David Letterman

David Letterman

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Biography

David Letterman (born 12.4.1947)
David Letterman is an American comedian and TV host, best known for his work hosting the Late Show with David Letterman.

Childhood: David Letterman was born to Dorothy and Harry Letterman in Indianapolis, Indiana.

He attended Ball State University, where he was a member of the Sigma Chi Fraternity. He graduated from the Department of Radio and Television and began his broadcasting career at the university's campus radio.

Early Career: David Letterman started out as a radio talk show host on the US radio station WXLW. He also worked as news anchor and weatherman, on WLWI, where he became known for his unpredictability when he was on air.

In 1975, Letterman moved to Los Angeles, where he started writing for the sitcom Good Times. He also started doing stand-up shows at The Comedy Store.

Letterman then went on to appear in a number of TV shows, including Mary Tyler Moore's Mary as well as the sitcom Mork & Mindy. His sarcastic sense of humour attracted the attention of Johnny Carson and he soon became a regular guest on the Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson.

Breakthrough: In 1980, David Letterman was given his own show by NBC. The David Letterman Show was a morning comedy show which, despite winning two Emmy Awards, failed to attract enough viewers and was cancelled later that year. NBC kept Letterman on contract, though and offered him a different time slot, launching Late Night with David Letterman in 1982. The show aired directly after the Johnny Carson show on which Letterman had cut his teeth. Among his more infamous pranks on the show is the time he walked into the Live at Five local news studio and interrupted Al Roker's broadcast. The comedian Andy Kaufman was wrestled to the floor by the wrestler Bob Zmuda in a pre-arranged sketch.

When NBC chose Jay Leno over him to present the Tonight show following Johnny Carson's departure, Letterman decamped to CBS and the Late Show With David Letterman became a rival to the Tonight show, airing at the same time. The on-screen battle between Letterman and Leno was later documented in the HBO film The Late Shift. Letterman frequently mocked the film's producers for choosing John Michael Higgins to play him in the film.

David Letterman was forced to take a break from his show in 2000 when he was rushed to hospital for a quintuple heart bypass. During his hiatus, CBS aired re-runs of his show, that were introduced by some of Letterman's friends, including Drew Barrymore, Robin Williams, Bruce Willis and Julia Roberts. He also had a number of guest hosts taking on his role whilst he was still recovering. Among the guests were Bill Cosby, Dana Carvey and Kathie Lee Gifford. Upon his return to the show, Dave Grohl's band Foo Fighters performed their song 'Everlong' on the show, at Letterman's request.

In 2003, Letterman was diagnosed with a serious case of shingles and was forced once again to invite guest hosts onto the show to take over whilst he recovered. Bill Cosby was invited once more, as were Elvis Costello, Vince Vaughn, John McEnroe and Will Ferrell. When Letterman contracted a stomach virus in 2007, Adam Sandler took over for a show on which he was originally intended to be a guest.

David Letterman earns a reported $40 million per year, according to Forbes magazine.

David Letterman's production company is named Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The company produces his show, along with a number of other long-running successful shows such as Everybody Loves Raymond and Ed. The company's first feature film, Strangers With Candy was released in 2005.

Letterman co-owns an Indy Racing League team, Rahal Letterman Racing. The team won the Indianapolis 500 in 2004, with Buddy Rice driving.

Personal Life: David Letterman married Michelle Cook in 1969 and they were married for eight years. He also had a long-term relationship with a former colleague, Merrill Markoe.

David Letterman has a son, Harry, with Regina Lasko, with whom he lives in New York. David and Regina married in March 2009.



Biography by Contactmusic.com

David Letterman Gets Praised During Mark Twain Prize Ceremony


David Letterman

David Letterman was the well deserved recipient of the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor last week, for his thirty-plus years as the country's most respected late night talk-show host. Comedians and supporters turned out in their droves to praise him at the official ceremony.

David Letterman at the Peabody AwardsDavid Letterman at the Peabody Awards

Presented by John Mulaney, the prize ceremony took place at the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts in Washington on Sunday (October 22nd 2017). The ever-gracious former 'Late Show' host delivered a 10 minute speech in acceptance of the prestigious award, but not after his comedic pals took turns to speak about him.

