Despite millions of people watching him for decades, Johnny Carson kept a relatively small inner circle. One friend of the former Tonight Show host is sharing some behind-the-scenes details about what life was like as Carson's close companion.
Carson had a reputation for having his favorites when it came to Tonight Show guests. He also wasn't afraid of banning some stars from the late-night TV show or cutting off others if he felt slighted.
The comedian was also known to be somewhat shy and reserved when off-camera. He was careful about who he let in and how many people got to see the "real" Johnny Carson.
One of the lucky few was Howard Smith, Carson's longtime neighbor in Malibu, California. After a chance meeting at a dinner party, the two quickly bonded over their shared love of tennis. Carson frequently visited Smith's home to play on tennis, and a friendship blossomed from there.
Smith's book My Friend Johnny shares decades worth of stories about getting to know Carson, vacationing together, playing tennis, and sharing meals. He detailed what it was like during the "last supper" he had with the late-night TV icon.
The meal came shortly before Carson died on January 23, 2005. "Of the many dinners we had with him over 20 years, that was the longest time we ever sat at a dinner table together,” Smith wrote. “His memory was pin-sharp. It was as if he didn’t want us to leave without telling us stories he had probably never told anyone" (via the New York Post).
Carson died at age 79 from respiratory failure stemming from emphysema. According to Smith, Carson knew his time was limited. "It made sense for John to behave that way. He knew he was dying, and he wanted to make sure he gave us the best of himself before he went.”