NPR News Longtime 'Tonight Show' Host Johnny Carson Dies By Neda Ulaby Published January 23, 2005 at 10:00 PM MST Twitter LinkedIn Email Listen • 0:00 Johnny Carson died Sunday at the age of 79. Carson was best known as the host of the Tonight Show, where he brought the popular late-night talk show to new heights over a 30-year career. Copyright 2005 NPR