Talk show host Johnny Carson is seen dressed as an Egyptian pharaoh in this undated file photo. Carson died Sunday, according to his nephew. He was 79. AP Photo

Notable quotes on the death of former "Tonight Show" host Johnny Carson:

"It's a sad day for his family and his country. All of us who came after are pretenders. We will not see the likes of him again. He gave me a shot on his show and in doing so, he gave me a career. A night doesn't go by that I don't ask myself, 'What would Johnny have done?' He has been greatly missed since his retirement."

- CBS "Late Show" host David Letterman

"He was the most decent, marvelous man I've ever known, and we're going to miss him a lot ... I think that Johnny, no matter how long he lived in Hollywood and no matter how much money he made, he still had a piece of straw stuck in his ear."

- Actor-comedian Jerry Lewis

"Being Johnny's friend was an honor. To hear of his sudden death, a great shock. He was so much more than just the 'King of Late Night,' he was a real intellect with broad interests; thankfully, many of which he was able to enjoy in the last decade. It is a terrible loss to his friends."

- Actor-comedian Chevy Chase

"He was the definition of class and dignity."

- Comedian Rosie O'Donnell

"He was the greatest talk show host of our time with the quickest mind ... One of the greatest thrills of my career was not on stage but when Johnny called me after seeing me host the Oscars and telling me how much he loved what I did. That's how much I looked up to him. He was a true idol."

- Comedian-actor Billy Crystal

"I'm first of all stunned to hear it. I think he's been one of the greats of our time."

- Daytime talk-show host Oprah Winfrey.

"I guest-hosted for Johnny many years ago for a month straight and experienced firsthand just how great he was, making it look so easy night after night. Once you sit in that chair, you knew there was nothing easy about it. It's a huge loss."

- Actor-comedian Bob Newhart.

"I liked him very much, as a comedian and as a person. I have only the most positive things to say about him. I found him to be a terrific guy."

- Filmmaker-comedian Woody Allen, who served as an occasional vacation host for Carson on "Tonight."

"He was the best, and I think even the other talk show hosts would have to take a bow to Johnny Carson. ... He loved listening to comedians, loved helping comedians. He had more comedians on who broke into bigger things than anybody."

- Impressionist-comic Fred Travalena, a frequent "Tonight" show guest with Carson.

"Johnny Carson was a man I considered like a brother to me. Our 34 years of working together, plus the 12 years since then, created a friendship which was professional, family like and one of respect and great admiration."

- Ed McMahon, Carson's former "Tonight" sidekick.

"He always drove himself to work, never took a limo. He went down quickly to what we called the 'Carson bunker,' under Studio 1 where the show was done" at NBC in Burbank.

- Charles Barrett, former longtime "Tonight" publicist, on Carson's penchant for privacy.

"When you're working with wildlife, you have to be able to react very quickly. So the comedians that work with notes, or that have to think about how they respond find it difficult working with animals. But he was at his best when he was totally spontaneous ... He was one person that you knew when you walked out from behind that curtain, you could just toss those notes."

- Joan Embery, former goodwill ambassador for the Zoological Society of San Diego and frequent guest on "Tonight."

"The death of Johnny Carson is a huge loss for all of us. He was a comedian who not only made us laugh, but also made us stop and think. Ronnie and I always enjoyed him on The Tonight Show and we were honored to know him as a friend. My prayers go out to his entire family at this very difficult time."

- Former first lady Nancy Reagan