Celebrities remember Johnny Carson

LOS ANGELES - Stars who spent time on Johnny Carson's Tonight Show couch came away with a shared insight: America's late-night TV buddy was a singular talent and man.

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"It's a sad day for his family and his country," David Letterman said. "All of us who came after are pretenders. We will not see the likes of him again ... He was the best, a star and a gentleman."

Mr. Carson, who died Sunday at age 79, was a celebrity who remained true to himself, actor-comedian Jerry Lewis said.

"I think that Johnny, no matter how long he lived in Hollywood, and no matter how much money he made, he still had a piece of straw stuck in his ear," Mr. Lewis told Fox News.

Oprah Winfrey paid Mr. Carson high tribute.

"I think he's been one of the greats of our time," she told The Associated Press.

Actress-singer Bette Midler, who memorably serenaded Mr. Carson during his next-to-last show, remembered him warmly.

"I was his last guest, and it was one of the most moving experiences of my life. He had it all. A little bit of devil, a whole lot of angel, wit, charm, good looks, superb timing and great, great class," she said in a statement.

Billy Crystal called Mr. Carson "the greatest talk show host of our time with the quickest mind. To me, he always knew exactly who he was and was always in control. He was a true giant."

Ed McMahon was Mr. Carson's longtime Tonight sidekick, introducing him nightly like a royal trumpeter with a cry of "Heeeeeeeere's Johnny!" and serving as ever-reliable straight man.

"Johnny Carson was a man I considered like a brother to me," Mr. McMahon said in a statement that recalled a professional life together of 34 years and the friendship that held after Mr. Carson retired in 1992.

Whenever he faced a major post-Tonight career decision, Mr. McMahon said, "I always got the OK from 'The Boss.'"

Mr. Carson's family withheld details of his death. NBC, however, reported that Mr. Carson died of emphysema at his Malibu home.