Continue reading: David Letterman Gets Praised During Mark Twain Prize Ceremony

David Letterman Coming Out Of Retirement To Front New Netflix Chat Show


David Letterman Netflix

Two years after he ended his three-decade stint on ‘The Late Show’, the late night TV legend David Letterman is to come out of retirement to host a new talk show for streaming giant Netflix.

According to The Hollywood Reporter on Tuesday night (August 8th), the 70 year old presenter has signed a new deal with Netflix to host a six-episode series for the service in 2018.

“I feel excited and lucky to be working on this project for Netflix,” Letterman said in a statement announcing the series this week. “Here's what I have learned, if you retire to spend more time with your family, check with your family first. Thanks for watching, drive safely.”

Continue reading: David Letterman Coming Out Of Retirement To Front New Netflix Chat Show

David Letterman Jokes About Global Warming On New Web Series


David Letterman

Sometimes the only way to tackle a major issue like global warming is to draw attention to it with humour. David Letterman has done just that by teaming up with Al Franken for a web series that examines all the boring subjects of the world with hilarious analogies.

David Letterman at the Peabody AwardsDavid Letterman at the Peabody Awards

Global warming is the biggest issue that threatens our world, but it's difficult to grasp all the details about it - especially when there's so many people out there denying it even exists. Allow David Letterman and Minnesota Senator Al Franken to explain in the new Funny or Die series 'Boiling The Frog', released in partnership with the environmental series 'Years of Living Dangerously'.

Continue reading: David Letterman Jokes About Global Warming On New Web Series

David Letterman Recalls Encounters With Donald Trump Over The Years


David Letterman Donald Trump

After nearly two years out of the late-night chat show game, the legendary David Letterman has given a rare interview and spoken about the current state of the nation and Donald Trump, recalling his multiple encounters with the president over the years.

Speaking to the latest edition of New York magazine, the retired ‘Late Show’ host spoke about the many occasions he had Trump as a guest on his show, stretching way back into the 1980s when he fronted ‘Late Night’.

For years, nobody on the show took him in the least bit seriously, and Letterman enjoyed giving him the run-around. Unlike the ‘rage-tweeter’ he is now, back then Trump really didn’t mind a joke at his expense either, and the two got on well.

Continue reading: David Letterman Recalls Encounters With Donald Trump Over The Years

David Letterman Announces Brief Return To TV Fronting Climate Change Documentary


David Letterman

David Letterman may have recently announced his retirement from the world of late night chat shows that he’s graced for over 30 years, but he’s already landed a new hosting gig – of sorts.

The 68 year old chat show legend will appear on an episode of the National Geographic documentary series ‘Years of Living Dangerously’, about the effects of climate change on the world, next year. The channel has celebrated the recent green lighting of a second series by announcing the signing of such a big name for when it resumes.

David LettermanDavid Letterman will be making a brief return to TV screens on the National Geographic channel

Continue reading: David Letterman Announces Brief Return To TV Fronting Climate Change Documentary

First Ever 'Late Show With Stephen Colbert' Is A Ratings Success


Stephen Colbert David Letterman George Clooney Jeb Bush Jimmy Fallon Jimmy Kimmel

Stephen Colbert’s first episode as host of ‘The Late Show’ on CBS was a success in the ratings, according to Nielsen, drawing millions more than rival shows by Jimmy Fallon and Jimmy Kimmel.

‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’, which has been anticipated for several months since David Letterman retired as host in May after 22 years in the job, got an average of 6.6 million viewers on Tuesday evening (September 8th).

This was more than double the ratings of its nearest competitor that night, with NBC’s ‘The Tonight Show starring Jimmy Fallon’ securing 2.9 million viewers and ABC’s ‘Jimmy Kimmel Live!’ with 1.8 million.

Continue reading: First Ever 'Late Show With Stephen Colbert' Is A Ratings Success

Stephen Colbert's First Ever 'Late Show' Guest Will Be George Clooney


Stephen Colbert George Clooney David Letterman Jon Stewart James Corden

It’s been nearly nine months since he killed off ‘The Colbert Report’ to take over from David Letterman on CBS, but Stephen Colbert has now revealed some details about what ‘The Late Show’ will look like under his aegis. And boy, has he gone big, announcing that the star guest on his debut show will be Hollywood heavyweight George Clooney.

