David Letterman

David Letterman (b. 1947) is an award-winning American comedian, late night talk show host, and television producer. His first major success occurred on the long-running NBC television program, Late Night with David Letterman (which was handed over to Conan O'Brien), before moving to CBS in 1993 to his current work as host of Late Show with David Letterman. Letterman's band leader throughout his talk show career has been Paul Shaffer.

Letterman was a producer of the Sesame Street television specials Families Stand Together: Feeling Secure in Tough Times and When Families Grieve.

Letterman got his start in show business as a weatherman in Indiana before making his move to California to be a comedy writer. Performing stand-up comedy at The Comedy Store, he got his first major break as a cast member on Mary Tyler Moore's variety show Mary. Guest appearances on Mork & Mindy and game shows followed, leading to numerous appearances on The Tonight Show with Johnny Carson.

Letterman has also made guest cameos on Murphy Brown, Seinfeld, The Dana Carvey Show, The Nanny, and the Andy Kaufman biopic Man on the Moon. He hosted the 67th Annual Academy Awards and appeared as one of the stars in Night of 100 Stars.

ReferencesEdit

Spoofed by Kermit the Frog with "Too Late for Kermit Letterfrog" in Kermit the Frog's 1996 Advertising Parodies! calendar.
Parodied on Sesame Street with the Muppet character David Letterguy.
A female Muppet character spoofed Letterman's well-known "Top Ten List" presentation in the Muppet Meeting Film "Top Ten Reasons to Take a Break".