Entertainment and television icon and University of Nebraska alumnus Johnny Carson maintained a strong relationship with his home state and alma mater throughout his successful career.

Carson, who received his Bachelor of Arts degree from the University of Nebraska in 1949, provided more than $11 million in philanthropic support to the university over the years.

In 1978, Carson established an endowed scholarship at the University of Nebraska Foundation to assist outstanding Nebraska high school graduates. It continues to provide scholarship assistance to students each year.

In 1988, he provided a gift to support the construction of the Lied Center for Performing Arts, and the black box theater adjoining the main stage was named the Johnny Carson Theater in his honor.

In December 1993, Carson received the Kennedy Center Lifetime Achievement Award. The University of Nebraska publicly said thanks to Carson through the Cornhusker Marching Band’s performance of “There is No Place Like Nebraska” and “The Tonight Show Theme” with Doc Severinsen during Carson’s nationally televised tribute.

Carson announced in November 2004 a gift of $5.3 million to the University of Nebraska Foundation to support the renovation and expansion of the Temple Building, home to the theatre and film program, and to create an endowment to keep performance spaces equipped with the latest advances in lighting and sound technologies.

Following Carson’s death in 2005, the University of Nebraska Foundation received an additional gift of $5 million from his estate for endowed support of programs in theater, film and broadcasting. Annual income from the endowment provides support to the Carson School in the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts and the broadcast program in the College of Journalism and Mass Communications.

In honor of Carson and in recognition of the two major gifts, the university renamed the theatre department the Johnny Carson School of Theatre and Film. The gifts formed permanent endowments to support the school and enabled renovation and expansion of the Temple Building. The Carson School is part of the Hixson-Lied College of Fine and Performing Arts.

“From the halls of the University of Nebraska to the studios of NBC, Johnny Carson left an incredible legacy to the world of entertainment and television,” said Terry Fairfield, Vice Chair of the University of Nebraska Foundation. “And through his generous support, he also created a rich legacy of educational opportunities and possibilities for the next wave of actors, writers, designers and filmmakers at the University of Nebraska.”

Regarding Johnny Carson’s support, UNL Chancellor Harvey Perlman said, “The legacy he left continues today through our memories of his iconic, engaging and unifying humor, as well as through the programs and facilities he has made possible to nurture future talent.”

Carson’s personal charitable foundation, the John W. Carson Foundation, has provided support to a variety of organizations and causes. It has most recently been hailed Hollywood’s largest charity.

Goodbye