Letterman regular 'Bud' Melman dies

[ls317]

Source: Yahoo

NEW YORK - The balding, bespectacled nebbish who gained cult status as the oddball Larry "Bud" Melman on David Letterman's late night television shows has died after a long illness. The Brooklyn-born Calvert DeForest, who was 85, died Monday at a hospital on Long Island, the Letterman show announced Wednesday. He made dozens of appearances on Letterman's shows from 1982 through 2002, handling a variety of twisted duties: dueting with Sonny Bono on "I Got You, Babe," doing a Mary Tyler Moore impression during a visit to Minneapolis, handing out hot towels to arrivals at the Port Authority Bus Terminal.

Read more: http://news.yahoo.com/s/ap/20070321/ap_en_tv/obit_larry_bud_melman

[Beelzebud]

1. RIP Bud.

He always cracked me up on Letterman.

[AlCzervik]

2. thats sad but to be honest i thought he died a few years ago.

[rocktivity]

3. RIP and LOL, Bud

:headbang:
rocknation

[KT2000]

4. I still remember

the bit where letterman sent him on the road in an RV. When it came time for his bit, he just told Letterman he wanted to come home - NEW! He hated the trip.
Hope he had as much fun with his part of the show as we did watching.
RIP Mr. Melman-DeForest

[Spiffarino]

19. Oh god, I felt so sorry for him!

Poor guy. Dave was a good sport about it as I recall.

[Canuckistanian]

20. I remember that

It was kind of pathetic - Calvert said he didn't want to do any of the stuff Dave asked him to and just wanted to go home. Dave ended up looking like a schmuck for pushing him to do it.

Still, he was a funny guy and he played his role well. I always liked him.

Good Night, Calvert DeForest.

[Beaverhausen]

5. "Care for a hot towel"

Oh god, he was so funny!

Thanks for the laughs, Calvert. Rest in peace.

[Howardx]

6. he called the space needle in seattle

" a rotating denny's on stilts" :)

[CrazyOrangeCat]

7. he was a funny, funny guy.

[Cooley Hurd]

8. Anyone who came of age in the 80's can appreciate this loss...

:(

Rest in Peace, Mr DeForest.

[hang a left]

32. He was on a show before Letterman

But for the heck of me I can't remember.

When he showed up on Letterman, I remember thinking "hey that's the guy from..."

[LisaM]

9. Oh, that's too bad

I didn't think he was already dead, but then again, he never looked very healthy to me.

I think NBC refused to allow Dave to take the Larry "Bud" Melman name with him.

[antonialee839]

10. Goodbye Larry Bud Melman

I loved you on Letterman. You were the greatest.

[BeyondGeography]

11. He added some personality to the country during a bland and awful time

A refreshing breath of stale air amongst the phony freshness of the Reagan era. At least that's what he represented to me. Many thanks, Bud.

[Toucano]

12. So long, Bud!

You brought me a lot of joy.

[mitchum]

13. Rest In Peace, Mr DeForest

[kskiska]

14. "So long, suckers!!!"

Loved him. Don't know why Dave dropped him.
R.I.P., Bud.

[Spiffarino]

17. Probably left because he was sick

The obit mentioned he died "after a long illness." I doubt Dave dropped him.

He was a beloved character on Letterman's show and he'll be sorely missed.

[high density]

15. He was great

RIP!

[Bragi]

16. Thanks Bud! /nt

[Spiffarino]

18. Anybody remember the short film "King of the Zs"?

There was a great old short called "King of the Zs" that used to play on HBO in the late 70s or early 80s. It was a fake documentary about the world's cheapest movie producer who was renowned for making the most godawful movies ever. Calvert DeForest played the guy who ended each film with the phrase, "This has been a Minkman production," followed by short walk in the wrong direction, a turn, and a walk-off. His delivery and expression were hilariously deadpan. No wonder Letterman loved him.

Thanks for the years of laughs, Larry Bud. You may not have had any family left, but you had millions of friends.

[CrazyOrangeCat]

23. Well said.

The guy really didn't need to say much . . . his deadpan expression always cracked us up!

[The Doctor.]

21. OMG!

He was one of my favorite regulars.

How many times did he say 'you can kiss my ass' to David?

Loved him in the Cher wig!

RIP part-time comic genius.

[onehandle]

22. His mock laugh is ringing in my head.

Peace be with him.

[msanthrope]

24. RIP Mr. DeForest--you were damned funny. eom

[Lautremont]

25. Good Night Bud.

I was a fervent Letterman fan in the 80s, and Larry 'Bud' Melman was always a highlight.

[David__77]

26. This is truly upsetting...

He was great. I have fond feelings for him growing up watching that show with him as a regular. I can't believe he was 85...

[donheld]

27. Funniest memory of Mr Melman on Letterman

Letterman had Richard Simmons on the show and Dave kept promising Barbra Streisand was there and wanted to meet him. Richard was just hysterical about to pee his pants from excitement when Dave announced Barbra out comes 'Bud' as Barbra, and he starts singing The Way We Were. I thought Richard was going to kill Dave right there on the show. It was just gut wrenchingly funny.

[slampoet]

28. Thank you for all the laughs.

[drm604]

29. RIP Mr. DeForest.

He was a funny funny man.

[xchrom]

30. good night sweet prince -- peace be with you.

[DrDan]

31. I loved his laugh

Rest in Peace

[Roland99]

33. Oh no....

:(

[Marnieworld]

34. Man

He was the best! :cry: