- His ex-wife, model Vicky Tama, had been the mistress of wealthy businessman Alfred Bloomingdale, a close adviser to US President Ronald Reagan, and was murdered in 1983 by a crazed admirer in a well-publicized case.
- A serious motorcycle accident as a teen left him almost completely deaf in his left ear.
- Wrote a screenplay after retiring from acting and living in Las Vegas, NV, which was semi-autobiographical and reflected the trials and experiences of his life as an actor. George C. Scott, his former co-star and a close friend, was to star and help produce the screenplay, but the project was abandoned after Scott's death.
- In 2007, when he married his third wife (and widow), Diana, they resided at Bee's Residential Inn in Las Vegas, Nevada, located at 2112 Paradise Road. The couple also managed the inn. The property has since been razed. He had no children but had two stepdaughters by Diana: Amber and Alana. When Carson died of lymphoma at 8:22 pm PST in Clark County, Nevada, Diana was at his bedside.
- The actor later changed his name to John David Carson, after talk show legend Johnny Carson complained he was using his name.
- Had a theater background by the time he arrived on the motion-picture scene.
- His birth certificate listed his mother, Rosemonde James Carson, was 28 at the time of his birth, and his father, Eldridge Franklin Carson, was listed as being 40, which contradicts reports of his birth date being in 1909.
- His first job was the voice of "Dino Boy/Todd" in 18 episodes of Space Ghost (1966) from 1966-68, billed as Johnny Carson. Although his real name was John Carson, he later changed his name to John David Carson after talk-show legend Johnny Carson told him he could not use the same name. Often told friends he hated actors who went by three names.
- The apartment where he and first wife Vicky Tama lived in 1976, 9024 Harratt S. in Los Angeles, was later occupied by Ellen Corby, who played Esther "Grandma" Walton on the television series, The Waltons (1972).
- Although he never legally changed his birth name, he was married legally three times with "David" as his middle name instead of his legal middle name of "Franklin".
- Often told friends he hated actors who went by three names, which became an inside joke as he went by John David Carson.
- In 1976, at the time Carson married his first wife, Vicky Tama, they resided at 9024 Harratt Street in Los Angeles, which has since been incorporated into the city of West Hollywood. His mother, Rosemonde, was the only family member in attendance at the marriage ceremony.
- On the DVD extras for Pretty Maids All in a Row (1971), when asked what she remembered about him, Angie Dickinson was quoted as saying, "All I remember was that he was a very quiet man, to an extreme".
- His first and third marriages both took place in Las Vegas, NV. His third marriage was conducted at Lily of the Valley Ministries.
- Mentioned in David Kyle Foster's book, "Love Hunger: A Harrowing Journey from Sexual Addiction to True Fulfillment", which was published on May 13, 2014.
- Was raised a Christian Scientist and continued practicing his entire life. Also had an interest in astrology.
- His birth certificate shows his home address as 634 N. Fuller St., Hollywood, CA.
- Born at 2:35 pm on March 6, 1952, at the now-closed Queen of Angels Hospital located at 2301 Bellevue Ave., Los Angeles, CA.
- Graduated from Central Catholic High School, Abilene, Texas.
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