LOS ANGELES (AP) — Johnny Carson, the quick-witted “Tonight Show” host who became a national institution putting his viewers to bed for 30 years with a smooth nightcap of celebrity banter and heartland charm, died yesterday. He was 79.

Carson died early yesterday morning, according to his nephew, Jeff Sotzing. “He was surrounded by his family, whose loss will be immeasurable,” Sotzing told The Associated Press.

He did not provide further details, but NBC said Carson died of emphysema — a respiratory disease that can be attributed to smoking — at his Malibu home.

Carson often had a cigarette in hand in the early years of “Tonight,” eventually dropping the on-air habit when smoking on TV became frowned on. But he remained a heavy smoker for some years afterward, said a former associate who spoke on condition of anonymity.

The boyish-looking Nebraska native with the disarming grin, who survived every attempt to topple him from his late-night talk show throne, was a star who managed never to distance himself from his audience.

His wealth, the adoration of his guests — particularly the many young comics whose careers he launched — the wry tales of multiple divorces: Carson’s air of modesty made it all serve to enhance his bedtime intimacy with viewers.

“Heeeeere’s Johnny!” was the booming announcement from sidekick Ed McMahon that ushered Carson out to the stage. Then the formula: the topical monologue, the guests, the broadly played skits such as “Carnac the Magnificent.”

But America never tired of him; Carson went out on top when he retired in May 1992. Actress-singer Bette Midler, who memorably serenaded Carson during the final show with “One More For My Baby,” recalled him warmly yesterday.

“I was his last guest, and it was one of the most moving experiences of my life. He had it all. A little bit of devil, a whole lot of angel, wit, charm, good looks, superb timing and great, great class,” Midler said in a statement.

His generosity to up-and-coming comics who got their big break on “Tonight” was lauded by Bill Cosby and others.

“Johnny was responsible for the beginning and the rise of success for more performers than anyone. I doubt if those numbers will ever be surpassed,” Cosby said in a statement.

McMahon said Sunday that Carson was “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,” McMahon said in a statement. “When we ended our run on ‘The Tonight Show’ and my professional life continued, whenever a big career decision needed to be made, I always got the OK from ‘The Boss.’ ”

Carson’s personal life could not match the perfection of his career. Carson was married four times, divorced three. In 1991, one of his three sons, 39-year-old Ricky, was killed in a car accident.

Nearly all of Carson’s professional life was spent in television, from his postwar start at Nebraska stations in the late 1940s to his three decades with NBC’s “The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.”

Carson choose to let “Tonight” stand as his career zenith and his finale, withdrawing into a quiet retirement that suited his private nature and refusing involvement in other show business projects.

In 1993, he explained his absence from the limelight.

“I have an ego like anybody else,” Carson told The Washington Post, “but I don’t need to be stoked by going before the public all the time.”

Carson spent his retirement years sailing, traveling and socializing with a few close friends including media mogul Barry Diller and NBC executive Bob Wright. He simply refused to be wooed back on stage.

“I just let the work speak for itself,” he told Esquire magazine in 2002.

Carson did find an outlet for his creativity: He would send a joke occasionally to Letterman, who lost the battle for “Tonight” but remained a Carson friend. Some bits made it into Letterman’s monologue.

He also wrote short humor pieces for The New Yorker magazine, including “Recently Discovered Childhood Letters to Santa,” which purported to give the youthful wish lists of William Buckley, Don Rickles and others.

Carson made his debut as “Tonight” host in October 1962 and quickly won over audiences. He even made headlines with such clever ploys as the 1969 on-show marriage of eccentric singer Tiny Tim to Miss Vicki, which won the show its biggest-ever ratings.