Johnny Carson died of emphysema yesterday at the age of 79. Johnny Carson was best known as the host of the Tonight Show for almost 30 years and is widely held as one of the best-liked TV personalities ever. Although his considerable talent is unquestionable, he is also responsible for starting the careers of many actors, comedians, and musicians, a legacy that will live on. This is quite a loss...

Update: The New Yorker has made the profile of Johnny Carson they first published in 1978 available online. It's a very nice article, going over his career up to that point as well as shedding some light on his usually private nature.

Update: Steve Martin wrote a touching letter to Johnny Carson for the Op-Ed page of the New York Times.