Champion Tim Holland. Johnny and Joanna later moved to California. Though she was not keen to shift her base from New York to California, Johnny's The Tonight Show was moved to the latter state. The TV host convinced her when he said that they are going to get married. In the biography, 'Carson the Magnificent', Joanna mentioned Johnny's drinking habit. Also, even the comedian himself admitted the same in an interview with 60 Minutes.

Joanna Carson, TV Personality and Johnny Carson's Third Wife, Passes Away At 88
Joanna Carson, TV Personality and Johnny Carson's Third Wife, Passes Away At 88

News18

time4 hours ago

  • News18

Joanna Carson, TV Personality and Johnny Carson's Third Wife, Passes Away At 88

Last Updated: Joanna Carson, Johnny Carson's third wife, died at 88. Her death was confirmed by friends on social media. Joanna Carson, a former high-profile model and the third wife of late television legend Johnny Carson, has passed away at the age of 88. The news of her death, which occurred privately in July, was shared by friends on social media and confirmed through a tribute post by the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation on July 30. Her funeral took place last week. 'Remembering ETAF's dear friends and supporters, Joanna Carson and Wallis Annenberg, who embodied our Founder, Elizabeth Taylor's spirit of love and support," the Foundation's Facebook post read. Joanna, who was once one of New York's highest-paid models, led a private life in later years but remained a figure of interest due to her relationship with Johnny Carson and her continued involvement in philanthropic causes. Her financial status was often speculated on; some outlets such as reported her net worth to be between $20–30 million in 2025, while others, like Global Stardom, estimated it between $5 million and $12 million. Apart from her modelling income, much of her wealth reportedly came from divorce settlements and investments. Joanna and Johnny Carson met in 1971 at the iconic 21 Club in New York. At the time, she was divorced from World Backgammon Champion Tim Holland and raising her son in a modest New York apartment. 'I was flirting like a sophomore," Johnny told People years later about their first encounter. They married in 1972, and their union lasted 12 years. Their 1985 divorce, estimated to be worth $20 million (about $48 million today), was one of the most expensive in Hollywood history. Although she relocated to Burbank, California with Johnny and her son Tim, Joanna had little interest in showbiz. 'I don't have that much to say about Johnny's work. It's not my place," she once admitted. Her reservations about the move from New York reportedly caused friction early on. 'You're coming to California with Tim and we're going to be married," she recalled Johnny saying. Their marriage also faced challenges stemming from Johnny's drinking habits. In a 1979 interview with 60 Minutes, Carson confessed, 'When I did drink… I would go just the opposite [of gregarious]. And it would happen just like that!" Despite their split, Joanna was remembered fondly by those close to the couple. Actress and socialite Ruta Lee told People in 1983, 'Joanna's very accomplished at being a woman… She just has a wonderfully sensitive approach to men." Joanna was preceded in death by her son, who passed away in 1994. Johnny Carson went on to marry Alexis Maas in 1987, remaining with her until his death in 2005 at age 79. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.

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

Time of India

time5 hours ago

  • Time of India

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

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.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store