David Letterman
Born 1947 · Age 78
American television host, comedian, writer, and producer; longtime late-night host (Late Night, Late Show), founder of Worldwide Pants, and Netflix interviewer.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Indianapolis, Indiana
David Michael Letterman born to Harry Joseph Letterman (florist) and Dorothy Hofert (church secretary).
Attended Broad Ripple High School; worked at Atlas Supermarket
Grew up in Broad Ripple area of Indianapolis and worked as a stock boy at a local supermarket while in high school.
Graduated Ball State University (BA, Radio & Television)
Graduated from Ball State's Department of Radio and Television; member of Sigma Chi fraternity.
Early broadcasting — WBST and campus radio work
Announcer/newscaster on Ball State student-run radio WBST; was fired for irreverence; helped found WAGO-AM (now WCRD).
Began professional broadcasting in Indianapolis
Worked as radio talk show host on WNTS and television anchor/weatherman at WLWI (later WTHR).
First national telecast appearance — Indianapolis 500 pit reporter
Appeared as a pit road reporter on ABC Sports' tape-delayed coverage of the 1971 Indianapolis 500 — first nationally-telecast appearance.
Moved to Los Angeles to pursue comedy writing
Relocated to Los Angeles (with then-wife Michelle) to break into comedy writing and stand-up; began performing at The Comedy Store.
Writer and regular on The Starland Vocal Band Show
By summer 1977 was a writer and regular on the six-week CBS summer series The Starland Vocal Band Show.
Hosted game-show pilot 'The Riddlers' and appeared on Peeping Times
Hosted a 1977 game-show pilot (not picked up) and co-starred in the Barry Levinson-produced Peeping Times (Jan 1978 airing).
Became a regular guest and guest host on The Tonight Show
Made first of many appearances on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson; became a regular guest host beginning in 1978.
Debut of The David Letterman Show (NBC morning)
NBC launched The David Letterman Show (morning variety/comedy); initially 90 minutes, shortened to 60 in Aug 1980; critical success but ratings failure.
Cancelled The David Letterman Show
NBC cancelled the morning show due to poor ratings; final broadcast Oct 24, 1980. The show had won two Emmy Awards despite cancellation.
Debut of Late Night with David Letterman (NBC)
Late Night premiered Feb 1, 1982 (first guest Bill Murray). Show aired after The Tonight Show and developed a cult following for its offbeat segments.
Interrupts The Today Show with bullhorn stunt
On Aug 19, 1985 Letterman used a bullhorn to interrupt a live Today Show interview, claiming to be NBC News president and joking about not wearing pants.
Late Night adds Friday night broadcast
In June 1987 Late Night expanded to include a Friday night broadcast (previously Mon–Thu).
Accumulated Emmy nominations and wins (Late Night/Late Show era)
Over his career Letterman received dozens of Emmy nominations; by one count he had 67 Emmy nominations and 12 wins in his first 20 years in late night.
Founded Worldwide Pants Incorporated
Letterman started his production company Worldwide Pants, which would produce his shows and other series including Everybody Loves Raymond and The Late Late Show.
Johnny Carson retires; Tonight Show successor search
Carson retired in 1992; many expected Letterman to be successor but NBC chose Jay Leno instead — event precipitated Letterman's move to CBS.
Signed three-year CBS contract worth $14M per year
For the move to CBS Letterman signed a three-year contract at $14 million per year (doubling his Late Night salary).
Debut of Late Show with David Letterman (CBS)
Letterman left NBC and launched the Late Show on CBS taped at the Ed Sullivan Theater; CBS spent $8 million renovating the theater.
Hosted the 67th Academy Awards
Letterman hosted the Oscars on March 27, 1995; critics panned his performance though the broadcast earned high ratings.
Worldwide Pants produces Everybody Loves Raymond (show run begins)
Worldwide Pants produced the CBS sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond (one of the company's most successful primetime comedies; show ran 1996–2005).
Renowned for influential late-night style; influenced many successors
Influenced a generation of late-night hosts (Conan O'Brien, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, Jon Stewart).
Underwent emergency quintuple heart bypass surgery
A routine checkup revealed a severely obstructed artery; Letterman had emergency quintuple-bypass surgery on Jan 14, 2000.
Returned to Late Show after heart surgery
Made emotional on-air return Feb 21, 2000; brought doctors and nurses on stage; episode was among the show's highest-rated.
ABC reportedly offered Nightline; Letterman re-signed with CBS
As Letterman's CBS contract neared expiration, ABC offered him Nightline; Letterman ultimately stayed with CBS and re-signed (public negotiation era).
Birth of son (named Harry Joseph Letterman)
Letterman and Regina Lasko welcomed their son in 2003 (named after Letterman's father).
