Editing David Letterman (section)

== Personal life ==

Letterman has [[tinnitus]], a symptom of [[hearing loss]]. On the ''Late Show'' in 1996, he talked about his experience with tinnitus during an interview with [[William Shatner]], who has severe tinnitus caused by an on-set explosion. Letterman has said that he was initially unable to pinpoint the noise inside his head and that he hears a constant ringing in his ears.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.dailymotion.com/video/x96y7t_david-letterman-with-william-shatne_shortfilms|title=David Letterman with William Shatner – March, 1996!!|first=Ray |last=Glasser|work=Dailymotion}}</ref>

Letterman no longer drinks alcohol. On more than one occasion, he said that he had once been a "horrible alcoholic" and had begun drinking around the age of 11 or 13 and continued until 1981 when he was 34. He has said that in 1981, "I was drunk 80% of the time ... I loved it. I was one of those guys, I looked around, and everyone else had stopped drinking and I couldn't understand why."<ref>"[https://www.netflix.com/title/81747800 My Next Guest with David Letterman and John Mulaney]". ''Netflix''. April 30, 2024.</ref><ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmQcHhV9ChM&t=3m49s| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150520022547/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NmQcHhV9ChM&t=3m49s| archive-date=2015-05-20|title=Aubrey Plaza Interview with David Letterman|work=YouTube}}</ref><ref>{{cite AV media|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HBF8LIr8RG4&t=7m34s| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211028/HBF8LIr8RG4| archive-date=2021-10-28|title=Amanda Seyfried al David Letterman 12-12-2012|date=December 13, 2012|work=YouTube}}{{cbignore}}</ref> When he was shown drinking what appears to be alcohol on the ''Late Show'', it was actually apple juice.<ref>{{cite web|url=http://www.cbs.com/shows/late_show/wahoo_gazette/160277/|title=Show #3715|date=21 August 2012|website=Late Show with David Letterman Wahoo Gazette|publisher=CBS|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140410145118/http://www.cbs.com/shows/late_show/wahoo_gazette/160277/|archive-date=10 April 2014}}</ref>

In 2015, Letterman said of his anxiety: "For years and years and years—30, 40 years—I was anxious and [[hypochondriac]]al and an alcoholic, and many, many other things that made me different from other people." He became calmer through a combination of [[Transcendental Meditation]] and low doses of medication.<ref name="rollingstone">{{cite news|title=David Letterman Says Goodbye: Inside Rolling Stone's New Issue|author=Mark Seliger |newspaper=[[Rolling Stone]]|date=May 6, 2015|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-news/david-letterman-says-goodbye-inside-rolling-stones-new-issue-52611/|access-date=May 31, 2022}}</ref> Letterman is a [[Presbyterian]], a religious tradition he was originally brought up in by his mother,<ref>{{Citation|last=Jimmy Kimmel Live|title=Jimmy Kimmel's FULL INTERVIEW with David Letterman|date=October 17, 2017|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2YGrrsKs-Xg| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211028/2YGrrsKs-Xg| archive-date=2021-10-28|access-date=October 20, 2017}}{{cbignore}}</ref> though he once said he was motivated by "[[Lutheran]], Midwestern guilt".<ref name="latimes1">{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-2009-oct-03-et-letterman-critic3-story.html|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|title=David Letterman comes clean without telling all|first=Mary |last=McNamara |date=October 3, 2009 |access-date=May 31, 2022}}</ref>

In August 2021, Letterman was hospitalized in [[Providence, Rhode Island]], after hitting his head on the sidewalk and falling unconscious. He favorably recalled the care he received at [[Rhode Island Hospital]] in a video released by the hospital's owner.<ref name="providence">{{cite news|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/news/us-news/letterman-thanks-rhode-island-hospital-care-struck-head-fell-unconscio-rcna23691|newspaper=[[NBC News]]|title=Letterman thanks Rhode Island hospital for care after he struck his head, fell unconscious|date=April 8, 2022 |access-date=April 10, 2022}}</ref>

