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 35 years.^[2]

David Letterman
Letterman at the Peabody Awards in May 2016
Birth name	David Michael Letterman
Born	(1947-04-12) April 12, 1947 (age 78) 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.