NEW YORK (AP) - Jack Paar, the smart-alec comic who pioneered late-night talk on "The Tonight Show" in the 1950s and paved the way for Johnny Carson and others before walking away from television while still in his prime, died Tuesday. He was 85.
Paar died at his home in Greenwich, Conn., as a result of a long illness, said his son-in-law, Stephen Wells. Paar had suffered a stroke last year.
"The Tonight Show" became a talk show everybody talked about almost from Paar's first night as host in 1957. After a young comic named Johnny Carson became host in 1962, Paar had a hugely popular prime-time talk show for three more seasons, then abruptly retired in 1965.
Carson said he was "very saddened" to hear of Paar's death. "He was a unique personality who brought a new dimension to late night television."
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