Rise to Success: Career Highlights of David Letterman
How David Letterman built a successful career. Explore key moments that defined the journey.
David Letterman is an American television icon, renowned for his influential and lengthy career as a late-night talk show host. He helmed both "Late Night with David Letterman" on NBC and "Late Show with David Letterman" on CBS for a combined 33 years. In total, Letterman hosted an impressive 6,080 episodes, establishing him as the longest-serving late-night talk show host in American television history. His unique comedic style and innovative approach to the talk show format solidified his place as a major figure in entertainment.
1978: Letterman's relationship with Merrill Markoe began
In 1978, David Letterman began a long-term cohabiting relationship with Merrill Markoe, former head writer and producer on Late Night.
1981: Letterman receives first Emmy nomination
Since 1981, David Letterman has received 52 Emmy Award nominations for his work as a performer, producer, and writer, winning two Daytime Emmys and ten Primetime Emmys.
1986: Letterman appeared in Coach Toast pilot episode
In 1986, David Letterman appeared in the pilot episode of the short-lived series Coach Toast.
May 2, 1989: Oprah Winfrey's first appearance on Letterman's show
On May 2, 1989, Oprah Winfrey appeared on David Letterman's Late Night show on NBC, leading to a 16-year feud.
1991: Letterman started Worldwide Pants Incorporated
In 1991, David Letterman started his production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated, which produced his show and several others.
August 1993: DL Foundation founded
In August 1993, the DL Foundation, later known as the Letterman Foundation for Courtesy and Grooming (LFCG), was founded with David Letterman as its president and primary contributor.
1996: Letterman appeared in "The Abstinence" episode of Seinfeld
In 1996, David Letterman appeared as himself in "The Abstinence", an episode of the sitcom Seinfeld.
1996: Letterman voiced Butt-head's father in Beavis and Butt-Head Do America
In 1996, David Letterman provided the voice for Butt-head's father in the animated film Beavis and Butt-Head Do America, credited as Earl Hofert.
1999: Letterman appeared in Andy Kaufman biopic Man on the Moon
In 1999, David Letterman appeared as himself in the Andy Kaufman biographical film Private Parts and the Andy Kaufman biopic Man on the Moon.
February 21, 2000: Return to Late Show after bypass surgery
On February 21, 2000, David Letterman returned to the Late Show after recovering from bypass surgery, bringing the doctors and nurses who participated in his surgery and recovery on stage.
2001: DL Foundation known as the American Foundation for Courtesy and Grooming
Since at least 2001, The DL Foundation was known as the American Foundation for Courtesy and Grooming.
March 2002: Letterman considers ABC offer for Nightline time slot
In March 2002, as his contract with CBS neared expiration, ABC offered David Letterman the time slot for "Nightline" with Ted Koppel, but Letterman ultimately re-signed with CBS.
February 2003: Guest hosts fill in for Letterman during shingles diagnosis
In February 2003, due to a severe case of shingles, David Letterman had several guest hosts fill in on the Late Show.
2004: Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing won Indianapolis 500
In 2004, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing won the Indianapolis 500 with driver Buddy Rice.
December 2, 2005: Oprah Winfrey appears on Late Show, ending feud
On December 2, 2005, Oprah Winfrey appeared on CBS's Late Show with David Letterman, ending a 16-year feud between the two.
December 4, 2006: Letterman signs new contract with CBS
On December 4, 2006, CBS announced that David Letterman had signed a new contract to host the Late Show through the fall of 2010.
February 2007: Winfrey and Letterman appear in Super Bowl promo
In February 2007, Oprah Winfrey and David Letterman appeared together in a Late Show promo aired during CBS's coverage of Super Bowl XLI, with Letterman wearing a Peyton Manning jersey and Winfrey wearing a Brian Urlacher jersey.
March 2007: Adam Sandler guest hosts Late Show
In March 2007, Adam Sandler, originally scheduled as a guest, served as a guest host on the Late Show while David Letterman was ill with a stomach virus.
September 10, 2007: Letterman appears on The Oprah Winfrey Show
On September 10, 2007, David Letterman made his first appearance on The Oprah Winfrey Show at Madison Square Garden in New York City.
December 2007: Worldwide Pants negotiated contract with Writers Guild of America, East
In December 2007, Worldwide Pants received significant attention after it independently negotiated its own contract with the Writers Guild of America, East, thus allowing Letterman, Craig Ferguson, and their writers to return to work.
January 2, 2008: Letterman returns to Late Show with beard after WGA strike
On January 2, 2008, David Letterman returned to the Late Show after the Writers Guild of America strike, sporting a newly grown beard in solidarity.
January 7, 2008: Letterman's beard is shaved off on Late Show
On January 7, 2008, David Letterman's beard, grown in solidarity with the Writers Guild of America strike, was shaved off during the Late Show.
