David Letterman is an American television host, comedian, writer, and producer who redefined the late-night talk show format. Born on April 12, 1947, in Indianapolis, Indiana, he attended Ball State University, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Radio and Television. He developed an early interest in broadcasting, working as a newscaster and announcer at the college’s student-run radio station, WBST, before later helping to establish another campus radio station, WAGO-AM 570 (now WCRD).

After college, Letterman worked at a local TV station in Indianapolis as a radio talk show host and, later, as an anchor and weatherman. He moved to Los Angeles in 1975 to pursue comedy, becoming a regular at The Comedy Store and, eventually, a frequent guest and guest host on The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson. His sharp, irreverent style earned him his first morning program, The David Letterman Show, in 1980; though short-lived, it won two Emmy Awards and set the stage for his late-night debut.

In 1982, Late Night with David Letterman premiered on NBC. Letterman’s experimental and often absurd humor—featuring segments like “Stupid Pet Tricks” and the “Top Ten List”—revolutionized the genre and influenced a generation of comedians. He later moved to CBS to launch The Late Show with David Letterman and remained at the helm until he retired from the daily format in 2015. After a brief hiatus from the spotlight, he returned to TV in 2018 with the Netflix series My Next Guest Needs No Introduction with David Letterman.

Letterman is married to Regina Lasko, with whom he has one son, Harry Joseph Letterman. Outside of television, he is a prominent figure in the world of motorsports as a co-owner of Rahal Letterman Lanigan Racing, which competes in the IndyCar Series