Johnny Carson Secretly Married His Young Wife in $9M Mansion — She Stayed with Him until the End Fighting against His Lung Disease

• Johnny Carson hosted "The Tonight Show" for three decades, becoming one of the most prominent figures in the entertainment industry.
• Despite the public nature of his job, he maintained a high level of privacy regarding his personal life.
• The TV icon passed away surrounded by his close family, including his 26-years-younger wife, who has reportedly stepped out of the spotlight since.

John William Carson was born in Corning, Iowa, on October 23, 1925. He grew up in Norfolk, Nebraska, served in the U.S. Navy in the mid-40s, and went to the University of Nebraska. In the early 1950s, he lived in California and worked in radio and television. Later, he moved to N.Y.C. and began hosting the popular game show "Who Do You Trust?" in 1957.

In 1958, Carson filled in for Jack Paar as a substitute host on "The Tonight Show." The show started as a radio program hosted by Steve Allen in 1951 and transitioned to television in 1954. Parr became the host in 1956, replacing Allen. Carson assumed permanent hosting duties from Parr on October 1, 1962, initially from N.Y.C., and later, in 1972, the show moved to Burbank, California.

Carson hosted "The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson" for 30 years, becoming one of the most renowned figures in the entertainment industry in the 20th century.

She remained his wife until he took his last breath.

Carson's sidekick, Ed McMahon, began each episode by excitedly announcing, "Heeere's Johnny!" Soon afterward, with his calm and amiable stage presence and stylish appearance, Carson engaged in an opening monologue comprising jokes, often accentuated by his signature golf swing.

"The Tonight Show" featured interviews with famous personalities from various domains, such as films, television, sports, politics, comedy, music, and animal acts.

Carson's status as a legendary TV icon has been accepted by many, including fellow comedians, peers, and biographers. According to David Letterman, Carson was not just a television host but the epitome of an American TV star. His immense popularity and fame weren't built on acting but instead on his genuine self.

Jay Leno admired Carson's authenticity, saying he shared real-life experiences, whether discussing divorces, drinking, or other subjects, making it genuinely cool.

Conan O'Brien expressed that people didn't watch Carson to evaluate his work but rather because they sincerely liked and connected with him as a person. Joan Rivers described him as a tenacious and assertive talent, which contributed to his success.

Carl Reiner said the iconic late-night host maintained a reserved and distant demeanor. On the other hand, David Steinberg acknowledged that Carson's immense stardom made it challenging for him to connect with everyone individually.

Details about Johnny Carson's Personal Life

Although Carson had an undeniable on-screen persona that brought him immense glory and fame, he was notoriously secretive about his personal life. He seldom mentioned anything about his family and marital relationships, but here's everything we know about his stormy love life.

In 1948, Carson, then in his early 20s, wed his first wife, Jody Wolcott. Despite marrying out of love, they had a complicated marriage, reportedly marred by troubles like abuse and infidelity. After their initial separation in 1959, they divorced in 1963.

Carson's marriage to Wolcott was his second-longest and the only one he had kids from. The pair became parents to Christopher Carson, Cory Carson, and Richard Carson. In 1991, Richard tragically died in a horrific car crash. After her divorce from Carson, Wolcott remarried in 1970, but sadly, her marriage didn't last.

Carson married Joanne Copeland, a model, and stewardess for Pan American World Airways, only months after his first divorce. The duo allegedly started dating in 1960, back when Carson was still married to his first wife. Copeland and Carson wed in 1963, a year after Carson began hosting "The Tonight Show."

However, the couple divorced in 1972 in a contentious legal battle under an agreement where Copeland received $100,000 a year in alimony and a cash settlement of $200,000.

In an old interview with Eileen Prose, Copeland shared her views about her ex-husband, Carson, and novelist Truman Capote, her dear friend and mentor. The former model described Carson as a sensitive and caring man who held high moral standards and was often misunderstood by people.

Moreover, Copeland shed light on her ex-spouse's shy and private nature, adding that she cared about him and they had maintained a good relationship even after parting ways.

Regarding Capote, who died in a writing room in Copeland's home in 1984, the former Mrs. Carson reminisced about their 20-year relationship. She talked fondly about their inseparable bond and called the late novelist her playmate, advisor, and confidante, who was always in her corner.

During her appearance on CNN's "Larry King Live" in 2007, Copeland, who dabbled in acting and television show hosting like her former husband, shared details about their first date:

"Johnny kind of said to me on our first date, 'You love comedy so much, would you like to come up and see a show that I did?' And I said, 'Is this a new way of saying, 'Come up and see my etchings?'"

While married to Carson and in the years that followed, Copeland did not have any children. Her second marriage to Richard Rever also ended in divorce. On May 8, 2015, Copeland died in her home in Los Angeles, California, at 83.

In 1972, the same year Carson and Copeland divorced, he secretly wed Joanna Holland in a surprise wedding. Carson announced his third and Holland's first marriage during a tenth-anniversary celebration for his show.

Holland was a model who worked with some of the best American designers. Carson even refused to sign a prenuptial agreement as he was believed to be in love with Holland and under the impression that their union would be long-lasting. Unfortunately, the pair filed for divorce in 1983.

After two years, the former spouses finally reached a settlement, and Holland received $20 million. Following his failed third marriage, Carson stayed single but remained open to the prospect of dating a few ladies, including actress Sally Field.

Field appeared in Andy Cohen's show in 2016 and was asked to share her views about dating Carson. Initially, the Oscar-winning star seemed perplexed as she compared dating the mega host to "the octopus and the reluctant little guppy."