The major A-list actor will be the first person to chat with Colbert when he begins on September 8th. On Friday morning, the new host tweeted his followers: “George Clooney will be my first-ever #LSSC guest on September 8th! Could one of you let him know?”

George ClooneyGeorge Clooney will be Stephen Colbert's first ever guest on 'The Late Show' on CBS

Continue reading: Stephen Colbert's First Ever 'Late Show' Guest Will Be George Clooney

David Letterman Comes Out Of Retirement Just To Mock Donald Trump


David Letterman Donald Trump Steve Martin Martin Short

Former ‘Late Show’ host David Letterman came out of retirement on Friday night, to make a very special appearance onstage with comedians Steve Martin and Martin Short in San Antonio, Texas. Martin and Short are currently on the road with their stage show, A Very Stupid Conversation…With Music and invited Letterman to share his thoughts on Republican Presidential candidate Donald Trump.

David LettermanDavid Letterman appeared onstage in Texas Friday, with 10 facts about Donald Trump.

"Back in Hollywood, we met at a Scientology mixer and they have been so kind and so generous to invite me here to this beautiful city,” 68 year old Letterman told the crowd. "I am so happy to be out of the house. I retired and I had no regrets—none. I was happy. I was complacent. I was satisfied. I was content. And then a couple of days ago, Donald Trump said he was running for president. I have made the biggest mistake of my life, ladies and gentlemen.”

Continue reading: David Letterman Comes Out Of Retirement Just To Mock Donald Trump

David Letterman's 'Late Show' Set Dismantled Less Than 24 Hours After Final Episode


David Letterman Alec Baldwin Steve Martin Tom Hanks Bill Murray Tina Fey Barbara Walters

David Letterman's Late Show set has already been thrown in the trash. The talk show host's last show was on Wednesday night (20th May) but within 24 hours the set had been dismantled and parts of it could be seen in a dumpster close to the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York.

David LettermanDavid Letterman's Late Show set was quickly dismantled after the final episode aired.

Read More: Jimmy Fallon Pays Tribute To David Letterman On His Show.

Continue reading: David Letterman's 'Late Show' Set Dismantled Less Than 24 Hours After Final Episode

Jimmy Fallon Pays Tribute To David Letterman On His Show


Jimmy Fallon Jimmy Kimmel David Letterman

With the last ever ‘The Late Show’ presented by David Letterman looming ever nearer, rival talk show host Jimmy Fallon took the time to pay tribute to the man who is set to retire tomorrow night (May 20th).

Letterman’s combined 33 year stint presenting ‘The Late Show with David Letterman’ on CBS, and his former NBC show ‘Late Night with David Letterman’, makes him the longest serving late-night talk show host in television history.

Jimmy FallonJimmy Fallon paid tribute to David Letterman on his show last night (May 18th)

Continue reading: Jimmy Fallon Pays Tribute To David Letterman On His Show

Jordan Spieth - Celebrities attend the 'Late Show with David Letterman' in NewYork City - New York, New York, United States - Monday 13th April 2015

David Letterman and Jordan Spieth

Cristela Alonzo - Celebrities outside the Ed Sullivan Theater for 'Late Show with David Letterman' at Ed Sullivan Theater - New York City, New York, United States - Monday 8th December 2014

David Letterman and Cristela Alonzo

Brent Hinds - Celebrities outside the Ed Sullivan Theater as they arrive for the 'Late Show with David Letterman' at Ed Sullivan Theater - New York City, United States - Monday 27th October 2014

David Letterman and Brent Hinds

Edgey Pires, Delila Paz and The Last Internationale - Celebrities including Scottish star of X-men James McAvoy photographed at the Ed Sullivan Theater for the 'Late Show with David Letterman' - New York City, United States - Thursday 28th August 2014

David Letterman, Edgey Pires, Delila Paz and The Last Internationale

Dock Diving Dogs - Celebrities including star of Superbad and Arrested Development Michael Cera and American country singer-songwriter Lyle Lovett at the Ed Sullivan Theater for 'The Late Show with David Letterman' - New York City, New York, United States - Monday 25th August 2014

David Letterman and Dock Diving Dogs
David Letterman

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