David Letterman’s Mix-Up with Dick Van Dyke
David Letterman, the former host of “The Late Show,” recently shared a humorous incident where a fan confused him with Dick Van Dyke. During an appearance on “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” he joked about the need for a name tag as he ages.
Reflecting on his past, he noted how recognition has changed over the years. “People used to know me, but now I have to wear a name tag to do everything,” the 78-year-old comedian said.
He recounted a recent visit to a farmers market when someone approached him with a puzzling question. “A guy came up and said, ‘Excuse me, are you who I think I am?'” Letterman laughed, adding that he replies with, “Well, it depends on who you think I am,” prompting chuckles. The conversation took an amusing turn when the man guessed, “Dick Van Dyke,” to which Letterman responded, “No! What?”
While both are titans in the entertainment world, Van Dyke, who turns 100 on December 13, is two decades older than Letterman. In honor of this milestone, PBS is airing a documentary titled “American Masters – Starring Dick Van Dyke” that explores his lengthy career and personal struggles.
Documentary director John Sheinfeld remarked on the project, noting, “In the 10 months we worked on this, not a single person had a bad word to say about Dick.” This kind of sentiment is refreshing, especially in an industry where mixed opinions often arise.
In a fun anecdote, producers Zach Balin and Kate Sussman recalled how Letterman once visited their set while they were filming in Tribeca. Sussman mentioned that Letterman ended up behind the monitor watching them work, presumably because he was locked out of his apartment.
During his conversation with Kimmel, Letterman reflected on how his audience has changed. He remembered past interactions where younger viewers would express their nightly devotion to his show. “Now, I hear, ‘My mom watches you every night, and she really misses you,'” he added. He even shared a story about wanting to show a photo of Kimmel to his grandfather, alluding to their shared viewing experience in the hospital.
