Johnny Carson’s Glamorous Third Wife Joanna Carson Dies at 93
Hey, I’m Riley Carter, that millennial tapping away about old-school Hollywood vibes without getting too starry-eyed. Okay, but like, why does this feel like a black-and-white movie reboot hitting our feeds?
Joanna Carson, the high-earning model who became Johnny Carson’s third wife, passed away at 93 this summer, her family confirmed. The private announcement came in July, followed by an intimate farewell service held just last week, as reported by Extra. Her life and generosity were honored in a touching tribute on Facebook by the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, which noted how Joanna and fellow supporter Wallis Annenberg embodied Elizabeth Taylor’s spirit of compassion.
Back in 1971, Joanna was one of New York City’s top models, commanding big fashion-house fees and turning heads on Fifth Avenue. She met Johnny at a downtown restaurant, sparking a romance that began soon after both had ended earlier loves. Johnny’s split from second wife Joanne Copeland was finalized late that year, while Joanna was fresh off her 1966 divorce from her first husband, Tim Holland. The former couple had shared a son, whose tragic death in 1994 left Joanna navigating grief alone.
Their union was officially announced at Johnny’s 10th “Tonight Show” anniversary in September 1978, a moment spotlighted in a New Yorker profile of the era. For nearly a decade they were Hollywood’s talk-show power pair until they quietly separated in 1982 and wrapped up divorce proceedings in 1985. Initial headlines noted Joanna’s request for $220,000 in monthly alimony, but court records show she ultimately secured $35,000 a month, plus ownership of their Bel Air estate, several Manhattan apartments, and a stash of Picassos, according to a Los Angeles Times report.
Johnny’s first marriage to Joan “Jody” Morrill Wolcott ran from 1949 until 1963, producing three sons—Chris, Rick, and Cory. Rick’s 1991 car accident at age 39 was one of the many sorrows the Carson clan endured. After parting ways with Joanna, Johnny found love again with Alexis Maas in 1987, and they stayed together until his death in January 2005 at age 79.
In bittersweet timing, Joanna’s passing follows word that Johnny’s eldest son, Christopher Carson, died earlier this year at 74, a fact confirmed by family friend Howard Smith. No cause of death was disclosed for Christopher, mirroring the privacy Joanna’s circle maintained for her own final curtain call.
Joanna Carson’s story reads like a retro Hollywood script: top model, talk-show queen, multimillion-dollar divorce, quiet later years. Her legacy lives on in vintage runway archives, late-night lore, and the nonprofit community she supported. Anyway, that’s the low-key scoop. Scroll on or stay awhile—your call.
Sources: Celebrity Storm and Extra, Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation, New Yorker, Los Angeles Times, New York Post
Attribution: Creative Commons Licensed