June 2009: Letterman extends Late Show contract with CBS
In June 2009, David Letterman's Worldwide Pants and CBS reached an agreement to continue the Late Show until at least August 2012.
2009: Sexually themed jokes about Sarah Palin's daughter
In 2009, David Letterman told two sexually themed jokes about a daughter of Sarah Palin on his TV show, including a joke that Palin's daughter had been "knocked up" by MLB player Alex Rodriguez. It was unclear which daughter the joke referred to.
September 7, 2010: Appearance on The View
On September 7, 2010, David Letterman appeared on the premiere of the 14th season of "The View" and confirmed that he had been considered to host the Oscars again.
February 3, 2011: Letterman discusses potential end of talk show
On February 3, 2011, during an interview with Howard Stern on the Late Show, David Letterman mentioned he would continue his talk show for 'maybe two years, I think.'
2011: Letterman receives Johnny Carson Award
In 2011, David Letterman was the first recipient of the Johnny Carson Award for Comedic Excellence at The Comedy Awards, honoring his significant contributions to comedy.
2011: The American Foundation for Courtesy and Grooming assumes its current name
In 2011, the American Foundation for Courtesy and Grooming assumed its current name, Letterman Foundation for Courtesy and Grooming.
April 2012: CBS extends Letterman's contract through 2014
In April 2012, CBS announced that it had extended its contract with David Letterman through 2014.
May 29, 2012: Letterman appeared on CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight
On May 29, 2012, David Letterman appeared as a guest on CNN's Piers Morgan Tonight, interviewed by Regis Philbin.
August 2012: Extension of Late Show contract with CBS
In June 2009, David Letterman's Worldwide Pants and CBS reached an agreement to continue the Late Show until at least August 2012.
June 2013: Letterman appeared in Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee
In June 2013, David Letterman appeared in the second episode of season two of Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee.
November 5, 2013: Publication of This Land Was Made for You and Me (But Mostly Me)
On November 5, 2013, David Letterman and Bruce McCall published a fiction satire book, This Land Was Made for You and Me (But Mostly Me).
April 3, 2014: Letterman announces his retirement
On April 3, 2014, David Letterman announced during the taping of his show that he would retire from hosting the Late Show by May 20, 2015.
October 2014: Foo Fighters' week-long stint on the Late Show
In October 2014, the rock band Foo Fighters appeared for a week on the Late Show with David Letterman, strengthening their close relationship that began after their first performance on Letterman's show after his return from heart surgery.
January 27, 2015: Letterman interviewed on The Late Late Show
On January 27, 2015, Regis Philbin interviewed David Letterman and Paul Shaffer while guest-hosting CBS's The Late Late Show.
April 7, 2017: Letterman gives induction speech for Pearl Jam
On April 7, 2017, David Letterman gave the induction speech for the band Pearl Jam into the Rock & Roll Hall Of Fame at a ceremony held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York City.
January 12, 2018: Premiere of "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman"
On January 12, 2018, David Letterman's six-episode monthly series on Netflix, "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman", premiered with Barack Obama as its first guest.
May 31, 2019: Premiere of Season 2 of "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman"
On May 31, 2019, the second season of David Letterman's "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction" premiered.
October 21, 2020: Premiere of Season 3 of "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman"
On October 21, 2020, Season 3 of David Letterman's "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction" premiered, featuring guests like Kim Kardashian West, Robert Downey Jr., Dave Chappelle and Lizzo.
2020: Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing won Indianapolis 500
In 2020, Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing won the Indianapolis 500 with Takuma Sato.
2021: Letterman joined Manningcast feed of Monday Night Football
In 2021, David Letterman joined Peyton and Eli Manning on their Manningcast feed of the Monday Night Football game between the New England Patriots and Buffalo Bills.
February 1, 2022: Letterman on Late Night with Seth Meyers for 40th anniversary
On February 1, 2022, David Letterman was the guest on Late Night with Seth Meyers, marking the 40th anniversary of the franchise's debut.
May 20, 2022: Premiere of Season 4 of "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman"
On May 20, 2022, Season 4 of David Letterman's "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction" premiered with Billie Eilish as the first guest.
October 2022: Letterman interviews Volodymyr Zelenskyy in Kyiv
In October 2022, David Letterman traveled to Kyiv, Ukraine, to film a special episode of "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction," interviewing Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
November 20, 2023: Letterman returned to The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
On November 20, 2023, David Letterman returned to the Ed Sullivan Theater on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
February 10, 2025: Letterman appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
On February 10, 2025, David Letterman appeared on The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon while Paul Shaffer and the World's Most Dangerous Band were the guest house band, marking Letterman's first appearance on The Tonight Show since Johnny Carson was host.
December 1, 2025: Adam Sandler special episode premiere
On December 1, 2025, a standalone episode of "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman" featuring Adam Sandler premiered.
December 16, 2025: Premiere of Season 6 of "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman"
On December 16, 2025, Season 6 of David Letterman's "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction" premiered.
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