===Marriages, relationships, and family===
[[File:David Letterman Tells Neal Brennan Why He Regrets Having Kids Too Late.webm|thumb|right|Letterman on becoming a father late in life, 2022]]
On July 2, 1968,<ref name="youtube=EJ46v_EDolg">{{cite web |author1=[[Late Night with David Letterman]] |title=Eva Gabor |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EJ46v_EDolg |website=[[YouTube]] |access-date=15 December 2022 |language=en |date=1986}}</ref> Letterman married his college sweetheart, Michelle Cook, in Muncie, Indiana; they divorced in 1977.<ref>{{cite news|last=Goldman|first=Russell|title=Sex Scandal Sheds Light on David Letterman's Love Life|url=https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/sex-scandal-sheds-light-david-lettermans-love-life/story?id=8737083|work=ABC News|date=October 2, 2009|access-date=September 30, 2014}}</ref> He also had a long-term cohabiting relationship with the former head writer and producer on ''Late Night'', [[Merrill Markoe]], from 1978 to 1988. Markoe created several ''Late Night'' staples, such as "Stupid Pet/Human Tricks".<ref name="Time">{{cite news |title=Pet Tricks |author=Amelia Weiss |newspaper=[[Time (magazine)|Time]] |date=June 1, 1992 |url=https://content.time.com/time/subscriber/article/0,33009,975648,00.html|access-date=April 5, 2021}}</ref> ''Time'' magazine wrote that theirs was the defining relationship of Letterman's career, with Markoe also acting as his writing partner. She "put the surrealism in Letterman's comedy."<ref>Daniel D'Addario, "Biography A TV traditionalist with a weird streak," ''Time'', April 17, 2017, p.&nbsp;56.</ref>

Letterman and Regina Lasko started dating in February 1986, while he was still living with Markoe. Lasko gave birth to their son, Harry Joseph Letterman, on November 3, 2003. Harry is named after Letterman's father.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/letterman-its-a-boy/ |title=Letterman: It's A Boy!, 'Late Show' Host, Girlfriend Have 9 Pound, 11 Ounce Son|work=[[CBS News]] |date=November 4, 2003}}</ref> In 2005, police discovered a plot to kidnap Letterman's son and demand a $5 million ransom. Kelly Frank, a house painter who had worked for Letterman, was charged in the conspiracy.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2005/SHOWBIZ/TV/03/17/letterman.plot/index.html|title=Montana man charged with Letterman plot|publisher=CNN|date=March 17, 2005 |access-date=May 1, 2010}}</ref>

Letterman and Lasko wed on March 19, 2009, in a quiet courthouse civil ceremony in [[Choteau, Montana]], where he had purchased a ranch in 1999.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://people.com/celebrity/david-letterman-marries-longtime-girlfriend-regina-lasko/|title=David Letterman Weds!|work=People|date=March 23, 2009|access-date=May 31, 2022}}</ref><ref name=letterman2>{{cite web|url=http://www.gadling.com/2009/03/25/choteau-montana-lettermans-hangout-is-a-gem-of-a-town|title=Great American Road Trip: Choteau, Montana, Letterman's Hangout is a Gem of a Town|last=Rhein|first=Jamie|work=Gadling|publisher=AOL Travel|date=March 25, 2009|access-date=August 7, 2011}}</ref><ref name=letterman3>{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/heartfelt-thanks-from-letterman/|title=Heartfelt Thanks From Letterman|work=CBS News|date=February 11, 2009|access-date=September 3, 2011}}</ref> Letterman announced the marriage during the taping of his show of March 23, shortly after congratulating [[Bruce Willis]] on his marriage the week before. Letterman told the audience he nearly missed the ceremony because his truck became stuck in mud two miles from their house.<ref>{{cite news|last=Snead|first=Elizabeth|title=David Letterman (finally) gets hitched to Regina Lasko|work=[[Los Angeles Times]]|date=March 23, 2009|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedishrag/2009/03/ok-theres-somet.html|access-date=March 26, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090325215551/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/thedishrag/2009/03/ok-theres-somet.html |archive-date=March 25, 2009}}</ref> The family resides in [[North Salem, New York]], on a {{convert|108|acre|hectare|adj=on}} estate.<ref>{{Cite magazine|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/style/2010/04/letterman-201004|title=Big Trouble at 11:35|date=March 2, 2010|magazine=Vanity Fair}}</ref>

