Calvert DeForest, best known as the diminutive, maniacally laughing Larry “Bud” Melman from David Letterman’s talk shows, has died at age 85. There’s probably no figure who captures the brilliant absurdity of Letterman, especially his early years, than DeForest, who appeared for years as Dave’s regular figure of bizarre, sprite-ish hilarity. When Letterman moved to CBS, NBC claimed the character of Larry “Bud” as its intellectual property; nobody else could claim his spirit, though.
If I can find an audio/video file I can post legally, I’ll do it; you can’t really capture DeForest without that signature laugh. In the meantime, Larry “Bud,” we salute you: AH-hahahahahaha!