Carson's Death May Offer Lesson for Heavy Smokers (2024)

By Mark Ingebretsen

Johnny Carson died this week, after an incredible career as America's most successful talk-show host. We don't know much about how the 79-year-old entertainer died, beyond a brief statement that the cause of death was emphysema, the Associated Press said.

And now, many are wondering whether Mr. Carson's smoking habit was at least partly to blame.

Carson's Death May Offer
Lesson for Heavy Smokers (2024)

FAQs

What was the cause of death for Johnny Carson? ›

Johnny Carson, the droll, puckish, near-effortless comedian who dominated late-night television for 30 years, tucking millions of Americans into bed as the host of the "Tonight" show, died yesterday in Los Angeles. He was 79. The cause was the effects of emphysema, family members said. Mr.

What is the life expectancy of a heavy smoker? ›

Heavy smokers cut their lifespan by 13 years on average
Heavy smokerModerate smoker
7444.634.7
7547.337.3
7650.240.2
7753.143.1
57 more rows
Sep 15, 2017

What was Johnny Carson's last words before he died? ›

emphysema. his last visit Carson said, "It's those damned cigarettes."

What is the most effective intervention for smoking cessation? ›

Physician advice, nurse advice, individual counseling with a cessation specialist, group behavioral interventions, telephone counseling, and mobile phone–based interventions have all been found to be effective to increase cessation of cigarette smoking.

What were Johnny Carson's last words? ›

Perched on his stool, his posture, as always, ramrod-straight, Carson said his last words in a lower, warmer tone than usual: ”I bid you a very heartfelt good night.” His voice broke; his eyes watered.

What does the Johnny Carson Foundation support? ›

Carson Foundation by Johnny Carson, the famed, award-winning host of NBC's “The Tonight Show.” 3 Carson would donate between $1-2 million annually to his charity, funds which largely went towards children's aid groups and local nonprofits in Nebraska and Los Angeles.

What did Johnny mean by his last words? ›

Right before he dies in the hospital, Johnny says “Stay gold, Ponyboy.” Ponyboy cannot figure out what Johnny means until he reads the note Johnny left. Johnny writes that “stay gold” is a reference to the Robert Frost poem Ponyboy shared when they were hiding at the church.

Who were Johnny Carson's closest friends? ›

Johnny said, 'You're going to be a star. ' He loved comedians. Richard Pryor, George Carlin, Woody Allen, Dick Cavett ... We all were there because of him.

Who was Johnny Carson's last guest on his last show? ›

On his final show with guests (Carson's actual finale the next night was a clip show), Carson welcomed two of the biggest stars of the era: Robin Williams and Bette Midler. (Both of them, coincidentally enough, were two months removed from being Oscar nominees for 1991.)

What are 3 strategies people can take to quit smoking? ›

Here are 10 ways to help you resist the urge to smoke or use tobacco when a craving strikes.
  • Try nicotine replacement therapy. Ask your health care provider about nicotine replacement therapy. ...
  • Avoid triggers. ...
  • Delay. ...
  • Chew on it. ...
  • Don't have 'just one' ...
  • Get physical. ...
  • Try relaxation techniques. ...
  • Call for reinforcements.

What are the 3 main approaches to smoking cessation? ›

There are three pharmacotherapies currently licensed widely throughout the world for smoking cessation: nicotine replacement therapy (NRT), bupropion and varenicline.

What are the 5 stages to quit smoking? ›

5 Stages to Quitting
  • Pre-contemplation (not thinking about quitting) ...
  • Contemplation (thinking about quitting but not ready to quit) ...
  • Preparation (getting ready to quit) ...
  • Action (quitting) ...
  • Maintenance (remaining a non-smoker)
Feb 16, 2009

Why do some heavy smokers live so long? ›

Study finds some individuals have genetic variants that allow them to have long-term exposure to a carcinogen without developing lung cancer.

How many cigarettes a day is heavy smoking? ›

Background: Heavy smokers (those who smoke greater than or equal to 25 or more cigarettes a day) are a subgroup who place themselves and others at risk for harmful health consequences and also are those least likely to achieve cessation.

Who is the longest living smoker? ›

The world's documented longest-living person, Jeanne Calment, was a smoker for most of her life, and another claimant to the title is said to smoke a pack a day.

Who was Johnny Carson's favorite singer? ›

Johnny Carson's favorite singer was Marilyn Maye. The Kansas City mob loved her, too. Now 87, Maye is one of the last of the club singers who crisscrossed the country in the '50s and '60s, singing jazz standards.

How much was Johnny Carson worth when he died? ›

Johnny Carson was an American talk show host, comedian, and writer who had a net worth of $300 million at the time of his death. He was best known for "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson," which he hosted from 1962 until 1992.

Who was Johnny Carson's right hand man? ›

Ed McMahon is best known as Johnny Carson's sidekick on TV's "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson," from 1962 to 1992. He always opened the show with his signature introduction: "Heeere's Johnny!"

What is the Carson King Foundation? ›

This sparked the creation of the Carson King Foundation, a nonprofit geared toward helping children and families in times of need and uniting communities to make a difference.

Did Johnny Carson give to charity? ›

The extremely private entertainer did little to publicize his philanthropy, which included sizable donations to groups focused on the environment, AIDS, schools, and children, as well as nonprofits in Nebraska, where Carson grew up.

Did Johnny Carson host who do you trust? ›

Carson's big break was as host of games. In the nascent stages of his career, he hosted a show called Earn Your Vacation. His big hit was an ABC daytime game, Who Do You Trust?, which paired him up with announcer Ed McMahon for the first time.

What is the most famous line from the outsiders? ›

I lie to myself all the time. But I never believe me.

