David Letterman says showbiz has made him a ‘worse person’ and finds humanity living a quiet life in Indiana

Over the past decade, David Letterman, who split from “Late Night” in 2015, has had time to reflect on the ups and downs of his career.

In a recent interview, the 77-year-old former late-night television host opened up about the challenges he faced while in show business. and explains why he thinks pressure from Hollywood has made him a worse person.

“In show business I found that I was pretending that I wasn’t a real person,” Letterman said. GQ– “In my life here in Indiana and at home with my family. I may be what I really am. And I’m sorry they didn’t cross over at any point.”

When asked if show business has made him a worse person, Letterman responded quickly.

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David Letterman stepped down from “Late Night” in 2015 after 22 years as host. (Getty Images)

“Yes, you’re right,” he said, “and I don’t know. Maybe it’s because I went through show business. I finally got that out of my system to the point where I could focus on being a better person. And I wouldn’t have gotten to this point if I hadn’t gone. Through trying to succeed in show business

“I personally feel like I am more human than I was in show business. It’s a lonely thought and there’s a lot of pressure. It’s truly something I couldn’t imagine. And I felt like it was all up to me. And it all depends on me, and that it’s all nonsense.”

Letterman, who recently launched the Letterman TV FAST Channel on Samsung TV Plus, admits that he was considered “pathetic” during most of his interviews in the ’80s and ’90s.

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Letterman said hosting late-night television has made him a worse person. (Andrew Toth/FilmMagic)

“There was something going on there,” he says. “I drank a lot in those days — that probably fueled the misery. And I guess I didn’t achieve what I had imagined, like you take Johnny. Carson went along. There’s probably no one who’s as good at acting like Johnny. Maybe there’s someone as good as Johnny. So I thought, ‘Damn, I’m not going to be as good as Johnny’ here? ‘”

Letterman walked away from “Late Night” in 2015 after hosting the show for 22 years.

“In the past few years My favorite part of the show was talking to people,” Letterman said of his experience towards the end of his run. “Because doing comedy every night, every night, every night, it’s meaningful and not just laughable, it’s hard, it’s really hard, and I’ve always been lucky to have really smart, talented men and women, writers, and I’m just – I’m going to stay. in the next room But what I like most is just talking to people.”

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Letterman began hosting “Late Night” in 1993. (Getty Images)

But along the way Indiana faces many uphill battles.

“I feel like every time I go out, There’s going to be an expectation that I can’t live up to,” he admits. “’Oh, he’s coming, he’s going to perform, he’s going to be funny, we’re going to be entertained,’ and I feel like that expectation takes quite a bit of energy. a lot So I didn’t want to lose it before or after the actual performance. who are always in desperate need of entertainment.”

These days, Letterman says he’s much happier living in Indiana. which is his hometown

“The only thing I was interested in was television. An hour of television that I was responsible for for 30 years,” he said. “That’s all I cared about. Everything collapsed, disappeared, I don’t even know if it collapsed or not, and now I have the power and broader focus to realize humanity. There are other pursuits of success.”

David Letterman, pictured with Britney Spears in 2006, has been a late-night host for more than two decades. (CBS Archives)

Even though he’s been retired from Late Night for nearly a decade, But the TV host said he was unsure if he would retire completely.

“Retirement is a myth. Retirement is a no-brainer,” said Letterman, who still hosts the talk show “My Next Guest Needs No Introduction” on Netflix.

“You will not retire. Human mechanisms will not let you retire.”

“As long as you are healthy. You still want to produce produce,” he added. “And you will find ways. When I stop showing It took me a couple of years to realize, oh, this is a completely different rhythm. And if there’s no rhythm that you’re used to It will make you dissatisfied most of the time. So you have to find something that is important to you.”

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