Trivia

While working as a weatherman in Indianapolis, he once congratulated a tropical storm for being upgraded to a hurricane.

Hasn't had any alcoholic beverages since 1983.

Before his heart bypass surgery, he had not missed a day due to illness in his 18 years of late-night.

Says he never uses the same tie twice in his show.

Announced his retirement on April 3, 2014, with guest star Johnny Depp.

Pencils used at his talk show desk have erasers at both ends. This is so no one is injured when he throws them.

He went to college with Jim Davis, another Indiana native who created and still writes the world famous comic strip "Garfield."

Hero is Johnny Carson.

Guest hosted The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962) 51 times.

He often does an in-joke that only his studio audience will understand. This is done by speaking with the audience before taping begins and finding out where people are from, what they do, etc. During the opening monologue, he will then make a reference to one of the audience members.

Enthusiast of Coen Brothers' films.

His production company is called Worldwide Pants.

Auditioned for the role of Ted Stryker in ¿Y dónde está el piloto? (1980).

Was a writer on the 1970s comedy series Good Times (1974), as was his current late night talk show competitor Jay Leno.

On his shows he has mentioned to both Gene Siskel and Martin Scorsese that his favorite movie is Sergio Leone's Érase una vez en el oeste (1968).

Recipient of the 2012 Kennedy Center Honors. Other recipient that year were Buddy Guy, Dustin Hoffman, Natalia Makarova, and the rock band Led Zeppelin, comprising John Paul Jones, Jimmy Page, and Robert Plant.

Married his second wife Regina Lasko in a courthouse ceremony near their ranch home in Montana.

On the last show, David Letterman held a pencil with an eraser on each end. This was a reference to his hero, Johnny Carson, who also had used such a pencil as a prop on the Tonight Show.

Funds a scholarship at Ball State University (his alma mater, class of 1969).

Has mentioned on the Late Show with David Letterman (1993) that his favorite song is The Spinners's "I'll Be Around (Whenever You Want Me)." On the July 27, 2006 broadcast, The Spinners appeared on the show, playing "I'll Be Around" with Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra.

In February 2003, an emergency group of guest hosts had to be called to fill in on the Late Show with David Letterman (1993), when Letterman was suddenly debilitated with a bout of shingles.

Early in his television career, Dave did some ring announcing work for an Indianapolis wrestling promotion run by Dick the Bruiser (Dick Afflis). Years later on NBC, Dave nicknamed his band "The World's Most Dangerous Band", based on Dick the Bruiser's nickname of "The World's Most Dangerous Wrestler".

Appeared on the cover of GQ magazine three times: July '84, June '90 and August '93.

Began a relationship with his second wife, Regina Lasko, in February of 1986; they did not marry until March 19th, 2009.

On 3 November 2003, Letterman's then-girlfriend (now his wife), Regina Lasko, gave birth to their son, Harry Joseph Letterman, named after Letterman's father, who passed away at the age of 57.

Nicknames for Paul Shaffer include "Johnny Carwash", "Wayne 'Fatboy' Ewing" and "Paul W. Shaffer."

Turned down numerous offers to host "Saturday Night Live" because he felt he was terrible at sketch comedy. His time on Mary Tyler Moore's variety show convinced him of that.

David Letterman's Mother Dorothy Mengering died at the age of 95 on April 11, 2017 just one day before David Letterman's 70th birthday.

Stopped smoking cigars in 2004.

Named one of People Magazine's "25 Most Intriguing People of 2001".

He was frequently a celebrity guest on TV game shows of the 1970s, among them The $10,000 Pyramid (1973), The Gong Show (1976), and Liar's Club (1976).

In August, Dave will celebrate 10 years as host of the 6 time consecutive Emmy Award winning CBS show Late Show with David Letterman (1993). (febrero de 2003)

Is a fan of the cartoon "Beavis and Butthead" (1993).

In 2007, Forbes Magazine estimated his earnings for the year at $40 million.

Once petitioned to get a highway in his hometown named "the Dave Letterman Bypass" as a reference to his heart bypass surgery. Businesses in Indianapolis referred to the highway as "The Dave" for a short time.

At one time was a part owner of the Seattle Mariners, courtesy of then-owner, Jeff Smulyan, as he gave Letterman shares of his company, Emmis Communications, which included the Mariners (Letterman was given about 1%).

His father, Joe Letterman, was a florist who died of a heart attack in 1973. Mother Dorothy Mengering remarried in 1983 to Hans Mengering.

Had a running gag with Indianapolis radio station WNAP during the 1970s. He would telephone in comedic "reports", allegedly from the Indiana State Fair, using the name Moferd Pardo.

Wrote jokes for Jimmie 'JJ' Walker's stand-up act and his series Good Times (1974).

Friends with Bill Cosby, Regis Philbin, Julia Roberts, Steve Martin, Martin Short, Jimmy Kimmel, Amy Schumer, Paul Shaffer, and Jimmie Walker .

Owns vacation home on St. Bart's.

Just won as a car owner in the Indy 500 (5-30-04) with co-owner Bobby Rahal and winner Buddy Rice.

Owns a ranch just outside of Choteau, Montana.

Attended Broad Ripple High School. Was voted Class Smart Alec.

Underwent quintuple bypass surgery on 14 January 2000.

Worked as a grocery bagger in Indianapolis in high school.

Sister Gretchen is journalist, editor of St. Petersburg Times (FL) Lifestyles section.

His father had English, Scots-Irish, and German ancestry. His mother's family was of German descent.

Allegedly, he will not stay for longer than five minutes for an on-location cameo appearance in any given film, which may be why Letterman doesn't really "appear" on stage with Jim Carrey and Jerry Lawler in El lunático (1999), but rather is a special-effects image, like a cut-and-paste.

Inducted Pearl Jam into The Rock and Roll Hall of Fame April 7, 2017. Neil Young was originally supposed to induct the band, but Young was forced to back out due to illness. The induction ceremony was held at the Barclays Center in Brooklyn, New York.