Calvert "Larry Bud Melman" DeForest Dies

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Calvert DeForest, who became something of a folk hero as "Larry Bud Melman" on the David Letterman show, has died at age 85.

“Everyone always wondered if Calvert was an actor playing a character, but in reality he was just himself - a genuine, modest and nice man,” said Letterman in a statement.  “To our staff and to our viewers, he was a beloved and valued part of our show, and we will miss him.”

DeForest had made numerous appearances on Letterman's NBC and CBS late night shows starting in 1982.

John Eggerton
John Eggerton

Contributing editor John Eggerton has been an editor and/or writer on media regulation, legislation and policy for over four decades, including covering the FCC, FTC, Congress, the major media trade associations, and the federal courts. In addition to Multichannel News and Broadcasting + Cable, his work has appeared in Radio World, TV Technology, TV Fax, This Week in Consumer Electronics, Variety and the Encyclopedia Britannica.