David Letterman at 77 says retirement is both ‘a myth’ and ‘nonsense’
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David Letterman, at 77, dismisses retirement as a myth, continuing to thrive with his Netflix series and a passion for producing. [Jamie Squire/Getty Images]
David Letterman, now 77, is no longer hosting a late-night talk show, but he has no plans of slowing down. In a recent interview with GQ, the former host of The Late Show discussed his career and shared his thoughts on retirement, calling it “a myth” and “nonsense.”
When asked if he considers himself semi-retired, Letterman quickly dismissed the idea. “Retirement is a myth. Retirement is nonsense. You won’t retire,” he stated. “The human mechanism will not allow you to retire.” While the journalist pointed out that many people do retire, Letterman humorously responded, “But what do they do? Sit there and wait for, give me the name of a show, ‘Judge Judy’ to come on?”
For Letterman, the concept of retirement seems foreign. “As long as you are healthy, you still want to produce,” he explained. “And you will find ways to, once I stopped doing the show, it took me a couple of years to figure out that, oh, this is a completely different rhythm. And without the rhythm that you’re accustomed to, it’s largely unsatisfying. So you got to find something that’s important to you.”
And he certainly has. After stepping away from The Late Show in 2015, Letterman found a new outlet for his creativity with his Netflix series, My Next Guest Needs No Introduction. The show features in-depth interviews with high-profile guests, including former President Barack Obama, Kim Kardashian, and Miley Cyrus. Letterman admitted he was initially surprised by his continued involvement in the show, saying, “I’m surprised that I’m still doing it at my age.”
Despite his surprise, he still enjoys the work, noting, “On the other hand, I still get a kick out of what we’re doing.” Reflecting on his current state of work and life, he mused, “So what does that mean? I don’t know.”
Letterman’s departure from The Late Show in 2015 after 22 years of hosting marked the end of an era for late-night television. However, it hasn’t marked the end of his involvement in the world of television. In 2023, he made a guest appearance on what is now The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, reconnecting with the show that he made famous.
For Letterman, the transition from his daily talk show routine to a more occasional, but still high-profile, series has been fulfilling. But despite this shift, his desire to continue creating and producing content remains. The interview reveals that even in his 70s, Letterman still feels the drive to keep working, staying engaged with the world around him and maintaining his love for producing television.
In essence, Letterman challenges the conventional notion of retirement, suggesting that the need to create and stay active is innate for many people. His own journey demonstrates that when you’re passionate about what you do, there’s no such thing as fully stepping away. As long as he is able, Letterman plans to continue making an impact, whether in front of the camera or behind the scenes.
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