During her appearance at the 10th Annual Hollywood Beauty Awards, actress Dyan Cannon, aged 88, affirmed her continued engagement in romantic companionships, stating she maintains several casual relationships, colloquially termed “friends with benefits.” She further indicated an openness to future associations, remarking, “There’s more to come.” When questioned regarding her current dating life, Cannon responded affirmatively, adding that her interest is reserved for individuals she deems “very special.”
Cannon, who was recently seen attending a Los Angeles Lakers game, disclosed that she is presently involved with “several special” individuals, clarifying that these associations are of a physical nature and intentionally free from the expectations typically associated with conventional romantic relationships. “I have friends with benefits, yes,” she confirmed.
The Heaven Can Wait actress, who shares a daughter with her late former spouse Cary Grant, also reflected on a prior relationship with another prominent figure, the late Tonight Show host Johnny Carson. In light of renewed public interest following CBS Sunday Morning’s segment The Hidden Side Of Johnny Carson, Cannon noted, “I’ve been hearing constantly about Johnny Carson.”
The CBS special, which aired in March, explored Cannon’s personal and professional relationship with the late Johnny Carson, including her notable appearance on The Tonight Show during his tenure as host. Referring to the special’s frequent re-airings, Cannon remarked, “It’s on a lot. They’re running it, running it, running it.”
Reflecting on their dynamic, Cannon recalled, “I rattled him, and I love that. We love it when we rattle men who aren’t usually rattled, don’t we?” She clarified, however, that Carson “loved it” as much as she did.
Cannon, best known for her role in Bob & Carol & Ted & Alice, recounted how Carson would go so far as to arrange for entire restaurants to be closed, creating a private and intimate dining experience. “He was a special man,” she said with evident fondness. “I’ve known a lot of special men. And there’s more to come.”
The special revisited Cannon’s widely discussed 1985 appearance on The Tonight Show, in which she playfully referenced her prior relationship with Carson, leaving the host visibly flustered and herself overcome with laughter.
Although Cannon began her career in the late 1950s and early 1960s with numerous television roles, her marriage to film icon Cary Grant—who was 33 years her senior—marked a significant turning point in her public recognition and media visibility.#newsafro_
