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fryingdutchman
03-21-2007, 08:01 PM
This is sad. I always thought that Larry "Bud" Melman was hilarious when I used to watch Letterman regularly in my younger day...

Letterman Regular 'Bud' Melman Dies
By LARRY McSHANE, Associated Press Writer
36 minutes ago


http://www.nndb.com/people/356/000026278/bud-melman.jpg
NEW YORK - 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. The 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: dueting with Sonny Bono on "I Got You, Babe," doing a Mary Tyler Moore impression during a visit to Minneapolis, handing out hot towels to arrivals at the Port Authority Bus Terminal.

"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."

The gnomish DeForest was working as a file clerk at a drug rehabilitation center when show producers, who had seen him in a New York University student's film, came calling. His was the first face 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 Melman, became a program regular. The collaboration continued when the talk show host launched "Late Show with David Letterman" on CBS in 1994.

Cue cards were often DeForest's television kryptonite, and his character inevitably appeared in an ill-fitting black suit behind thick black-rimmed glasses.

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 draw laughs by his bizarre juxtaposition as a "Late Show" correspondent at events such as the 1994 Winter Olympics in Norway or the anniversary Woodstock 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.

As per his request, there will be no funeral service for DeForest, who left no survivors. Donations can be made in his name to the Actors' Fund of America.

Nickdfresh
03-21-2007, 08:12 PM
:(

danzig
03-21-2007, 08:14 PM
He got lots of air time on Letterman's end of the year shows. A classic moment when they dressed him up as Roy Orbison.

Sweet Irony
03-21-2007, 08:30 PM
well, no 'RIP' smilie...so..."RIP Bud"...


Truthfully, I thought he died a while ago ago--but I think he did have some golden years, eh? Thats good to know...

Nickdfresh
03-21-2007, 08:57 PM
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VanHalener
03-21-2007, 09:12 PM
You cracked me up Calvert!

Thanks for the laughs!
Rest in Peace
:cato2: :daisy: :cato2:

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Jimbo5150
03-21-2007, 09:16 PM
Total Bummer Man...... :(

Always a riot!

R.I.P

He made tons of us all Smile !!

Matt White
03-21-2007, 09:21 PM
:(


"RIP Larry...Thanks for all the good times...

http://cdn.channel.aol.com/aolnews_photos/01/07/20070321191109990001

http://cdn.news.aol.com/aolnews_photos/01/05/20070321190809990001

http://www.utvs.com/knagl/images/cal/swami.gif

Diamondjimi
03-21-2007, 09:28 PM
That dude cracked me up.

R.I.P. Calvert

Antman
03-21-2007, 09:58 PM
Good night funny man. RIP.

FORD
03-21-2007, 10:13 PM
And that makes three..... (with Brad Delp and Richard Jeni)

RIP Larry "Bud" Melman :(

VanHalener
03-21-2007, 11:37 PM
Originally posted by FORD
And that makes three..... (with Brad Delp and Richard Jeni)

RIP Larry "Bud" Melman :(

I do not remember hearing anything about Jeni. Damnit, man!

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/17568683/

:cato2: :daisy: :cato2:

VanHalener
03-21-2007, 11:38 PM
sorry. dupe.

SparkieD
03-21-2007, 11:39 PM
Larry "Bud" was such a cute lil old guy. He'll be missed.

sunburst
03-22-2007, 09:53 AM
RIP Larry Bud. You rocked all!

I still remember when dave sent him around the country for an extended trip which he would report in on daily. He had this roll of hundreds and would give the excuse at every tipping opportunity "Sorry, all I have is hundreds" and then let out this bigh laugh. The guy was great. I'll miss him. .

Matt White
03-22-2007, 02:15 PM
Originally posted by sunburst
RIP Larry Bud. You rocked all!

I still remember when dave sent him around the country for an extended trip which he would report in on daily. He had this roll of hundreds and would give the excuse at every tipping opportunity "Sorry, all I have is hundreds" and then let out this bigh laugh. The guy was great. I'll miss him. .

LARRY: "David...I just want to come home...."

CLASSIC

Letterman re4sponses....

David Letterman On The Death of Calvert DeForest

"Everyone always wondered if Calvert was an actor playing a character, but in reality he was just himself - a genuine, modest and nice man," said Letterman. "To our staff and to our viewers, he was a beloved and valued part of our show, and we will miss him."

DeForest passed away on Monday, March 19 at age 85. His debut on "Late Night," as Larry Bud Melman, came in 1982, and was followed by dozens of appearances as various characters on the NBC show and on the LATE SHOW, which Letterman has hosted on CBS since 1993.

Nitro Express
03-23-2007, 04:53 AM
That guy was a television classic.