Sweet Jane 61 Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 The balding, bespectacled nebbish who gained cult status as the oddball Larry "Bud" Melman on David Letterman's late-night television shows has died after a long illness. Brooklyn-born Calvert DeForest, who was 85, died Monday at a hospital on Long Island, the Letterman show announced Wednesday. He made dozens of appearances on Letterman's shows from 1982 through 2002, handling a variety of twisted duties: singing a duet with Sonny Bono on "I Got You, Babe"; doing a Mary Tyler Moore impression during a visit to Minneapolis, Minnesota, where her 1970s show was set; handing out hot towels to arrivals at New York's Port Authority Bus Terminal. Cue cards were often DeForest's television kryptonite, and his character invariably appeared in an ill-fitting black suit behind thick, black-rimmed glasses. "Everyone always wondered if Calvert was an actor playing a character, but in reality he was just himself -- a genuine, modest and nice man," Letterman said in a statement. "To our staff and to our viewers, he was a beloved and valued part of our show, and we will miss him." DeForest's gnomish face was the first to greet viewers when Letterman's NBC show debuted on Feb. 1, 1982, offering a parody of the prologue to the Boris Karloff film "Frankenstein." "It was the greatest thing that had happened in my life," he once said of his first Letterman appearance. DeForest, given the nom de tube of Larry "Bud" Melman, became a program regular. The collaboration continued when the talk show host moved to CBS to launch "Late Show with David Letterman" in 1994. The Melman character opened Letterman's first CBS show, too -- but used his real name because of a dispute with NBC over "intellectual property." DeForest, positioned inside the network's familiar eye logo, announced, "This is CBS!" DeForest often drew laughs by his bizarre juxtaposition as a "Late Show" correspondent at events such as the 1994 Winter Olympics in Norway and the Woodstock anniversary concert that year. His last appearance on "Late Show" came in 2002, celebrating his 81st birthday. DeForest also appeared in an assortment of other television shows and films, including "Nothing Lasts Forever" with Bill Murray and Dan Aykroyd. There will be no funeral service for DeForest, who left no survivors. Gonna miss you Larry "Bud", rest in peace. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Kevin Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 NO WAY ! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steel2Velvet Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 It happens. Can't ask for a whole lot more than 85. He hadn't been featured for a very long time, but you knew it was fun for him, when he was on. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcM Posted March 22, 2007 Report Share Posted March 22, 2007 That guy always made me laugh. I cant imagine having outlived everyone in my family so that would not be a service. That's kinda sad. Thanks for the laughs, "Bud." RIP Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuzikTyme Posted July 3, 2008 Report Share Posted July 3, 2008 I reckon growing too old is a curse. You watch friends and loved ones die, leaving you truly alone. The Who said it best: Hope I die before I get old Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Red Fish Posted July 3, 2008 Report Share Posted July 3, 2008 why the hell did you revive this its almost a year and a half old gosh what is wrong with you Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MuzikTyme Posted July 3, 2008 Report Share Posted July 3, 2008 I reckon I take after Jethro Tull and live in the past. Is that a sign of getting old? Living in the Past Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
miamisammy29 Posted July 3, 2008 Report Share Posted July 3, 2008 Larry Bud Melman died?......Again?! Poor guy. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Tenacious_Peaches Posted July 3, 2008 Report Share Posted July 3, 2008 That's one hell of a stupid human trick. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steel2Velvet Posted July 3, 2008 Report Share Posted July 3, 2008 When asked what Johnny Carson wanted as his epitath, he answered, "I'll be right back." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcM Posted July 4, 2008 Report Share Posted July 4, 2008 I saw the title of this thread and said to myself, "I thought he was already dead." I was right. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RonJonSurfer Posted July 9, 2008 Report Share Posted July 9, 2008 Does a talent like Larry "Bud" Mellman ever really die? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Uncle Joe Posted July 9, 2008 Report Share Posted July 9, 2008 Still dead. Dead still. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcM Posted July 10, 2008 Report Share Posted July 10, 2008 This just in! Generalisimo Francisco Franco is still dead! More later as this story develops. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steel2Velvet Posted July 10, 2008 Report Share Posted July 10, 2008 "Jane, you slut." Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MarcM Posted July 10, 2008 Report Share Posted July 10, 2008 "Jane, you ignorant slut!" Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Steel2Velvet Posted July 10, 2008 Report Share Posted July 10, 2008 Just so. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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