David Letterman

Biography

David Letterman, born in Indianapolis, built a career in television as a host, comedian and producer. He graduated from Ball State University in 1969 and began in radio and local television as an announcer and weatherman. After moving to Los Angeles in 1975 he performed stand-up at The Comedy Store, and by 1980 and 1981 he was a regular guest host on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. A morning show on NBC followed, winning two Emmy Awards before it was canceled. Late Night with David Letterman debuted on NBC in 1982, and he moved to CBS in 1993 for Late Show with David Letterman, which ran until 2015. Over the two programs he hosted 6,080 episodes, more than any other late-night host in American television. His company Worldwide Pants produced his shows and the sitcom Everybody Loves Raymond, and since 2018 he has hosted a Netflix interview series called My Next Guest Needs No Introduction.

79years old

Turns 80 on April 12in 153 days

Born April 12, 1947Indianapolis
Star sign: AriesThe sign runs March 21 to April 19
Also credited as David Michael Letterman and Earl Hofert

Movie Career

Films: 16
Career span: 38 years1984 to 2022

Genres

Documentary75%, 12 films
Comedy50%, 8 films
Biography19%, 3 films
Adventure13%, 2 films
Animation6%, 1 film

First and latest

Did you know?!

A role that slipped away
Letterman took a screen test for the lead in Airplane!, the 1980 film. That role ultimately went to Robert Hays.
Big break
When Johnny Carson retired in 1992, many fans and Carson believed Letterman would host The Tonight Show. NBC chose Jay Leno instead, so Letterman left NBC to host his own late-night CBS show.
Behind the camera
In 1991 Letterman began his own production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated, which made his show along with several other programs.
A change of course
Letterman is a co-owner of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, an auto racing team. Its Indianapolis 500 victories came in 2004 with Buddy Rice and in 2020 with Takuma Sato.

David Letterman movies on Netflix

Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special2022IMDb rating 7.5as Himself
Show Business Is My Life (But I Can't Prove It)2022IMDb rating 8.0as Himself
We Feed People2022IMDb rating 7.3as Himself
The Super Bob Einstein Movie2021IMDb rating 7.3as Himself
Between Two Ferns: The Movie2019IMDb rating 6.1as David Letterman
Mike Wallace Is Here2019IMDb rating 7.4as Himself
Andre the Giant2018IMDb rating 7.8as Himself
Bathtubs Over Broadway2018IMDb rating 7.6as Himself
Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind2018IMDb rating 7.9as Himself
Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond2017IMDb rating 7.6as Himself
An Open Secret2014IMDb rating 7.3as Himself
Earth to America2005IMDb rating 5.4as Himself
Grizzly Man2005IMDb rating 7.7as Himself
Beavis and Butt-Head Do America1996IMDb rating 6.8as Motley Crue Roadie #1 (voice)
Cabin Boy1994IMDb rating 5.4as Old Salt In Fishing Village
Steve Martin: Homage to Steve1984IMDb rating 8.0as Himself

Best known for

The films on Netflix they are best known for, with the part played in each.

Top

Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind2018 Documentaryas Himself
IMDb rating 7.910K votes
Between Two Ferns: The Movie2019 Comedyas David Letterman
IMDb rating 6.140K votes
Norm Macdonald: Nothing Special2022as Himself
IMDb rating 7.52.5K votes
Beavis and Butt-Head Do America1996as Motley Crue Roadie #1voice
IMDb rating 6.863K votes
Cabin Boy1994as Old Salt In Fishing Village
IMDb rating 5.49.7K votes
Jim & Andy: The Great Beyond2017as Himself
IMDb rating 7.629K votes
An Open Secret2014as Himself
IMDb rating 7.32.6K votes
Bathtubs Over Broadway2018as Himself
IMDb rating 7.61.3K votes

Most often with

Steve Martin appears in four of them, more than any other actor. Pick a number on the chart or a name in the list to see the films they share.

Top

Steve Martin

Will Ferrell

Donald Trump

Eric Idle

Billy Crystal

Rob Reiner

Films together

Steve Martin4 films together, 1984 to 2022
Steve Martin's page
- Show Business Is My Life (But I Can't Prove It)2022IMDb rating 8.0Letterman as HimselfMartin as Himself
- The Super Bob Einstein Movie2021IMDb rating 7.3Letterman as HimselfMartin as Himself
- Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind2018IMDb rating 7.9Letterman as HimselfMartin as Himself
- Steve Martin: Homage to Steve1984IMDb rating 8.0Letterman as HimselfMartin as Himself
Will Ferrell2 films together, 2005 to 2019
Will Ferrell's page
- Between Two Ferns: The Movie2019IMDb rating 6.1Letterman as David LettermanFerrell as Will Ferrell
- Earth to America2005IMDb rating 5.4Letterman as HimselfFerrell as Himself
Donald Trump2 films together, 2019 to 2022
Donald Trump's page
- We Feed People2022IMDb rating 7.3Letterman as HimselfTrump as Himself
- Mike Wallace Is Here2019IMDb rating 7.4Letterman as HimselfTrump as Himself
Eric Idle2 films together, 2005 to 2018
Eric Idle's page
- Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind2018IMDb rating 7.9Letterman as HimselfIdle as Himself
- Earth to America2005IMDb rating 5.4Letterman as HimselfIdle as Himself
Billy Crystal2 films together, 2018
Billy Crystal's page
- Andre the Giant2018IMDb rating 7.8Letterman as HimselfCrystal as Himself
- Robin Williams: Come Inside My Mind2018IMDb rating 7.9Letterman as HimselfCrystal as Himself
Rob Reiner2 films together, 2018 to 2021
Rob Reiner's page
- The Super Bob Einstein Movie2021IMDb rating 7.3Letterman as HimselfReiner as Himself
- Andre the Giant2018IMDb rating 7.8Letterman as HimselfReiner as Himself
Also two films together2 more actors
- Conan O'BrienNorm Macdonald: Nothing Special (2022) and Show Business Is My Life (But I Can't Prove It) (2022)
- Larry DavidThe Super Bob Einstein Movie (2021) and Earth to America (2005)
When several people share the same number of films, the ones with the most films on Netflix are in the chart.

Awards

Five awards and honors from 2007 to 2017, two of them major.

Top

David Letterman's awards and nominations, grouped by award
Year	Award	Result
Emmy Awards
	Daytime Emmy Award	Won
	Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series	Won
Other honors
2017	Mark Twain Prize for American Humor	Won
2007	Sagamore of the Wabash	Won
	Kennedy Center Honors	Won

Online

Official profiles and reference pages.

Top