John Franklin Carson was born and raised in the iconic city of Hollywood, California, a place deeply rooted in the world of cinema. His father, Kit Carson, was a renowned actor who made a lasting impact in the Western film genre, often collaborating with the talented Dale Robertson. Carson's mother, Rosemonde James, also had a background in acting, albeit primarily as a fashion model, and went on to become the president of the Mannequins Association of Los Angeles in 1968.
Young John Carson began his journey in the entertainment industry by appearing in various commercials, one of which was a memorable portrayal of a circus ringmaster for a local department store at the tender age of 5 or 6. He later honed his skills by providing cartoon voices for the esteemed Hanna-Barbara studios. During his time at Valley College, Carson took center stage in a production of "Taming of the Shrew" staged by the drama department in November 1969.
Following his feature film debut, Carson faced a dispute with the legendary Johnny Carson regarding the use of his name. As a result, he adopted the professional name John David Carson. During this period, Carson was romantically linked to the talented Kim Darby, whom he met while filming the 1973 movie Joie. Darby was at the time going through a tumultuous period, having recently been involved in a motorcycle accident with her ex-husband James Stacy, which resulted in Stacy losing an arm and a leg, leaving him a paraplegic.
