For many, Johnny Carson will always be remembered as the iconic host of “The Tonight Show.” Over 30 years, he was seen by millions of people every night as he tucked them into bed via international television broadcasts.
Despite the visibility of his profession, he was actually a quite reclusive individual who preferred to keep his personal life under wraps. His brief mentions of his wife and kids were usually surface-level updates at best.
Many of his followers and viewers wanted to know more about the legendary host because of this. Can you tell me how many ladies he wed? How many children did he have, and who were these women, exactly?
Fans of his probably have a lot of questions, and we have them covered. Keep reading to learn every detail regarding Carson’s family and marriages.
Johnny Carson Spouse
There were four weddings for Johnny Carson. Their most recent marriage was in 1987 to Alexis Maas. Johnny Carson was married for 14 years to Jody Morrill Wolcott, 9 years to Joanne Copeland, 13 years to Joanna Holland, and for an unspecified amount of time to Alexis Maas. We know of only one other marriage longer than 14 years to Jody Morrill Wolcott.
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Jody Wolcott And Joanne Copeland Were Johnny Carson’s First Two Spouses
Carson was in his early twenties when he married his first wife, Jody Wolcott. It was his second-longest marriage, and he was the mother of his three boys. Notably, this cycle was the only one in which he fathered any offspring.
After splitting up in 1963, he quickly remarried to actress Joanne Copeland. Carson began dating the model and Pan Am stewardess in 1960, per TV Guide. After years of fighting in court, they finally divorced in 1972.
According to Biography, Carson settled with Copeland for roughly $500,000, plus alimony payments every year. The host occasionally expressed resentment about divorce yet continued to express a desire to be married.
Joanna Holland And Alexis Maas, Johnny Carson’s Ex-Wives
Carson married his third wife, Joanna Holland, in the same year he divorced his second wife. Guests on The Tonight Show, including Lucille Ball, mocked his short marriages and his high divorce costs. After being asked if he was still happy, Ball replied, “Well, you get married a lot,” during an interview.
It had been 35 years since Carson had been a bachelor until he filed for divorce from Holland in 1983. Notably, he dated Sally Field a couple of times throughout his single years.
Joanne Carson, Second Wife of Famed ‘Tonight Show’ Host Johnny Carson, Dies at 84 http://t.co/ZCu3fZWmj2 pic.twitter.com/BMYTrIJoon
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) May 9, 2015
However, after his final marriage in 1987, he never experienced being alone again until his passing. That union also lasted longer than any other he had. They stayed together until Alexis Maas died in 2005 at the age of 79.
