David Michael Letterman (born April 12, 1947, in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S.) is an award-winning American comedian, late night talk show host, television producer, philanthropist, and IRL IndyCar Series car owner. His first major success occurred on the long-running NBC television program, Late Night with David Letterman, before moving to CBS in 1993 to his current place on the Late Show.
David Letterman was born in Indianapolis, Indiana. His father was a florist who died in 1973; his mother Dorothy Letterman (née Hofert, now Dorothy Mengering) (born August 12, 1921), a Presbyterian church secretary of German descent, is an occasional figure on the show, usually at holidays and birthdays. He has an older sister, Janice, and a younger sister, Gretchen. One of his early comic influences was the Cincinnati talk show host Paul Dixon, but the person who influenced his career most was Tonight Show host Johnny Carson.
In 1969, Letterman married Michelle Cook; the marriage ended in 1977. He also had a long-term relationship with former head writer and producer on Late Night, Merrill Markoe. Letterman has one son together with his longtime girlfriend Regina Lasko, Harry Joseph, born November 3, 2003. He is named for Letterman`s father, Harry Joe Letterman. They currently reside in North Salem, New York.
David Letterman`s ironic, often absurd comedy is heavily influenced by former Tonight Show hosts Steve Allen, Johnny Carson and Jack Paar.
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