On January 23, 2005, longtime "Tonight Show" host Johnny Carson died of emphysema at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. He was 79 years old. Carson had often smoked cigarettes on-air during the early days of the "Tonight Show," but even after he dropped the habit on TV, he remained a heavy smoker. Carson made his debut as host of the "Tonight Show" in October of 1962 and was an immediate hit with audiences. His opening monologues were often brilliant, and even when they weren't Johnny had a way of making the audience laugh with a self-deprecating look. The show also featured skits in which Carson portrayed such memorable characters as Art Fern, Aunt Flabby, and Carnac the Magnificent. By the 1980s, Johnny Carson was the highest-paid performer on television, reportedly making $5 million from his "Tonight Show" duties alone. During his tenure on the show, Carson won 6 Emmy Awards, and in 1987 he was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame. He also hosted the Academy Awards five times during the 1970s and 1980s. On May 22, 1992, Johnny Carson finally retired, passing the "Tonight Show" on to frequent guest host Jay Leno. Although, at the time, he hinted that he might return with some other project, Johnny Carson chose to spend the next 13 years in full retirement. Just days before his death, however, it was reported that he still kept up with current events and sometimes sent jokes to longtime friend and fellow talk-show host David Letterman who occasionally used the material in his monologues.