Joanna Carson, a well-known fashion model and the third wife of legendary talk show host Johnny Carson, has passed away. The news of her death surfaced quietly in July, with her funeral held last week, according to reports from Extra that cited social media tributes from close friends.
On July 30, the Elizabeth Taylor AIDS Foundation publicly acknowledged her passing in a heartfelt message shared online. “Remembering ETAF’s dear friends and supporters, Joanna Carson and Wallis Annenberg, who embodied our Founder, Elizabeth Taylor’s spirit of love and support,” the post read. PEOPLE has reached out to the foundation for an official statement.
Joanna’s life changed in 1971 when she met Johnny Carson at the famed 21 Club in New York. At the time, she was one of Manhattan’s most sought-after fashion models. Their first date happened to fall on Johnny’s 46th birthday, which they celebrated together. From that day on, Johnny reportedly called Joanna every afternoon at 4:30 p.m. for a year straight.
Their romance turned official in 1972, when Johnny married Joanna shortly after divorcing his second wife, Joanne Copeland. The couple’s wedding surprised many, as it was revealed during a celebration of Johnny’s 10th anniversary hosting The Tonight Show on September 30, 1972.
Before her marriage to Carson, Joanna had been married to Tim Holland from 1960 to 1966, and the pair shared a son. Tragically, her son passed away in 1994.
In a 1983 interview with PEOPLE, actress and L.A. socialite Ruta Lee praised Joanna’s elegance and influence on Johnny. “Joanna’s very accomplished at being a woman. I admire her femininity—her accommodation to men,” Lee said. “It’s as if she made a study of how Josephine handled Napoleon. I don’t mean she’s manipulative. She just has a wonderfully sensitive approach to men.”
Joanna and Johnny’s marriage eventually ended in divorce in 1985. Two years later, Carson married Alexis Maas, with whom he remained until his death in 2005 at the age of 79. Johnny Carson was survived by his three sons, whom he shared with his first wife, Joan “Jody” Morrill Wolcott.
Joanna Carson’s legacy lives on not only through her time in the spotlight alongside Johnny but also through her contributions to charitable causes and the enduring admiration from those who knew her.
