Tucker Carlson has announced the passing of his father, Richard “Dick” Warner Carlson, whom he described as “the toughest human being” he knew.
Tucker shared the news on X, confirming that his father passed away on Monday after battling a six-week illness at their home in Boca Grande, Florida.
A Life of Distinction and Dignity
Dick Carlson was not just Tucker’s father, but a respected and accomplished individual in his own right. Like his son, Dick started as a reporter before transitioning to influential roles within conservative administrations. He served as the U.S. Ambassador to the Seychelles in the early 1990s under President George H. W. Bush and was also the Director of Voice of America during President Ronald Reagan’s administration.
While much of his professional life remained somewhat mysterious to his family, Tucker noted in his father’s obituary that Dick spent the last 25 years of his life involved in work “that was never completely clear to his family, but that was clearly interesting.” Despite the ambiguity around his work, Dick maintained a close relationship with his sons, speaking with them daily and meeting them for weekly lunches at the Metropolitan Club in Washington for thirty years.
Dick’s love for dogs was also well-known, and in his final moments, after a six-week illness, he “refused all painkillers” and passed away with dignity, holding the hands of his children, with his dogs by his side.
From Orphanage to Success
Born on February 10, 1941, Richard Carlson’s early life was marked by hardship. His Swedish-speaking mother, at just 15 years old, placed him in a Boston orphanage. After spending years in foster care, he was adopted by a family in Norwood, Massachusetts. Carlson faced more challenges when, at 12, he lost his adoptive father, a tannery manager, which led to a troubled adolescence. At 17, he was arrested for car theft, but his life took a positive turn when he enlisted in the Marine Corps. He later worked as a merchant seaman and eventually built a successful career in journalism, as detailed by his son.
Dick began his career as a copy boy at the Los Angeles Times before becoming an investigative reporter for KABC, where he gained widespread recognition among Los Angeles TV viewers.
A Nontraditional but Privileged Upbringing for Tucker
Tucker Carlson’s childhood in Southern California was marked by both privilege and unconventional elements. Raised by his journalist father and his stepmother, Tucker’s upbringing was far from ordinary but still comfortable and affluent.
Tucker has often spoken about how his father shaped his worldview and career. In the biography Tucker by Chadwick Moore, it’s noted that Dick was dedicated to exposing his children to the harsh realities of life, even from a young age. Dick’s involvement in their lives extended beyond conventional parenting, as he took his sons to work events, dinners, and even crime scenes to help them understand the world more deeply. One striking example from his father’s approach to parenting was when Dick took Tucker and his brother to a murder investigation, where they saw the victim’s body on the sidewalk.
Tucker recalled, “I want them to be self-disciplined to the degree that I think is necessary to find satisfaction… you measure a person on how far they go, on how far they’ve sprung. My parents, the Carlsons, they instilled a modesty in me that, at times, gets in my way…”
Legacy and Family
Dick Carlson, who passed away at the age of 84, is survived by his two sons and five grandchildren. His life and the bond he shared with his family remain an enduring part of his legacy.