David Letterman
David Michael Letterman (born April 12, 1947) is an American television host and comedian.[1] He currently hosts My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman on Netflix. He hosted the late night television talk show Late Show with David Letterman on CBS. Letterman also hosted Late Night with David Letterman on NBC. In 2013, Letterman surpassed friend and mentor Johnny Carson as the longest-serving late-night talk show host in TV history, at 31 years.[2]
| David Letterman | |
|---|---|
.jpg) Letterman at the Peabody Awards in May 2016 | |
| Birth name | David Michael Letterman |
| Born | April 12, 1947 Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S. |
| Medium | Stand-up, television |
| Nationality | American |
| Years active | 1970–present |
| Genres | Observational comedy, surreal humor, deadpan |
| Influences | Johnny Carson, Paul Dixon, Steve Allen, Jack Paar |
| Influenced | Jimmy Kimmel, Jim Gaffigan, Jon Stewart, Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Fallon |
| Spouse | Michelle Cook (1968–1977; divorced) Regina Lasko (2009–present, 1 child) |
| Notable works and roles | The David Letterman Show (host, 1980) Late Night with David Letterman (host, 1982-1993) Late Show with David Letterman (host, 1993-2015) |
| Signature |  |
| Emmy Awards | |
| Outstanding Host or Hostess in a Variety Series 1981 The David Letterman Show Outstanding Individual Achievement – Writers 1981 The David Letterman Show Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program 1984, 1985, 1986, 1987 Late Night with David Letterman Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series 1994, 1998, 1999, 2000, 2001, 2002 Late Show with David Letterman | |
| American Comedy Awards | |
| Funniest Male Performer in a TV Special (Leading or Supporting) Network, Cable or Syndication 1989 Late Night with David Letterman 1995 Late Show with David Letterman: Video Special Funniest Male Performer in a TV Series (Leading Role) Network, Cable or Syndication 1994 Late Show with David Letterman 2001 Late Show with David Letterman | |
Letterman's ironic comedy is similar to comedians such as Andy Kaufman, Ernie Kovacs, and Tonight Show hosts Johnny Carson and Steve Allen.
Early life and career
Letterman was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. His father, Harry Joseph Letterman,[3] was a florist of English ancestry; his mother Dorothy Letterman, a church secretary of German ancestry, has been an occasional figure on the show, usually at holidays and birthdays.
He lived on the north side of Indianapolis, not far from the Indianapolis Motor Speedway. He enjoyed collecting model cars, including racers.[4] In 2000, he told an interviewer for Esquire that, while growing up, he admired his father's ability to tell jokes and be the life of the party. Harry Joseph Letterman survived a heart attack at age 36, when David was a young boy. The fear of losing his father was constantly with Letterman as he grew up.[5] The elder Letterman died of a second heart attack[6] at age 57.
David Letterman Media
Letterman's comedic career took hold at Los Angeles's Comedy Store
Letterman interviewing comedian Jerry Lewis in 1982
The Ed Sullivan Theater, where Late Show with David Letterman was recorded
Letterman with President Barack Obama in 2009
Letterman at the 2019 Indianapolis 500
Letterman receiving the 2012 Kennedy Center Honors Medallion, December 2012
Letterman at the 39th Primetime Emmy Awards in 1987
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References
- ↑ "David Letterman Biography". The New York Times. http://movies.nytimes.com/person/954441/David-Letterman/biography. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
- ↑ "CBS Extends David Letterman Contract Through 2015". Hollywoodreporter.com. 2013-10-04. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
- ↑ Record of Harry Letterman, Social Security Death Index
- ↑ Gary Graves. "Letterman Gets Moment in Hot Seat." USA Today, May 23, 2005, p. 1C.
- ↑ "Dave Letterman Profile - Interview with David Letterman". Esquire. 2009-10-02. Retrieved 2014-01-12.
- ↑ Mitchell Fink, Eric Mink, Leo Standora, Richard Huff, Bill Hutchinson (January 14, 2000). "Cholesterol high, has family history". New York Daily News. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
{{cite web}}: CS1 maint: multiple names: authors list (link)
Other websites
Media related to David Letterman at Wikimedia Commons
- David Letterman on IMDb
- David Letterman's Feb. 24, 1978 appearance on 90 Minutes Live
- Official Late Show biography
- 1999 article on Letterman Archived 2011-07-27 at the Wayback Machine from Salon.com
| Preceded by (none) |
Host of Late Night 1982–1993 |
Succeeded by Conan O'Brien |
| Preceded by (none) |
Host of The Late Show 1993-2015 |
Succeeded by Stephen Colbert |
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