Having any sort of relationship with David Letterman is notoriously difficult. The former Late Show host and stand-up comedian is as reclusive as they come. Not only that, but he is hilariously uncomfortable with public displays of affection. But many celebrities have done everything they can to have a relationship with David due to the fact that they adore him, respect him, and find him hilarious. This includes Star Wars' Mark Hamill, who grew up idolizing David, and one of David's most frequent Late-Night Guests, radio legend Howard Stern. But there was probably no one who admired David Letterman as much as the late Norm Macdonald.
The Canadian comedian recently lost his life after privately fighting cancer for nine years. So much about Norm's life was kept to himself. After all, he was nearly as reclusive as David Letterman. And yet, throughout his life, Norm had expressed some truly beautiful sentiments about the late-night talk show host. Here's the truth about their relationship...
They Had No Private Relationship But David Held A Very Important Position In Norm's Life
Because of David Letterman's reclusive nature, Norm Macdonald never actually had a private relationship with him. However, the two built as close of a connection as possible through his many appearances on The Late Show. During a 2016 interview on The Howard Stern Show, Norm spoke at length about his experience on talk shows. While he initially got the opportunity to appear on The Tonight Show, he really found a home on The Late Show.
"Letterman was my career guy," Norm said to Howard about how David gave him a major shot by asking him to do stand-up on his show numerous times as he was a rising star.
"[Dave] once said, 'If we could have Norm on every week, we would've,'" Howard said. "And then he said the ultimate compliment, 'There may be people as funny as Norm but I don't know anybody funnier.' That had to floor you, right? That meant something?"
"Yeah, that'll buckle your knees."
The connection between Norm and Dave was palpable. And their respect was mutual. So much so that Dave asked Norm to be the last stand-up comedian to perform on his show before he retired from his hosting duties in 2015.
After doing his final set on The Late Show With David Letterman, Norm took a moment to say a few kind words about the host. In his speech, Norm began to break down and explained the true impact that David has had on his career.
"We all know that David Letterman was the greatest talk show host that ever lived," Norm said to the audience while aggressively holding back tears. "I remember Dave differently because the first time I saw him I was 13-years-old and I was living in --- I was living in Toronto, Canada, and I went to a talk show they had there and David Letterman was the stand-up comedian on the show. And I loved stand-up. And David Letterman did this joke that I loved this joke. I tell everybody this joke. It still stays with me as my favorite stand-up joke ever."
After performing the joke, Norm went on to explain how much he loved David. By the end of this heartfelt moment, Norm was in tears and the ever-uncomfortable David came down to embrace him.
In his interview with Howard Stern, Norm admitted that he had no intention to go out and be that sentimental. "I wanted to say something, but it wasn't that," Norm explained. Following Norm's touching moment, David whispered something private in his ear. Norm told Howard that it was incredibly touching and something that he'd remember for the rest of his life.
"Although I have no backstage experience with [David] at all, just the things he's talked to me about in-between commercials and stuff like that, I always felt so close to him. I really felt like he was a type of father figure. That he was my father figure.
David's Feelings About Norm
When Norm passed away, countless comedians shared their personal experiences and feelings about the Canadian comic. Among the many public eulogies was one from David Letterman.
"In every important way, in the world of stand-up, Norm was the best," David said. "An opinion shared by me and all peers. Always up to something, never certain, until his matter-of-fact delivery leveled you. I was always delighted by his bizarre mind and earnest gaze. (I’m trying to avoid using the phrase, ‘twinkle in his eyes’). He was a lifetime Cy Young winner in comedy. Gone, but impossible to forget."
While their relationship wasn't one of shared dinners, golf games, or weddings, it was deeply authentic in their own way. There's no doubt that David, like many of Norm's fans, will deeply miss him forever.
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