=== Friendship with Foo Fighters ===
[[File:Foo Fighters - Rock am Ring 2018-5671 (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Dave Grohl]] was a frequent guest on ''The Late Show'' and performed on the program several times with [[Foo Fighters]] between 1995 and 2014]]
Letterman has had a close relationship with the [[Rock music|rock]] band [[Foo Fighters]] since its appearance on his first show upon his return from heart surgery. The band appeared many times on the ''Late Show'', including a week-long stint in October 2014. While introducing the band's performance of "[[Miracle (Foo Fighters song)|Miracle]]" on the October 17, 2014, show, Letterman told the story of how a souvenir video of himself and his four-year-old son learning to ski used the song as background music, unbeknownst to Letterman until he saw it. He said: "This is the second song of theirs that will always have great, great meaning for me for the rest of my life". This was the first time the band had heard this story.<ref>{{cite web |date=October 17, 2014 |title=Foo Fighters – Miracle [Live on David Letterman] |url=https://www.dailymotion.com/video/x284e70 |access-date=December 29, 2017 |website=dailymotion}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |last1=Bradley |first1=Laura |date=May 21, 2015 |title=A Brief History of David Letterman's Love for the Foo Fighters |url=https://slate.com/culture/2015/05/a-brief-history-of-david-letterman-s-love-for-the-foo-fighters.html |access-date=May 31, 2022 |website=Slate}}</ref> Worldwide Pants co-produced [[Dave Grohl]]'s ''[[Foo Fighters: Sonic Highways|Sonic Highways]]'' TV series. "Letterman was the first person to get behind this project", Grohl said.<ref>{{cite magazine |last1=Kreps |first1=Daniel |date=May 20, 2015 |title=Foo Fighters to Serve as Letterman's Final Musical Guest |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-news/foo-fighters-to-serve-as-lettermans-final-musical-guest-65487/ |access-date=May 31, 2022 |magazine=Rolling Stone}}</ref> 

During Letterman's last show, on which Foo Fighters appeared, Letterman said that Foo Fighters had been in the middle of a South American tour that they canceled to play on his comeback episode.<ref>{{cite web |date=May 21, 2015 |title=David Letterman says goodbye after 33 hilarious years |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/david-letterman-says-goodbye-after-33-hilarious-years/ |access-date=September 24, 2019 |publisher=CBS News}}</ref>

{{anchor|Extortion attempt and revelation of affairs}}

=== Extortion attempt and revelation of affairs ===
On October 1, 2009, Letterman announced on his show that he had been the victim of a [[blackmail]] attempt by a person threatening to reveal his sexual relationships with several of his female employees—a fact Letterman immediately thereafter confirmed.<ref>{{cite news| url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2009/10/david-letterman-on-extortion-attempt-i-felt-menaced-by-this.html| title=David Letterman on extortion attempt: 'I felt menaced by this'| first=Matea| last=Gold| newspaper=Los Angeles Times| date= October 2, 2009}}</ref> He said that someone had left a package in his car with material he said he would write into a screenplay and a book if Letterman did not pay him $2 million. Letterman said that he contacted the [[Manhattan District Attorney]]'s office and partook in a [[sting operation]] that involved the handover of a fake check to the extortionist.<ref name="CBS">{{cite news| url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/robert-joe-halderman-48-hours-producer-named-in-david-letterman-sex-extortion-plot/|title=Robert Joe Halderman, 48 Hours Producer, Named in David Letterman Sex Extortion Plot|first=Edecio|last=Martinez|work=CBS News|date=October 2, 2009}}</ref>

[[Joe Halderman]], a producer of the CBS news magazine television series ''[[48 Hours (TV series)|48 Hours]]'', was arrested around noon (EST) on October 1, 2009, after trying to deposit the check. He was indicted by a Manhattan grand jury following testimony from Letterman and pleaded not guilty to a charge of attempted [[grand larceny]] on October 2, 2009.<ref name=Reuters1002>{{cite news|url=https://www.reuters.com/article/us-letterman-extortion/suspect-in-letterman-extortion-pleads-not-guilty-idINTRE5910GR20091002|title=Suspect in Letterman extortion pleads not guilty|date=September 2, 2009| last=Honan|first=Edith|work=Reuters|access-date=May 31, 2022}}</ref> Halderman pleaded guilty in March 2010 and was sentenced to six months in prison, followed by probation and community service.<ref>{{cite news|title=Ex-CBS producer Robert Halderman pleads guilty to blackmailing David Letterman over intern affairs| date=March 9, 2010| access-date=May 31, 2022|newspaper=[[Daily News (New York)|Daily News]] |url=https://www.nydailynews.com/entertainment/tv-movies/ex-cbs-producer-robert-halderman-pleads-guilty-blackmailing-david-letterman-intern-affairs-article-1.174178|first1=Melissa|last1=Grace|first2=Christina|last2=Boyle|first3=Larry|last3=McShane}}</ref>