Calling him a wonderful person, Field shed light on her reluctance toward Carson, saying she was never good at refusing people. To avoid specific scenarios, Field told people she had lost her mind or was experiencing a mental breakdown, ultimately conveying to the legendary comedian that she was being sent to a care home instead of explicitly stating her disinterest.

Despite his effortless charm and scrubbed Midwestern good looks, Carson only found trouble in his marital relationships, none of which were successful, except for one. The TV host was said to have a complicated nature, and held his mother responsible for his failed marriages.

The three-time divorcé reportedly remained single from 1983 to 1987, deeming it best to steer clear of any long-term commitments or romantic attachments.

How Johnny Carson Found Love Again despite His Complicated Nature

Despite his complex nature, love knocked on Carson's door again when he crossed paths with Alexis Maas, a woman 26 years younger than him. He met her while she was walking on the sand in front of his home on Malibu beach. She was in a swimsuit, carrying an empty wine glass at the time.

Carson approached the then-33-year-old Maas, a native of Pittsburgh who worked in a stock brokerage then, and invited her inside for a drink. Though he reportedly told her numerous times during their three-year courtship that he'd never remarry, time proved him wrong.

Sources claimed that Carson was still between marriages when he invited Merv Griffin on his show. At the time, Griffin was said to be in a relationship with Eva Gabor. Although Carson didn't like to discuss anyone's married life, he asked Griffin about his wedding plans with Gabor.

Instead of being upset, Griffin handled Carson's remark by asking when he and Maas intended to marry. Seeming unfazed by the counter question, Carson quickly changed the topic.

In 1987, in a secret ceremony at his Malibu home, which he bought in 1984 for nine million dollars, Carson, then 61, tied the knot for the fourth time. His wedding ceremony was attended by his brother, Dick Carson, a TV director, who supported his decision.

According to sources, Carson's dreamy and lavish beach house in Malibu, which came with his favorite koi fish and a special tennis court, was listed for $81.5 million in 2017.

According to Henry Bushkin, Carson's legal advisor and friend who wrote a book on him titled "Johnny Carson," the then-newlyweds went to London for Wimbledon immediately after their wedding, having spent plenty of time together getting to know each other.

Bushkin expressed mild surprise regarding Carson's decision to marry Maas, describing her as intelligent, friendly, and refined, yet not remarkable. The author noted that Maas didn't leave a lasting impression during their encounters.

Although it would be unfair to say that Carson was utterly indifferent toward Maas' desires, needs, moods, and preferences, Bushkin claimed that it was evident how her presence failed to have a significant impact.

In his book, the Los Angeles-based lawyer mentioned how Maas, like any new wife, gradually began influencing her husband's business matters, talking him into replacing his longtime art dealer with her dad and his father-in-law, Tom Paul.

About Carson and Maas' relationship, the former's friends and colleagues shared that they were madly in love and meant for each other. Tennis coach Graham Kaye noted how Maas filled a missing piece in Carson's life, and he found a genuine partner in her who made him incredibly happy.

Biographer Bill Zehme explained how Carson, as older men often did with younger spouses, presented himself as a complete person to Maas, and she embraced him as his authentic self, not just his public image. It was because of their mutual understanding and acceptance that their union thrived.

Bushkin, who remained Carson's confidante for 18 years, hinted at his separation from Maas, even though the couple never divorced. "Their 18 years of marriage put her in first place among Carson wives," said Bushkin about the fourth Mrs. Carson.

Carson, as described by those who knew him closely, including Bushkin, was a quiet person who loved entertaining others. He was believed to be a loner with a drinking problem, and his ire and callousness were felt by anybody who dared to incur his wrath, regardless of the nature of their transgression.

Carson hosted his final episode of "The Tonight Show" on May 22, 1992, after which he retired, and comedian Jay Leno took over as the host the next day. About his retirement, he said, "I think I left at the right time. You've got to know when to get the [expletive] off the stage, and the timing was right for me."

Carson always remembered his audience, even in his self-imposed exile at his luxurious Malibu mansion or aboard his yacht. He spontaneously created jokes based on current headlines, demonstrating his enduring commitment to entertaining viewers.

Like his 1999 quadruple bypass surgery, Carson became secretive about his emphysema episode. Having smoked most of his life, his breathing problem aggravated over time, leading to frequent hospital visits. According to his friends, Carson became more aloof later in life, having limited his public appearances.

On January 23, 2005, the pioneer TV host died at Cedars-Sinai Hospital in L.A. at 79. Beside him were his two sons from his first marriage, Christopher and Cory, and his fourth spouse, Maas, who stayed with him until the end as he fought against his lung disease.

Although Maas and Carson had no children, they reportedly led a lavish lifestyle with expensive vacations to many countries. She remained his wife until he took his last breath. The late TV figure had no memorial service, and his loved ones chose to stay private about their crippling loss.

Following his death, tributary notes and messages poured in from the television fraternity and fans. "He was the best — a star and a gentleman," shared David Letterman. "Nobody got to know him. He was very private," expressed Joan Rivers.

After her husband's demise, Maas reportedly avoided the spotlight, with her most recent appearance being in the documentary, "Johnny Carson: King of Late Night." She also inherited the late comedian's fortune, splitting it with his two sons.

Additionally, Maas inherited the Malibu home where Carson resided from the 1980s until his death. She was said to have sold the estate in 2007 for $36.5 million. In 2007, the Kimmels reportedly purchased the house along with two nearby plots of land from Maas for approximately $46 million. There is no information to suggest what Maas has been up to recently.

For the past few years, Jimmy Fallon has been hosting "The Tonight Show." While he's doing a stellar job at it, Carson will undoubtedly remain the one and only "King of Late Night TV."