David Letterman, a pioneering entertainer who was the longest-running host of late-night TV in U.S. history, was honored on Sunday for his contributions to American culture, reports Reuters.
After-hours television was built around the set-piece interview and guest appearance when Letterman’s “Late Night” broke the mold in 1982 with absurd pranks and send-ups.
Everyday viewers went on his show to present “stupid pet tricks.” Behind his desk, Letterman could be serious, dry and cerebral. But he often volunteered for oddball pranks. In one well-known stunt, he worked a shift at a Taco Bell in suburban New Jersey, taking pickup orders.
In another sketch, Letterman was dunked in water while covered in Alka Seltzer tablets.
Receiving the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center, the national showcase for arts, Letterman, 70, was praised for his imagination, comic daring and heart.
Many younger comedians, including current late-night host Jimmy Kimmel, have described Letterman as a major influence.
Before Kimmel’s on-stage tribute to Letterman, the entertainer recalled one of his favorite, offbeat moments.
Letterman hosted more than 6,000 episodes of his original “Late Night with David Letterman” on NBC and its successor on CBS, “Late Show with David Letterman,” which ended its run in May 2015.
He won multiple Emmy Awards, U.S. television’s highest honor, for his work as a writer, performer and producer.