A central figure in the case and one of the women with whom Letterman had had a sexual relationship was his longtime personal assistant [[Stephanie Birkitt]], who often appeared on the show. She had also worked for ''48 Hours''.<ref name="huffpo">{{cite news| url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/10/02/stephanie-birkitt-letterm_n_307558.html|title=Stephanie Birkitt|last=Shea|first=Danny|date=October 2, 2009|newspaper=[[The Huffington Post]]|access-date=October 2, 2009}}</ref> Until a month before the revelations, she had shared a residence with Halderman,<ref name="NYT1">{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/10/03/business/media/03extort.html|title=Letterman Extortion Raises Questions for CBS|first1=Bill| last1=Carter|first2=Brian|last2=Stelter| newspaper=[[The New York Times]]|date=October 2, 2009}}</ref> who allegedly had copied her personal diary and used it, along with private emails, in the blackmail package.<ref name="diary">{{cite news|url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/stephanie-birkitt-photo-secret-diary-at-center-of-letterman-sex-extortion-say-cops/|title=Stephanie Birkitt Secret Diary at Center of Letterman Sex Extortion, Say Cops|date=October 5, 2009|newspaper=CBS News|agency=Associated Press|access-date=October 5, 2009}}</ref>

In the days following the initial announcement of the affairs and the arrest, several prominent women, including [[Kathie Lee Gifford]], co-host of NBC's ''[[Today (NBC program)|Today Show]]'', and NBC news anchor [[Ann Curry]], questioned whether Letterman's affairs with subordinates created an unfair working environment.<ref name=bauder>{{cite news|title=Will women viewers turn away from Letterman?|agency=Associated Press|date=October 4, 2009|access-date=October 4, 2009| url=http://www.today.com/id/33167148/ns/today-entertainment/t/will-women-viewers-turn-away-letterman| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180101135310/http://www.today.com/id/33167148/ns/today-entertainment/t/will-women-viewers-turn-away-letterman| archive-date=January 1, 2018}}</ref> A spokesman for Worldwide Pants said that the company's [[sexual harassment]] policy did not prohibit sexual relationships between managers and employees.<ref name=latimesharassment>{{cite news|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/la-et-letterman3-2009oct03-story.html|title=David Letterman affair is no joke|first1=Matea|last1=Gold|first2=Scott|last2=Collins|date=October 3, 2009|access-date=October 4, 2009|newspaper=[[Los Angeles Times]]|quote='We have a written policy in our employee manual that covers harassment', the spokesman said in a statement. 'It is circulated to every employee every year. Dave is not in violation of our policy and no one has ever raised a complaint against him.'}}</ref> According to business news reporter Eve Tahmincioglu, "CBS suppliers are supposed to follow the company's business conduct policies" and the CBS 2008 Business Conduct Statement states that "If a consenting romantic or sexual relationship between a supervisor and a direct or indirect subordinate should develop, CBS requires the supervisor to disclose this information to his or her Company's Human Resources Department".<ref>{{cite web|title=Sleeping with the boss often leads to trouble: Policies on workplace romances aim to limit legal liabilities|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/33146450|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200728120211/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/33146450|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 28, 2020|first=Eve|last=Tahmincioglu|date=October 4, 2009|access-date=October 4, 2009|work=[[NBC News]]|quote=If a consenting romantic or sexual relationship between a supervisor and a direct or indirect subordinate should develop, CBS requires the supervisor to disclose this information to his or her Company's Human Resources Department to ensure that there are no issues of actual or apparent favoritism, [[conflict of interest]], [[sexual harassment]], or any other negative impact on others in the work environment.}}</ref>

On October 3, 2009, [[TMZ]] reported that a former CBS employee, Holly Hester, had had a yearlong secret affair with Letterman in the early 1990s while she was his intern and a student at [[New York University]].<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://gothamist.com/news/former-letterman-intern-lover-i-was-madly-in-love-with-him|title=Former Letterman Intern-Lover: "I Was Madly In Love With Him"|date=October 4, 2009|website=Gothamist}}</ref> On October 5, 2009, Letterman devoted a segment of his show to a public apology to his wife and staff.<ref name=msnbcapology>{{cite news|url=https://www.today.com/popculture/letterman-apologizes-horribly-hurt-wife-1C9404523|title=Letterman apologizes to 'horribly hurt' wife
|agency=Associated Press|publisher=Today|date=October 5, 2009| access-date=May 31, 2022}}</ref><ref name=cnnapology>{{cite news|url=http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/TV/10/05/david.letterman.apology|title=Letterman makes in-studio apology to wife, staffers|author=Doug Ganley|publisher=CNN|date=October 5, 2009|access-date= October 5, 2009|display-authors=etal}}</ref> Three days later, Worldwide Pants announced that Birkitt had been placed on a "paid leave of absence" from the ''Late Show''.<ref name=telegraph>{{cite news|title=David Letterman's former mistress Stephanie Birkitt banned from Late Show set|date=October 8, 2009|access-date=October 12, 2009|work=[[The Daily Telegraph]]|location=London|url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/6271085/David-Lettermans-former-mistress-Stephanie-Birkitt-banned-from-Late-Show-set.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220111/https://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/worldnews/northamerica/6271085/David-Lettermans-former-mistress-Stephanie-Birkitt-banned-from-Late-Show-set.html |archive-date=January 11, 2022 |url-access=subscription |url-status=live}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

