David Letterman

**David Michael Letterman** (born April 12, 1947) is an American television host and comedian. 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.

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, 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. 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. The elder Letterman died of a second heart attack at age 57.

## Other websites

- David Letterman's Feb. 24, 1978 appearance on _90 Minutes Live_
- Official _Late Show_ biography
- 1999 article on Letterman  from Salon.com

## Infobox (comedian awards)

- **child**: yes
- **emmyawards**: **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_
- **americancomedyawards**: **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_


## Infobox (comedian)

- **name**: David Letterman
- **image**: Celebration of Service 160505-F-HS721-010 (cropped) (cropped).jpg
- **caption**: Letterman in 2016
- **birth name**: David Michael Letterman
- **birth place**: Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.
- **medium**: Stand-up comedy, Stand-up, television
- **nationality**: United States, American
- **genre**: Observational comedy, surreal humor, deadpan
- **influences**: Johnny Carson, Paul Dixon (entertainer), Paul Dixon, Steve Allen, Jack Paar
- **influenced**: Jimmy Kimmel, Jim Gaffigan, Jon Stewart, Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Fallon
- **active**: 1970–present
- **spouse**: Michelle Cook (1968–1977; divorced)
Regina Lasko (2009–present,
1 child)
- **religion**: Lutheranism, Lutheran
- **notable work**: _The David Letterman Show_
(host, 1980)
_Late Night with David Letterman_
(host, 1982-1993)
_Late Show with David Letterman_
(host, 1993-2015)
- **signature**: David Letterman Autograph.svg