Howard Smith Remembers Johnny Carson

Howard Smith often found himself concerned about his neighbor and friend, Johnny Carson. “He was a heavy smoker—up to three packs a day,” Smith recalled. They’d be playing tennis, and he’d light up a cigarette right after a match.

“For about six months, I told him, ‘John, you really shouldn’t smoke so much,’” Smith shared. It was a turning point when Carson eventually acknowledged, “I realized it wasn’t good for you, and I shouldn’t do it.” Since that moment, he quit smoking entirely.

Carson, the legendary host of “The Tonight Show,” battled health issues later in life. During the last 18 years of his life, he refrained from smoking, but the damage was done. Smith noted in his memoir that Carson was diagnosed with emphysema in 2002, which ultimately took his life at age 79 in 2005.

Smith, who had a long-standing friendship with the famously private Carson, recently published a memoir titled, “My Friend Johnny: The Last 20 Years of a Beautiful Life with Johnny Carson and Friends.” The book’s preface was written by Jay Reno.

“I wanted to show people the real John,” Smith explained. “I wasn’t in the entertainment business; I had the largest software company at that time. I think he felt he could trust me more than others in showbiz.”

Many articles about Carson, according to Smith, seemed negative. “I think 90% of what I read wasn’t the John I knew. I wanted to share the truth about my friend,” he said. Yet, he was worried about Carson’s lifestyle. The memoir revealed how Smith pushed and pleaded with Carson to quit smoking. Eventually, Carson’s fourth wife, Alexis Mars, couldn’t take it anymore and they split.

“He had a stubborn streak,” Smith admitted. “Maybe that’s why we connected so well.”

Smith expressed frustration with how Carson’s health was portrayed in the media. When a CBS News article titled “Johnny Carson: I’m Not That I’m So I’m” suggested Carson handled his illness well, Smith felt that it misrepresented the severity of Carson’s condition. “He didn’t want to alarm the public,” Smith stated.

Reflecting on their time together, Smith wrote, “I knew John’s laugh, the sound of his tennis strokes, and, in the end, the struggles he faced with his breathing.” Those challenges began to escalate, leading to a heartbreaking realization for Smith.

Smith fondly recalled their last evening together right after New Year’s in 2005. “It was like a ‘final supper’ of sorts,” he said, and the emotions were palpable. “He hugged me tightly and said, ‘Howard, I love you.’”

The night included laughter and reminiscing. “He was incredibly funny, always had us in stitches,” Smith remembered. They enjoyed a night full of storytelling and joy, an outing he cherishes to this day.

“After the dinner,” Smith said, “he wanted us to feel good, to laugh and enjoy.” He felt that moment was a farewell, though neither of them fully recognized it at the time. Just two weeks later, Carson passed away.

Looking back, Smith expressed deep sadness. “I think he wanted us to have a good time. He loved sharing those moments, showing how much he cared,” Smith added, tears in his eyes.

Over the years, their friendship flourished. Carson, after retiring, wanted nothing to do with the spotlight. He traveled extensively, picking up Swahili and Russian, and engaged with the world in ways he never had before.

“John embraced retirement,” Smith continued. “He studied astronomy, performed card tricks for children. He truly lived life quietly and to the fullest.”

While many encouraged him to stay in the spotlight, Carson was ready to embrace a different phase—a life full of exploration and friendship. “I’m grateful for those moments,” Smith reflected. “Tennis started our bond, and I never knew how special that connection would become.”