Alan Kalter was the longtime announcer for “Late Show with David Letterman.”
- Died: October 4, 2021 (Who else died on October 4?)
- Details of death: Died at Stamford Hospital in Connecticut at the age of 78.
- We invite you to share condolences for Alan Kalter in our Guest Book.
“Late Show” and beyond
Kalter took over as “Late Show” announcer in 1995, when previous announcer Bill Wendell retired. He was Letterman’s first and only choice for the job, and he remained with the show until Letterman’s retirement in 2015. Kalter introduced the host and guests on each episode, as well as offering a one-liner at the end and participating in comedy sketches including “Alan Kalter’s Celebrity Interview.” Prior to his “Late Show” work, Kalter was the announcer for game shows including “To Tell the Truth,” “The $25,000 Pyramid,” and “The 128,000 Question.” He also did a wide variety of commercial voiceovers, including the Michelin Man.
Kalter on his favorite thing about “Late Show”
“Because it’s not totally scripted, there’s very little script in it outside of a Top 10 or a monologue, we don’t know which way Dave’s going, we don’t know which way we’re going. We write things, the writers write things – sometimes as we’re performing.” —from a 2019 interview for the Paul Leslie Hour
Tributes to Alan Kalter
Full obituary: The Hollywood Reporter
