David Letterman

American comedian and television host

David Letterman is an American television icon who hosted late-night talk shows for over 33 years, including Late Night with David Letterman and The Late Show with David Letterman. He is known for his innovative comedy, influential hosting style, and long-lasting impact on the industry, inspiring many other successful late-night hosts.

About the David Letterman

David Michael Lettermanis an American television host, comedian, writer and producer. He hosted late-night television talk shows for 33 years, beginning with the February 1, 1982, debut of Late Night with David Letterman on NBC and ending with the May 20, 2015, broadcast of Late Show with David Letterman on CBS. In total, Letterman hosted 6,080 episodes of Late Night and Late Show, surpassing his friend and mentor Johnny Carson as the longest-serving late-night talk show host in American television history.

He is also a television and film producer. His company, Worldwide Pants, produced his shows as well as The Late Late Show and several primetime comedies, the most successful of which was the CBS sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond. Several late-night hosts have cited Letterman’s influence, including Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers (each of whom succeeded Letterman on Late Night), Stephen Colbert (his successor on The Late Show), Jimmy Kimmel, and Jon Stewart. Since 2018, he has hosted the Netflix series My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman.

Frequently Asked Questions

David Letterman hosted late-night television talk shows for 33 years, beginning with the debut of Late Night with David Letterman on NBC in 1982 and ending with the final broadcast of The Late Show with David Letterman on CBS in 2015.

David Letterman hosted a total of 6,080 episodes of Late Night and The Late Show, surpassing his friend and mentor Johnny Carson as the longest-serving late-night talk show host in American television history.

David Letterman’s production company, Worldwide Pants, produced his own shows as well as The Late Late Show and several primetime comedies, the most successful of which was the CBS sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond.

Several late-night hosts have cited David Letterman’s influence, including Conan O’Brien, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers (each of whom succeeded Letterman on Late Night), Stephen Colbert (his successor on The Late Show), Jimmy Kimmel, and Jon Stewart.

Since 2018, David Letterman has hosted the Netflix series My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman, continuing his legacy in the entertainment industry.

37 Quotes by David Letterman

  1. 1.

    We inadvertently bombed the Chinese Embassy. But Clinton now is working very hard. He has sent a letter of apology to the Chinese. And, he’s also given them a gift certificate for future nuclear secrets.

    David Letterman

    American comedian and television host

  2. 2.

    We have defeated Saddam Hussein and Iraq. The good news is Iraq is ours, and the bad news is Iraq is ours.

    David Letterman

    American comedian and television host

  3. 3.

    Iraq’s elite Republican Guard is doing so badly they’re changing their name to the Democratic Guard.

    David Letterman

    American comedian and television host

  4. 4.

    Yesterday Senator John Kerry changed his mind and now supports the ban on gay marriages. I’m telling you this guy has more positions than Paris Hilton.

    David Letterman

    American comedian and television host

  5. 5.

    Wherever we’ve travelled in this great land of ours, we’ve found that people everywhere are about 90% water.

    David Letterman

    American comedian and television host

  6. 6.

    President Bush has said that he does not need approval from the UN to wage war, and I’m thinking, well, hell, he didn’t need the approval of the American voters to become president, either.

    David Letterman

    American comedian and television host

  7. 7.

    The big debate right now is if Saddam is alive or dead. He’s dead, then he’s alive, then dead, then alive. It’s just confusing. Today they showed videotape, and Saddam was speaking at his own funeral.

    David Letterman

    American comedian and television host

  8. 8.

    It’s official, Arnold said he will enter the race for governor. At least that’s what everybody thinks he said.

    David Letterman

    American comedian and television host

  9. 9.

    I cannot sing, dance or act; what else would I be but a talk show host.

    David Letterman

    American comedian and television host

  10. 10.

    No one knows if Saddam is still alive. They keep showing old footage of him on TV saying that it’s live. You know, it’s like the same thing we do with Dick Cheney.

    David Letterman

    American comedian and television host

  11. 11.

    Dick Cheney said he was running again. He said his health was fine, ‘I’ve got a doctor with me 24 hours a day.’ Yeah, that’s always the sign of a man in good health, isn’t it?

