Johnny Carson's Son, Chris Carson, Dies at 74

Johnny Carson’s eldest son, Christopher Carson, has died.

According to Howard Smith, a adjacent friend of nan precocious tv host, Chris died earlier this twelvemonth astatine nan property of 74.

During an quality connected nan Nostalgia Tonight podcast hosted by Joe Sibilia connected Monday, June 2, Smith revealed that he learned of Chris' decease 2 months agone from Johnny's nephew, Jeff Sotzing.

"When John died, I tried to support successful connection pinch Chris," Smith explained. "I moved and bought a location extracurricular of Fort Lauderdale. And astatine this play nine that I joined, I said to nan guys, ‘You guys cognize Chris Carson?’ The feline said, ‘Oh yeah, he's a personnel here.’ And I go, ‘Oh God.’ I said, ‘Well, I'm trying, you know, I'm a friend of his dada and each that. And I've been trying to get a clasp of Chris, and Chris ne'er sewage backmost pinch me.’ "

He continued: “When I went to this show that Jeff put connected astir John, and it was a fantastic, two-hour show that he did for astir 100 people, and I said, ‘So Jeff, what's happening pinch Chris?’ And he looks astatine me, goes, ‘Howard, Chris conscionable died past week.’ ‘Really?’ I go, ‘Oh no.’ ”

The Tonight Show legend shared 3 sons pinch his first wife, Joan "Jody" Morrill Wolcott: Chris, calved successful 1950; Rick, calved successful 1951; and Cory, calved successful 1953. However, Rick died abruptly astatine nan property of 39 successful a car mishap connected June 21, 1991. 

“Cory is still alive,” Smith noted. “But I don't know. They don't spot anybody that much.”

As for his ain narration pinch Chris, Smith said they built a enslaved erstwhile he would subordinate Johnny’s play trips erstwhile he was younger.

“Chris was an avid golfer, and truthful erstwhile he utilized to come, he lived successful Florida, Fort Lauderdale, erstwhile he utilized to travel to sojourn his dad, he would bring his clubs, because I would return them,” he recalled. “We would play play together, and John wouldn't play golf. John did play play astatine 1 time, but he would conscionable thrust on pinch us.”

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Chris past made headlines successful nan 1980s aft he and his semipermanent girlfriend, Tanena Love Green, welcomed a daughter, Christal Love Carson. They divided soon aft and went done a very nationalist court conflict complete kid support.

The proceedings revealed that Chris was moving arsenic a play instructor, and his superior financial support came from his father, who bought him cars and a home, on pinch $35,000 annually.

He and Cory some person stayed retired of nan spotlight since. After Johnny died successful 2005, his loved ones highlighted his desire for his family to unrecorded a backstage life.

Sotzing moreover told PEOPLE astatine nan time that sharing memories pinch nan nationalist “would beryllium nan past point Johnny would want immoderate of america to do. He wanted his activity to speak for him. That is what he would want maine to show you. Let his activity speak for him.”

Cory added of him and Chris: “We must person inherited nan privateness gene.”