=== Stalking incidents ===
Beginning in May 1988, Letterman was stalked by [[Margaret Mary Ray]], a woman with [[schizophrenia]]. She stole his [[Porsche]], camped out on his tennis court, and repeatedly broke into his house. Her exploits drew national attention, with Letterman occasionally joking about her on his show, though he never named her. After she died by suicide at age 46 in October 1998, Letterman told ''The New York Times'' that he had great compassion for her.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1998/11/22/nyregion/behind-jokes-life-pain-delusion-for-letterman-stalker-mental-illness-was-family.html|title=For Letterman Stalker, Mental Illness Was Family Curse and Scarring Legacy|work=The New York Times|first=Frank|last=Bruni|date=November 22, 1998|access-date=May 1, 2010}}</ref> A spokesperson for Letterman said: "This is a sad ending to a confused life."<ref>Stewart, Babara, [https://www.nytimes.com/1998/10/07/nyregion/the-woman-who-stalked-letterman-is-a-suicide.html "The Woman Who Stalked Letterman Is a Suicide"], ''The New York Times'', October 7, 1998; retrieved September 11, 2013.</ref>

In 2005, a woman was able to obtain a [[restraining order]] from a [[New Mexico]] judge, prohibiting Letterman from contacting her. She claimed he had sent her coded messages via his television program, causing her bankruptcy and emotional distress.<ref>[http://volokh.com/files/lettermanapp.pdf Nester's petition], from the [[Volokh Conspiracy]] accessed 15 June 2019</ref><ref>[http://volokh.com/files/lettermantro.pdf Judge Daniel Sanchez's restraining order], from the [[Volokh Conspiracy]] accessed 15 June 2019</ref> Law professor [[Eugene Volokh]] called the case "patently [[frivolous lawsuit|frivolous]]".<ref>Volokh, Eugene. [http://volokh.com/posts/1135193403.shtml Is This Some Solstice Fool's Joke?] The Volokh Conspiracy, 21 December 2005; retrieved 15 June 2019</ref>

=== Interests ===
Letterman is a car enthusiast and owns an extensive collection. In 2012, it was reported that the collection consisted of ten [[Ferrari]]s, eight [[Porsche]]s, four [[Austin-Healey]]s, two [[Honda]] motorcycles, a [[Chevy]] pickup, and one car each from automakers [[Mercedes-Benz]], [[Jaguar Cars|Jaguar]], [[MG Cars|MG]], [[Volvo]], [[Cadillac]] and [[Pontiac (automobile)|Pontiac]].<ref>{{cite web|last1=Koonz|first1=Brian|title=David Letterman's 10 Ferraris stored at Danbury warehouse|url=http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/David-Letterman-s-10-Ferraris-stored-at-Danbury-3518591.php|website=Connecticut Post|date=April 29, 2012|access-date=February 22, 2017|archive-date=February 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170223041335/http://www.ctpost.com/local/article/David-Letterman-s-10-Ferraris-stored-at-Danbury-3518591.php|url-status=dead}}</ref> He often drives two electric vehicles, a [[Tesla S|Tesla Model S]] and a [[Mercedes-Benz|Mercedes]].

In his 2013 appearance on ''[[Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee]]'', part of [[Jerry Seinfeld]]'s conversation with Letterman was filmed in Letterman's [[Volvo 900 Series#1994–1998|1995 Volvo 960 station wagon]], which is powered by a 380-horsepower racing engine. [[Paul Newman]] had the car built for Letterman.<ref>{{cite web|last1=Locker|first1=Melissa|title=Watch Jerry Seinfeld and David Letterman in ''Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee''|url=http://www.ifc.com/2013/06/watch-jerry-seinfeld-and-david-letterman-in-comedians-in-cars-getting-coffee|website=IFC|publisher=AMC Networks|access-date=March 11, 2017}}</ref>