Celebrity icon Jimmy Stewart made a memorable appearance on the talk show, The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. The beloved Hollywood star, known around the world for his talent and charm, joined Johnny Carson for a lively chat.
With over 40 years in the industry, Jimmy Stewart has become a legend, and he continues to captivate audiences. During the show, Johnny Carson announced that Jimmy would soon be leaving for Hawaii to film a television movie called The Late Christopher Bean, starring alongside the comedic genius Carol Burnett. The crowd erupted in applause as Jimmy took the stage.
The two friends reminisced about a recent party celebrating Johnny and his wife’s 35th wedding anniversary. Jimmy expressed how much he enjoyed the festivities and how it had been a while since he stayed up so late. The party was a testament to the lasting friendship between the two icons.
Johnny and Jimmy took a moment to reflect on the long-lasting marriage shared by Jimmy and his wife, Gloria. Married at the age of 41, Jimmy didn’t waste any time realizing that their union was destined to last. Gloria not only brought her love into Jimmy’s life but also four beautiful children from her previous marriage. And to their surprise, Gloria gave birth to twins, expanding their family to six children.
When asked about his four grandchildren, Jimmy admitted that he wasn’t quite sure what to say to them. But the older ones affectionately called him “Umpa,” and the youngest reserved his babbling for milk requests rather than conversation with his famous grandfather. However, Jimmy praised his wife, Gloria, for taking care of their grandchildren.
The conversation shifted gears as Johnny reminded Jimmy of a photo hanging on his wall, featuring Jimmy, Phyllis Diller, and former Los Angeles Mayor Sam Yorty. The picture captured the moment when they all played musical instruments on the show 15 years ago. Johnny jokingly asked what happened to Jimmy’s accordion, to which Jimmy revealed that he had given it away due to outside pressure from Gloria.
As the interview drew to a close, Jimmy expressed his excitement for his upcoming project with Carol Burnett. Though they hadn’t previously worked together, they had attended testimonial dinners and special events, establishing a mutual admiration. Jimmy revealed that he was looking forward to working with Carol on a nice and easy story.
Lastly, Johnny couldn’t resist asking Jimmy about his hearing aid, noting that his father used to turn it off at parties when he didn’t want to hear what was being said. Jimmy shared that the hearing aids of that time weren’t designed for party environments, as they couldn’t filter out background noise. He admitted to adopting his father’s trick of turning the device off and smiling along. The conversation ended with Johnny expressing his gratitude for having Jimmy as a guest and how much he appreciated their enduring friendship.
Jimmy Stewart‘s appearance on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson was yet another reminder of his timeless charisma and the genuine bond between these two entertainment legends.
Originally aired on August 21, 1984