How does Johnny feel about dying and why? ›

Johnny knows that his condition is not good, and he is afraid of dying. He tells them that 16 years is not enough living and that it is just not fair.

Why is Dally so broken after Johnny's death? ›

How does Dally react to Johnny's death? Dally is furious and has a breakdown because Johnny was the one person he actually cared about. Dally is furious at the doctor for not being able to save Johnny.

Who was Carson's favorite comedian? ›

Known for observational comedy, he was a frequent guest at a time when being on the 'Tonight Show' could ensure a comic's success.

Was Johnny Carson friends with Dolly Parton? ›

In 1979 Parton appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. He introduces the young star by saying, “They really love you. You've got loyal fans.” Parton goes on to make a joke that she thinks his fans are showing her great love. She mentions she feels that she and Carson are great friends, too.

Did Elvis ever meet Johnny Carson? ›

Carson did meet with Elvis in 1969 and saw him live in Vegas. Here are two stories from Alanna Nash's great book, Elvis Aaron Presley Revelations of The Memphis Mafia: Marty Lacker: "Carson had one of his people call to get his son a table and arrange for him to meet Elvis backstage.

Who is the most frequent guest on the Johnny Carson show? ›

Until Joan Rivers became permanent guest host in September 1983, the most frequent of "guest hosts" were: 'Joey Bishop' (177 times), Joan Rivers (93 times), Bob Newhart (87 times), John Davidson (87 times), David Brenner (70 times), McLean Stevenson (58 times), Jerry Lewis (52 times), and David Letterman (51 times).

How old was Johnny Carson when he quit his show? ›

Carson retired from show business on May 22, 1992, at age 66, when he stepped down as host of The Tonight Show.

What is Carson's favorite song? ›

During the interview portion, Carson remarked that "Here's That Rainy Day" was one of his favorite songs.

What are the 4 steps to quit smoking? ›

When you think you're ready to quit, here are a few simple steps you can take to put your plan into action.
  • Commit to Your Quit.
  • Know Why You're Quitting.
  • Learn How to Handle Your Triggers and Cravings.
  • Find Ways to Handle Nicotine Withdrawal.
  • Explore Your Quit Smoking Options.
  • Tell Your Family and Friends You Plan to Quit.
Jan 25, 2023

How do you clean your lungs after smoking? ›

Exercise Regularly

Exercise increases the amount of oxygen that gets delivered to cells and tissues throughout your body. Cardiovascular exercises like brisk walking, swimming, running, and cycling are ideal for helping to clear out your lungs after you quit smoking.

How do you motivate someone to quit smoking? ›

You can encourage them to:
  1. sign up for a Quit plan and start a smoking diary - this helps them to understand where and when they most feel like smoking and plan how to manage situations without smoking.
  2. learn about cravings and withdrawal symptoms - they're easier to cope with when you know what to expect.

What foods can help you quit smoking? ›

Certain foods and drinks can be a potential benefit—or burden—when trying to quit smoking.
...
4 foods and drinks that could help smokers quit
  • 1. Fruits and vegetables. ...
  • Ginseng Tea. ...
  • Milk and dairy. ...
  • Sugar-free gum and mints.
Apr 28, 2017

What is behavioral approach to stop smoking? ›

Helping people to stop smoking or using other forms of tobacco by cognitive and behavioural strategies means that smokers identify their environment and the way they react to it and then change the stimuli (cues to smoke) or their perceptions of or reactions to them, change the way they perceive the consequences (the ...

What is the best method for quitting smoking psychology? ›

Here are some tricks to get you started:
  • Never allow yourself to think "I need to smoke." That's way too emotional. ...
  • Never allow yourself to think "I could have just one." Change it to "I could become a smoker again." They amount to the same thing.
  • Never allow yourself to visualize yourself enjoying a cigarette.
Jan 19, 2020

What is the hardest point of quitting smoking? ›

But, did you know the third day after you quit smoking is often the hardest one? This is because day three is when the nicotine levels in your body are depleted which can cause moodiness and irritability, severe headaches, and cravings as your body adjusts.

What happens after 21 days of not smoking? ›

21 days – Brain biochemistry is returning to normal. 15 days – 90 days – The risk of suffering from a heart attack is starting to decline. Lungs are beginning to recover and your breathing more easily.

How long does it take to get rid of smoking addiction? ›

Nicotine withdrawal symptoms usually begin a few hours after your last cigarette. They are usually strongest in the first week. For most people, nicotine withdrawal fade and are gone after about 2 to 4 weeks.

Did Johnny Carson leave his sons money? ›

How did he distribute his wealth after death? His estate worth $300 million was divided between his widow, Alexis Maas, and his two sons, Cory and Chris. On top of this, he left a massive amount of his wealth to different charities, one of the biggest ($156 million) going to The Johnny Carson Foundation.

Who did Johnny Carson leave his money to? ›

Upon his death Johnny left the bulk of his fortune to the John W. Carson Foundation. Prior to his death, Johnny had been giving the Johnny Carson Foundation annual gifts of $1 – $2 million.

How much did Johnny Carson have to pay his ex wife? ›

Johnny Carson's divorce in 1985 after 12 or 13 years from Joanna Holland; estimated at $20 million ($50 million inflation adjusted).

How much did Johnny Carson pay in alimony? ›

Under a 1959 agreement, Carson paid $7,500 in child support and $15,000 in alimony. If his annual income exceeded $100,000, he was to pay her 15 percent of the excess. At one point, Carson fell behind in his payments and in 1970 acknowledged he owed her $225,000.

How much did Johnny Carson pay his wife? ›

Johnny Carson was married to his fourth wife in 1990

As reported by UPI, Carson agreed to pay his first wife $7,500 in child support and $15,000 in alimony a year in 1959. If his annual income exceeded $100,000, he would pay her 15 percent of the excess.

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