Dick Carson, the younger brother of late-night host Johnny Carson and a five-time Emmy Award-winning director, died Dec. 19, according to his obituary. He was 92.
Dick Carson died after a brief illness at his home in Studio City, California, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
He was the director of “The Merv Griffin Show,” “Wheel of Fortune” and, for his older brother, “The Tonight Show.”
Dick Carson moved from Los Angeles to New York to direct "The Tonight Show" soon after Johnny had informed him that he had been hired to succeed Jack Paar on the NBC late-night program in 1962 https://t.co/ISFgaBuh2a
— The Hollywood Reporter (@THR) January 9, 2022
Dick Carson was recommended by his brother to join the New York crew of “The Tonight Show” in the months before Johnny Carson took over as host, Variety reported. Dick Carson directed musical talent, guest appearances and sketches featuring the show’s host.
After seven years with “The Tonight Show,” the younger Carson moved to California and became director of the “The Don Rickles Variety Show,” Variety reported. He also directed episodes of “Get Smart,” “Your All-American College Show” and “The Sammy Davis Show.”
Carson served as director on “The Merv Griffin Show” from 1972 through 1986, winning Daytime Emmys for his work on the talk show in 1974, 1983 and 1985, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
He also directed “Wheel of Fortune” for more than 22 years until his retirement in 1999, Variety reported.
The youngest of three children, Richard Charles Carson was born on June 4, 1929, in Clarinda, Iowa, according to his obituary.
Johnny Carson “was my hero, you know,” Dick Carson said in a 2015 interview for the Directors Guild of America. “He got into magic very early, very early. And got into it and started doing magic shows for different places. I would go along and carry the luggage or bring in the props and things like that.”
Dick Carson graduated from the University of Nebraska in 1952 and spent three years in the U.S. Navy and 11 more in the U.S. Naval Reserve, according to The Hollywood Reporter.
He directed commercials and local news and sports shows at San Diego station KOGO-TV, then joined KABC in Los Angeles as a stage manager and associate director in 1960, according to the website. He directed two children’s shows -- “Chucko the Birthday Clown” and “The Soupy Sales Show” -- before switching to “The Tonight Show,” according to The Hollywood Reporter.
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