Johnny Carson’s Eldest Son, Christopher Carson, Dies at 74
Christopher Carson, the eldest son of late Tonight Show legend Johnny Carson, has died at age 74. The news was shared by Carson family friend Howard Smith during a recent Nostalgia Tonight podcast episode.
Smith revealed he learned of Chris’s passing from Johnny’s nephew, Jeff Sotzing, two months ago. “I said, ‘So Jeff, what’s happening with Chris?’ And he goes, ‘Howard, Chris just died last week,’” Smith recalled.
Chris, an avid golfer, lived in Florida and was remembered fondly by Smith, who often joined Johnny and Chris on golf outings. “John didn’t golf with us—he’d just ride along to watch Chris play,” Smith said.
Chris was born in 1950, the first of three sons Johnny had with his first wife, Joan “Jody” Morrill Wolcott. His brother Rick died in a 1991 car accident. Cory, the youngest, is still alive but keeps a low profile.
In the 1980s, Chris made headlines during a public child support case involving his daughter, Christal. He worked as a golf instructor, with financial help from his father.
The Carson family has long valued privacy—something both Chris and Cory honored deeply.
