Johnny Carson dies

Johnny Carson, a former host of NBC's Tonight Show, has died at the age of 79.

His nephew, Jeff Sotzing, told the Associated Press that Carson "passed away peacefully early Sunday morning," adding that the star was "surrounded by his family, whose loss will be immeasurable. There will be no memorial service."

It is understood that Carson died of emphysema.

Carson hosted the NBC late-night staple for thirty years and was widely regarded as the king of late-night comedy on American television. In 1962, he took the reins of the network's Tonight Show from Jack Paar. Ten years later, the show moved from New York City to Burbank, California. In 1987, Carson was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame, and in 1992, he was awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom. His final show, transmitted on May 22, 1992, was watched by 50 million viewers.