Carson died in hospital, not at home

updated 7:30 p.m. ET Feb. 9, 2005

LOS ANGELES - “Tonight Show” legend Johnny Carson died in a Los Angeles hospital, not at his Malibu home as earlier reported, and his body was cremated, his death certificate shows.

The death certificate signed by Dr. Richard N. Gold showed Carson died at 6:50 a.m. on Jan. 23 at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. He was 79.

The immediate cause of death was “respiratory arrest” brought on by 20 years of emphysema, according to the death certificate.

The family had announced Carson’s death in a brief statement but refused to disclose any details about an exact time, location or cause of death.

NBC-TV, where Carson hosted the “Tonight Show” for 30 years before retiring in 1992, reported that he died of emphysema at his Malibu estate.

The ashes from Carson’s body were given to the entertainer’s wife, Alexis, the certificate showed.

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