The King of Late Night Talk . . .

has passed.

(CNN) -- Johnny Carson, host of NBC's "The Tonight Show" for nearly 30 years, died Sunday of emphysema.

"He passed away this morning," Carson's nephew, Jeffrey Sotzing, told CNN.

The long-time smoker was 79 and had announced in 2002 that he was suffering from the disease.

Carson hosted the late-night talk show from October 1, 1962, to May 22, 1992, taking over from Jack Paar and handing off to Jay Leno.

He wasn't the first, and won't be the last, but he set the standard for late night TV. As a youngster, I didn't 'get' most of his jokes until I was a little older. But nothing was better then his trademark soft shoe dance on those few occasions his monologue was bombing.

R.I.P Mr Carson!

Flash