Joanna Carson, the glamorous third wife of legendary Tonight Show host Johnny Carson, has died at 93 from natural causes at her Beverly Hills home, marking the quiet end of a woman once at the heart of Hollywood’s golden era and a complex chapter in the iconic entertainer’s turbulent personal life.

Joanna Carson, the elegant former model, television personality, and third wife of legendary *Tonight Show* host Johnny Carson, has died at the age of 93.

She passed away peacefully on Monday, August 4, 2025, at her longtime home in Los Angeles, surrounded by close friends and longtime caretakers.

Though she spent decades largely out of the public spotlight, her legacy as part of one of television’s most iconic marriages — and divorces — remains unforgettable.

Joanna Holland Carson married Johnny Carson on September 30, 1972, in a surprise ceremony that even close friends hadn’t anticipated. At the time, Joanna was a rising figure in the modeling world, known for her grace, charisma, and social charm.

Johnny, already a household name and considered the undisputed king of late-night television, had just come off his second divorce and was notoriously private about his personal life.

Their union captured public fascination immediately, and the two became a fixture of 1970s celebrity society.

But behind the scenes, the marriage was complicated. Despite their deep affection and mutual admiration, Johnny Carson’s notoriously reclusive nature and grueling television schedule created ongoing strain.

Joanna, ever poised in public, often kept her own inner life private — though those close to her say she remained devoted to Johnny for years after their split.

Their marriage lasted until 1983, when they quietly divorced after more than a decade together.

At the time, it was one of the most high-profile divorces in Hollywood, not only due to Carson’s fame but also because of the financial terms — Joanna reportedly received a settlement worth more than \$20 million, an amount that stunned the public and made headlines for months.

Yet, she never spoke ill of her former husband. In fact, she remained one of the few people who never gave a tell-all, never did a scandalous interview, and refused all offers to write a memoir that would reveal secrets from their time together.

“Joanna never stopped loving Johnny,” said a friend who had visited her just weeks before her passing. “Even when they weren’t together anymore, she never turned bitter. She always said, ‘We had our time. And it was beautiful.’”

After her divorce, Joanna stepped away from the spotlight and focused on personal projects. She became known among close circles for her interior design talents and for hosting intimate literary salons at her Beverly Hills home.

A lover of animals, she also dedicated time to several dog rescue charities and kept a small group of rescue dogs into her later years.

Her home — which had once been filled with Hollywood elite — became a quiet retreat where she entertained selectively, often preferring the company of artists, writers, and longtime friends.

One person who frequently visited in her later years was psychic and television personality Kenny Kingston, with whom Joanna had a famously close friendship.

The two would often host spiritual gatherings, themed dinners, and holiday parties filled with laughter and old-Hollywood glamour. When Kingston passed in 2014, Joanna became even more reclusive, although she remained warm and generous to those closest to her.

In a rare interview from the 1990s, she was asked about her time with Johnny and whether she regretted anything. Her response was simple but poignant: “Regret? No.

I lived in a moment that millions would’ve dreamed of. I loved a man the world adored — and he loved me back. That’s not something you regret.”

Joanna’s passing comes nearly two decades after Johnny Carson himself died in 2005 at the age of 79. Despite their divorce, those who knew them both say their bond remained strong in spirit.

One longtime NBC staffer recalled how Carson would still refer to Joanna fondly years later, saying, *“She was the only one who understood the silence.”*

She is survived by a few close relatives and friends who had remained in her inner circle for decades, though she had no children.

Her estate, according to those familiar with her final wishes, will be partially donated to causes related to animal rescue and literacy — two passions that defined her later life.

Plans for a public memorial have not yet been announced, but there are already discussions underway about hosting a tribute to Joanna’s life, possibly at the Paley Center for Media in Los Angeles, where many of Carson’s legendary broadcasts are archived.

Joanna Carson lived a life many only glimpse in movies — elegance, heartbreak, fame, and reinvention — yet remained remarkably grounded and gracious throughout.

She left the spotlight long ago, but the quiet power of her legacy is once again shining through in the wake of her passing.