Discover the defining moments in the early life of David Letterman. From birth to education, explore key events.
David Letterman is an influential American television host, comedian, writer, and producer known for his long tenure in late-night television. He hosted 'Late Night with David Letterman' on NBC starting in 1982, then moved to CBS with 'Late Show with David Letterman,' ending his run in 2015. Letterman surpassed Johnny Carson to become the longest-serving late-night talk show host in American television history, hosting a total of 6,080 episodes.
On July 2, 1968, David Letterman married his college sweetheart, Michelle Cook, in Muncie, Indiana.
In 1977, David Letterman divorced his college sweetheart, Michelle Cook.
In 1978, David Letterman started a long-term cohabiting relationship with Merrill Markoe, the former head writer and producer on Late Night.
In 1981, David Letterman stopped drinking alcohol, after being a "horrible alcoholic" since the age of 11 or 13.
In February 1986, David Letterman started dating Regina Lasko.
Beginning in May 1988, David Letterman was stalked by Margaret Mary Ray, a woman with schizophrenia, who stole his Porsche, camped on his tennis court, and broke into his house.
In 1988, David Letterman's long-term cohabiting relationship with Merrill Markoe ended.
In August 1993, The Letterman Foundation for Courtesy and Grooming (LFCG) was founded as the DL Foundation. Its president and primary contributor was David Letterman, and its treasurer was Fred Nigro.
In 1995, Paul Newman had built for Letterman a Volvo 960 station wagon, which is powered by a 380-horsepower racing engine.
In 1996, David Letterman discussed his experience with tinnitus on the Late Show during an interview with William Shatner.
In October 1998, Margaret Mary Ray, David Letterman's stalker, died by suicide at age 46. Letterman expressed compassion for her to The New York Times.
On January 14, 2000, a routine checkup revealed a severely obstructed artery in David Letterman's heart, leading to emergency quintuple bypass surgery at New York Presbyterian Hospital. During his recovery, friends of Letterman, including Norm Macdonald, Drew Barrymore, and Robin Williams, introduced reruns of the Late Show.
On February 21, 2000, David Letterman returned to the Late Show after recovering from heart surgery. He brought many of the doctors and nurses who had participated in his surgery and recovery on stage.
In 2000, David Letterman had an emergency quintuple-bypass heart surgery. He later hosted a doctor and nurse who'd helped perform the surgery that saved his life. He became close friends with them.
According to LFCG's tax returns, from 2001 through 2011, LFCG donated a total of over $9.2 million to various foundations and other organizations.
Since at least 2001, the DL Foundation, whose president and primary contributor was David Letterman, was known as the American Foundation for Courtesy and Grooming.
In February 2003, David Letterman used several guest hosts (including Bill Cosby, Brad Garrett, and Whoopi Goldberg) on the show because he was diagnosed with a severe case of shingles.
On November 3, 2003, Regina Lasko gave birth to David Letterman's son, Harry Joseph Letterman.
In 2005, police discovered a plot to kidnap David Letterman's son and demand a $5 million ransom.
In March 2007, Adam Sandler, who was scheduled to be a guest, served as a guest host while David Letterman was ill with a stomach virus.
On September 7, 2007, David Letterman visited Ball State University for the dedication of the David Letterman Communication and Media Building. The $21 million facility opened for the 2007 fall semester, and Letterman delivered an emotional speech.
In 2008, Rolling Stone wrote about David Letterman's friendship with his doctors and nurses, who had helped perform the emergency quintuple-bypass heart surgery that saved his life in 2000.
On March 19, 2009, David Letterman married Regina Lasko in a quiet courthouse civil ceremony in Choteau, Montana.
According to LFCG's tax returns, from 2001 through 2011, LFCG donated a total of over $9.2 million to various foundations and other organizations.
In 2011, the American Foundation for Courtesy and Grooming, whose president and primary contributor was David Letterman, assumed the name The Letterman Foundation for Courtesy and Grooming.
In 2012, it was reported that David Letterman's car collection included ten Ferraris, eight Porsches, four Austin-Healeys, two Honda motorcycles, a Chevy pickup, and one car each from Mercedes-Benz, Jaguar, MG, Volvo, Cadillac and Pontiac.
During the taping of his show on April 3, 2014, David Letterman announced that he had informed CBS president Leslie Moonves that he would retire from hosting Late Show by May 20, 2015.
In 2015, David Letterman discussed his anxiety, stating he became calmer through Transcendental Meditation and low doses of medication.
In August 2021, David Letterman was hospitalized in Providence, Rhode Island, after hitting his head on the sidewalk and falling unconscious.
In October 2022, David Letterman traveled to Kyiv, Ukraine, to film a special standalone episode of My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman, interviewing Ukrainian president Volodymyr Zelenskyy.
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