Diagnosed with severe shingles; used guest hosts
In February 2003 Letterman missed episodes due to severe shingles and used guest hosts for several shows; later used guest hosts more frequently on Fridays.
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing wins Indianapolis 500 (Buddy Rice)
The co‑owned racing team won the Indianapolis 500 with driver Buddy Rice in 2004.
Signed contract extension with CBS through fall 2010
CBS announced Letterman had signed a new contract to host Late Show through fall 2010; Letterman joked about staying put due to commute.
Reported annual earnings (~$40M) and Forbes ranking
A 2007 Forbes article reported Letterman earned about $40 million a year and ranked him among entertainment's highest earners.
Worldwide Pants negotiated its own agreement with WGA
Worldwide Pants was the first company to make an individual agreement with the Writers Guild of America East during the 2007–08 strike, enabling Letterman's show to return.
Writers Guild strike shuts Late Show off air
Late Show went off air for eight weeks in Nov–Dec 2007 during the WGA strike; Worldwide Pants negotiated an independent agreement allowing Letterman's return.
Married Regina Lasko
Letterman and Regina Lasko were married in a private courthouse ceremony in Choteau, Montana (announced on March 23 show).
Sarah Palin joke controversy
On June 8–9, 2009 Letterman made sexually themed jokes perceived to reference Palin's 14-year-old daughter; public backlash followed and he issued apologies June 10 and June 15.
Extortion attempt and arrest of Robert Halderman
CBS producer Robert 'Joe' Halderman was arrested for allegedly trying to extort $2 million from Letterman by threatening to reveal an affair; Halderman later pleaded guilty.
Documentary 'Dying to do Letterman' wins Cinequest awards
The documentary about a comic trying to get on Letterman's show won best documentary and jury awards at the Cinequest Film Festival in 2010.
Al‑Qaeda death threat reported
On Aug 17, 2011 news reported an Islamist militant posted a death threat against Letterman for a joke about an Al‑Qaeda leader; Letterman joked about it on Aug 22.
Named a Kennedy Center Honoree
Letterman was selected as a Kennedy Center Honoree in 2012 (honored for contributions to American culture).
Celebrated 30 years as a late-night host
Around Jan 31/Feb 1, 2012 Letterman celebrated 30 years in late-night television (debut 1982 → 2012).
Published satire book with Bruce McCall
Letterman and Bruce McCall published the fiction satire book This Land Was Made for You and Me (But Mostly Me) on Nov 5, 2013.
Announced retirement from Late Show (to leave by May 20, 2015)
During taping on April 3, 2014 Letterman told CBS he would retire as host by May 20, 2015; Stephen Colbert was later named successor.
Surpassed Johnny Carson as longest-serving late-night host (by episodes/tenure)
By the end of his Late Show run (May 20, 2015) Letterman had hosted 6,080 episodes and became the longest-serving late-night talk show host in U.S. TV history.
Final Late Show episode; 6,080 total episodes
Letterman's final Late Show aired May 20, 2015; the episode drew 13.76 million viewers and concluded his 33-year late-night career with a total of 6,080 episodes.
Joined 'Years of Living Dangerously' as celebrity correspondent
In 2016 Letterman became a celebrity correspondent on the climate-change documentary series and traveled to India to report on energy and electrification.
Hosted Turner Classic Movies 'The Essentials' with Alec Baldwin
Letterman co-hosted a series of introductions to selected films on TCM with Alec Baldwin in 2017.
Received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor
Letterman was awarded the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in October 2017 honoring his impact on American society and comedy.
Debut of Netflix series 'My Next Guest Needs No Introduction'
Letterman returned to hosting with a Netflix monthly long-form interview series; Barack Obama was the first guest on Jan 12, 2018.
Season 2 premiere of 'My Next Guest' on Netflix
Netflix premiered season 2 of Letterman's interview series on May 31, 2019.
Racing team — Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing wins Indy 500 (2020)
Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, co‑owned by Letterman, won the 2020 Indianapolis 500 with driver Takuma Sato (the team previously won Indy 500 in 2004).
Season 3 premiere of 'My Next Guest' (notable guests)
Season 3 of My Next Guest premiered Oct 21, 2020 including guests Kim Kardashian West, Robert Downey Jr., Dave Chappelle and Lizzo.
Season 4 premiere of 'My Next Guest'
Season 4 of My Next Guest premiered May 20, 2022 with Billie Eilish as the first guest.
Traveled to Kyiv to film special episode interviewing President Zelenskyy
In Oct 2022 Letterman traveled to Kyiv to film a special standalone episode of My Next Guest interviewing Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
Returned to Ed Sullivan Theater on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Letterman made a return appearance at the Ed Sullivan Theater on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on Nov 20, 2023.
Key Achievement Ages
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