David Letterman is an American television host, comedian, writer, and producer. He is best known for hosting late night television talk shows for 33 years, beginning with the Late Night with David Letterman on NBC in 1982 and ending with the Late Show with David Letterman on CBS in 2015. He has also produced and written for several television series, including Everybody Loves Raymond and The Late Show with David Letterman. He is one of the most recognizable figures in show business and was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame in 2012.
Early Life of David Letterman
David Letterman was born on April 12, 1947 in Indianapolis, Indiana. He was raised in a Catholic family and attended Broad Ripple High School. After graduating, he attended Ball State University, where he majored in radio and television. After college, he worked as a radio announcer and television weatherman in Indianapolis before moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in stand-up comedy.
Letterman began his television career in 1977 as a writer and occasional performer on The Starland Vocal Band Show. He then moved to Los Angeles and became a regular on the Mary Tyler Moore Show. From there, he began to make appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson, eventually becoming a regular guest host.
David Letterman’s Career
Letterman’s career began to take off in 1982 when he was offered his own show, Late Night with David Letterman, on NBC. The show was an instant success and ran for 11 years. In 1993, he moved to CBS and began hosting the Late Show with David Letterman, which ran for 22 years and became one of the longest-running late night talk shows in television history.
Throughout his career, Letterman has won numerous awards, including 10 Emmy Awards, a Peabody Award, and a Kennedy Center Honor. He has also been nominated for 21 Primetime Emmy Awards and two Golden Globe Awards.
David Letterman’s Personal Life
Letterman has been married twice. He was first married to Michelle Cook in 1968, but they divorced in 1977. He then married Regina Lasko in 2009 and they have a son, Harry, who was born in 2003.
Letterman is also an avid sports fan and is a part-owner of the Indy Racing League, an auto racing series. He is a longtime fan of the Indiana Pacers, an NBA basketball team, and has even been seen courtside at games.
David Letterman is one of the most iconic figures in television. He has achieved success in hosting late night talk shows, producing and writing for television, and as an avid sports fan. His influence on the late night talk show genre is undeniable and he will continue to be remembered for years to come.
