Alexis Maas Was Johnny Carson's Last Wife A Glimpse into Their Enduring Marriage

Alexis Maas was Johnny Carson's wife of 18 years. Among Johnny Carson's four marriages, Alexis was his final wife and the one to whom he was married for the longest period.

Alexis Maas wed Johnny Carson in a secret wedding ceremony on June 20, 1987, at his Malibu beach home. While it was Johnny Carson's fourth marriage, it was the first wedding for Alexis Maas', a former brokerage employee. The two, who met on a beach in 1985, went to spend their honeymoon in England.

They began dating in 1985, and the late TV host and comedian, who had gone through three divorces, was determined that if he married Alexis Maas, it would be his last marriage. The two stayed married for 18 years but briefly separated.

Johnny Carson and Alexis Maas at the opening of the musical "Les Miserables," in Los Angeles, California on June 1, 1988. | Source: Getty Images

Johnny Carson's Wife Influenced His Business Decisions

Henry Bushkin, the author of Johnny's biography, characterized Alexis as intelligent, pleasant, and sophisticated but nothing special. In the book, Henry also mentioned that Alexis began influencing Johnny's business decisions, advising him to fire his long-time art dealer and hire her father.

Individuals who observed their love story discussed their marriage and Alexis' significance in Johnny's life. Peter Lassally, the producer of Johnny Carson's "The Tonight Show," noted that Johnny believed, due to his upbringing, that marriage was necessary.

The Malibu home where they married was home to Alexis' husband for 30 years.

Johnny Carson and Alexis Maas at the Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California, on September 21, 1983. | Source: Getty Images

Tennis coach Graham Kaye commented that Alexis and her husband were madly in love and perfect for each other. He also said Alexis filled in a missing piece when she entered Johnny's life.

Johnny Carson's Wife Preferred Living a Private Life

Despite having a famous husband, Alexis Maas preferred living her life away from the limelight. However, she supported her husband's career and frequently accompanied him to public functions, appearing alongside him on red carpets.

Alexis and her husband were captured in a photograph during one of their extravagant getaways. The image was dated 2003 and showed Alexis and Johnny positioned on his yacht, the Serengeti, while it was docked in Marina del Rey, California.

Johnny Carson, Alexis Maas, and an unidentified person on August 29, 2003, in Marina del Ray, California. | Source: Getty Images

The Malibu home where they married was home to Alexis' husband for 30 years until his death. After his demise in 2005, the property was in the possession of fashion mogul and Hollywood producer Sidney Kimmel and his spouse for ten years. Then, in 2017, the house Alexis' husband initially acquired for $9 million was listed on the market for a staggering $81.5 million.

Johnny, who died at 79, was survived by his wife Alexis and his children from previous marriages, as the couple did not have any children together. Before Alexis married Johnny, he had been married three times.

His first marriage was to Joan Morrill Wolcott. The two wedded in 1949 and divorced in 1963. They shared three children, Rick, Chris, and Cory Carson. Johnny's son Rick died in a car accident in 1991. Johnny and his second wife, Joanne Copeland, a former model, tied the knot in 1963 and divorced in 1972.

Joanne died in 2015 at her home, aged 83. Johnny and his third wife, Joanna Holland, were married from 1972 until 1985. Similarly, they did not have any children together during their 13-year marriage.

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