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David Letterman Biography

Birth Name:
David Michael Letterman
Birth Place:
Indianapolis, Indiana, United States
Profession
TV talk-show host, comedy writer, comedian, television producer

Fast Facts

  • Started out as a TV weatherman and congratulated a tropical storm on being upgraded to hurricane status
  • Won several Daytime Emmys in 1980 for The David Letterman Show, which was canceled after three months
  • Hosted the Academy Awards in 1995
  • Ended his fake feud with Oprah Winfrey in 2005 when she appeared on his show; he later returned the favor and was a guest on her show in 2007
  • Admitted to having relationships with some of his staffers and interns and helped foil a 2009 extortion plot against him involving these affairs
  • Co-owner of the Rahal Letterman Racing Team, which won the Indy 500 in 2004
  • Celebrated 30 years in late-night television in 2012

Awards

  • 2015Emmy-Outstanding Variety Talk Series: nominated
  • 2010Emmy-Outstanding Children's Nonfiction Program: nominated
  • 2009Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2009Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2008Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program: nominated
  • 2008Emmy-Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program: nominated
  • 2007Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program: nominated
  • 2007Emmy-Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program: nominated
  • 2006Emmy-Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program: nominated
  • 2006Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program: nominated
  • 2005People's Choice Awards-Favorite Late Night Talk Show Host: winner
  • 2005Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program: nominated
  • 2004Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program: nominated
  • 2003Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program: nominated
  • 2002Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program: nominated
  • 2001Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program: nominated
  • 2001Emmy-Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program: nominated
  • 2000Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program: nominated
  • 1999Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety or Music Program: nominated
  • 1998Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety or Music Program: nominated
  • 1998Emmy-Outstanding Performance in a Variety or Music Program: nominated
  • 1997Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety or Music Program: nominated
  • 1996Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety or Music Program: nominated
  • 1996Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1995Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1995Emmy-Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing in a Variety or Music Program: nominated
  • 1994Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series: winner
  • 1994Emmy-Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing in a Variety or Music Program: nominated
  • 1993Emmy-Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing in a Variety or Music Program: nominated
  • 1993Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1992Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program (series): nominated
  • 1992Emmy-Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing in a Variety or Music Program: nominated
  • 1991Emmy-Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program: nominated
  • 1991Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program: nominated
  • 1990Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1990Emmy-Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program: nominated
  • 1989Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program: nominated
  • 1989Emmy-Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program: nominated
  • 1988Emmy-Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program: nominated
  • 1987Emmy-Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program: winner
  • 1987Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program: nominated
  • 1986Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program: nominated
  • 1986Emmy-Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program: winner
  • 1985Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program: nominated
  • 1984Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program: nominated

Relationships

  • Michele Cook -- Ex-wife
  • Harry Joseph Letterman -- Father
  • Dorothy Mengering -- Mother
  • Gretchen -- Sister
  • Janice -- Sister
  • Harry Joseph Letterman -- Son
  • Regina Lasko -- Wife