Sunday, January 23, 2005 Posted: 10:53 PM EST (0353 GMT)

 

(CNN) -- Johnny Carson, host of NBC's "The Tonight Show" for nearly 30 years, died Sunday of emphysema.

 

"He passed away this morning," Carson's nephew, Jeffrey Sotzing, told CNN.

 

Carson, a longtime smoker, was 79 and had announced in 2002 that he was suffering from the disease.

 

Carson was host of the late-night talk show from October 1, 1962, to May 22, 1992, taking over from Jack Paar and handing off to Jay Leno after 4,531 episodes.

 

"It is a sad day for his family and for the country," "Late Show" host David Letterman said in a statement Sunday. "He was the best -- a star and a gentleman."

 

Carson kept a low profile after leaving "The Tonight Show" in 1992.

 

"He has been greatly missed since his retirement" Letterman said. "Thank God for videotapes and DVDs. In this regard, he will always be around."

sad....

I saw some clips of him here an there... he seemed like a nice guy.

 

But I dread the day when Michael will die.

yeah, i saw that...very sad. he was wonderful, and he will really be missed.

RIP