    David Letterman

    American comedian and television host

  12. 12.

    I know these jokes aren’t great, ladies and gentlemen, see this is the problem you run into when you’re between impeachments.

    David Letterman

    American comedian and television host

  13. 13.

    A lot of folks are still demanding more evidence before they actually consider Iraq a threat. For example, France wants more evidence. And you know I’m thinking, the last time France wanted more evidence they rolled right through Paris with the German flag.

    David Letterman

    American comedian and television host

  14. 14.

    For the love of God, folks, don’t try this at home.

    David Letterman

    American comedian and television host

  15. 15.

    There is no off position on the genius switch.

    David Letterman

    American comedian and television host

  16. 16.

    The weather here is gorgeous. It’s mild and feels like it’s in the eighties. The hot dog vendors got confused because of the weather and thought it was spring, so they accidentally changed the hot dog water in their carts.

    David Letterman

    American comedian and television host

  17. 17.

    Last night the United States dropped four 2,000 pound bombs on Saddam Hussein. I don’t know anything about explosives, but, my God, do those things even need to explode?

    David Letterman

    American comedian and television host

  18. 18.

    Next in importance to having a good aim is to recognize when to pull the trigger.

    David Letterman

    American comedian and television host

  19. 19.

    Here’s a little known fact – Arnold is the first body builder to run for governor since Janet Reno.

    David Letterman

    American comedian and television host

  20. 20.

    Congratulations are in order for Woody Allen – he and Soon Yi have a brand new baby daughter. It’s all part of Woody’s plan to grow his own wives.

    David Letterman

    American comedian and television host

  21. 21.

    We make a lot of fun at President Clinton’s expense. But this transition is going to be tough because it’s been 25 years since this guy has gotten laid in the private sector.

    David Letterman

    American comedian and television host

  22. 22.

    President Bush says he needs a month off to unwind. Unwind? When the hell does this guy wind?

    David Letterman

    American comedian and television host

  23. 23.

    The White House is giving George W. Bush intelligence briefings. You know, some of these jokes just write themselves.

    David Letterman

    American comedian and television host

  24. 24.

    People say New Yorkers can’t get along. Not true. I saw two New Yorkers, complete strangers, sharing a cab. One guy took the tires and the radio; the other guy took the engine.

    David Letterman

    American comedian and television host

  25. 25.

    USA Today has come out with a new survey – apparently, three out of every four people make up 75% of the population.

    David Letterman

    American comedian and television host

  26. 26.

    New York now leads the world’s great cities in the number of people around whom you shouldn’t make a sudden move.

    David Letterman

    American comedian and television host

  27. 27.

    There’s no business like show business, but there are several businesses like accounting.

    David Letterman

    American comedian and television host

  28. 28.

    Experts say that Iraq may have nuclear weapons. That’s bad news – they may have a nuclear bomb. Now the good news is that they have to drop it with a camel.

    David Letterman

    American comedian and television host

  29. 29.

    The worst tempered people I have ever met were those who knew that they were wrong.

    David Letterman

    American comedian and television host

  30. 30.

    President Bush has been silent on Schwarzenegger. Of course, he can’t pronounce Schwarzenegger.

    David Letterman

    American comedian and television host

  31. 31.

    Traffic signals in New York are just rough guidelines.

    David Letterman

    American comedian and television host

  32. 32.

    It’s so warm now, and Thanksgiving came so early – is it just me, or does it not really feel like Ramadan?

    David Letterman

    American comedian and television host

  33. 33.

    Fall is my favorite season in Los Angeles, watching the birds change color and fall from the trees.

    David Letterman

    American comedian and television host

  34. 34.

    New York… when civilization falls apart, remember, we were way ahead of you.

    David Letterman

    American comedian and television host

  35. 35.

    Don’t forget it’s daylight savings time. You spring forward, then you fall back. It’s like Robert Downey Jr. getting out of bed.

    David Letterman

    American comedian and television host

  36. 36.

    I had no idea this thing was televised. Boy, is my face red.

    David Letterman

    American comedian and television host

  37. 37.

    I’m just trying to make a smudge on the collective unconscious.

    David Letterman

    American comedian and television host