Dick Carson, Director on ‘The Tonight Show’ and ‘Wheel of Fortune,’ Dies at 92
He was not on the list.
Fans and family of Dick Carson are mourning, as news broke the director died back in December 2021.
Dick's claim to fame came from his decades working in the entertainment industry, starting with a career in radio in Nebraska, according to Variety. The celeb then moved to San Diego, switching gears into television, and working his way up the ladder until he began directing commercials and local news programming. After spending some time in Los Angeles directing children's shows, Dick moved to New York in the 1960s to direct his brother Johnny Carson's new show, "The Tonight Show." Dick finally left his brother at "The Tonight Show" seven years later to take on an ABC variety show hosted by Don Rickles, per The Hollywood Reporter.
Dick continued to add to his resume of hit shows with "Get Smart," "The Sammy Davis Jr. Show," "The Merv Griffin Show," and "Wheel of Fortune." Dick retired in 1999 with five Emmys under his belt.
In a statement released by his family, loved ones announced the death of television director Dick Carson, who died on November 19, 2021.
Dick died "peacefully at his home in Studio City, CA," according to his family, "after a brief illness." While the exact cause of death was not revealed, Dick was surrounded by family at the time of his death. "The family wishes to thank Teri David and Anna Santy, who, during the past several months, brought music and laughter, along with their kind, loving care, to Dick and his family," read the statement.
Back in 2015, Dick opened up about his career in a series of
interviews for the Directors Guild of America, including the years he spent
directing his brother Johnny Carson's show, "The Tonight Show,"
in the late 1960s. "[Johnny] was my hero, you know," the director
said. "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."
Director
The Merv Griffin Show 1962-1986 (Best of) (2014)
The Merv Griffin Show 1962-1986 (Best of)
TV Series
Director
2014
Vanna White and Ryan Seacrest in Wheel of Fortune (1983)
Wheel of Fortune
6.7
TV Series
Director
1983–1999
3110 episodes
Merv Griffin's New Year's Eve Special
TV Special
Director
1991
Chuck Woolery and Courtenay O'Connell in Episode dated 5
September 1979 (1979)
Wheel of Fortune
6.4
TV Series
director
1979–1991
88 episodes
Merv Griffin in The Merv Griffin Show (1962)
The Merv Griffin Show
6.6
TV Series
Director
1972–1986
210 episodes
Cocoanut Ballroom
TV Movie
Director
1986
Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson 17th Anniversary Special
(1979)
Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson 17th Anniversary Special
7.3
TV Special
Director
1979
A Concert: Behind Prison Walls (1977)
A Concert: Behind Prison Walls
7.3
TV Special
Director
1977
Merv Griffin and the Christmas Kids
TV Special
Director
1973
A Salute To Humble Howard
TV Special
Director
1973
Don Adams in Get Smart (1965)
Get Smart
8.2
TV Series
Director
1970
1 episode
The Don Rickles Show (1968)
The Don Rickles Show
6.8
TV Series
Director
1968–1969
17 episodes
The Sammy Davis, Jr. Show (1966)
The Sammy Davis, Jr. Show
7.6
TV Series
Director
1966
1 episode
Johnny Carson in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
(1962)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
8.5
TV Series
Director
1962–1966
18 episodes
Self
Biography
Self
ReleasedTV Series
1987
1 episode
Johnny Carson in Johnny Goes Home (1982)
Johnny Goes Home
9.0
TV Movie
Self
1982
The 1st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards (1974)
The 1st Annual Daytime Emmy Awards
TV Special
Self - Award winner
1974
Merv Griffin in The Merv Griffin Show (1962)
The Merv Griffin Show
6.6
TV Series
Self - director
1972
1 episode
Johnny Carson in The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
(1962)
The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson
8.5
TV Series
Self - Guest
1968
1 episode
Archive Footage
American Masters (1985)
American Masters
8.2
TV Series
Self (archive footage)
2012
1 episode

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