Tuesday, April 13, 2010

Iconic TV role: Calvert DeForest

Related to radio pioneer Lee DeForest, Calvert DeForest achieved his 15 minutes of fame as the enigmatic Larry "Bud"Melman on "The Late Show with David Letterman."

DeForest began his career working for Big Pharma firm Parke Davis. The short, roundish, gnome-like man with a big, happy smile became interested in acting and found roles in a few less than notable movies before ending up on Letterman's show in the early 1980s. He was such a contrast to the svelte, toothpaste model-like celebrities who so often appear on that show that he was an immediate hit with the audience.

DeForest appeared on that show until 2000, when, at 81, he retired. He died in 2007 at age 85. As an actor, he didn't really do much, but we were happier just from having seen him.

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