delayed

According to TV writer Mark Evanier, Calvert DeForest, who played Larry "Bud" Melman on David Letterman's NBC show, passed away on Thursday from a pneumonia-related heart attack. He was 85.

Everyone remembers DeForest as Melman; he was the little old man with the big glasses and putty-like face who would show up and inevitably bungle whatever lines he was given to read, often saying them very loudly in the process. He was a signature on the NBC show, and Dave continued to use him when the show moved to CBS (under Calvert's real name, due to intellectual property issues with NBC), but less frequently; DeForest's last appearance was in 2003.

Evanier got the information from an "authority" on the Letterman newsgroup, who also mentioned that the Late Show was set to air a tribute to DeForest last night, but delayed it when Letterman went home sick. Since there won't be a new taping until next week, the tribute will have to wait. I'm sure it'll be both poignant and funny at the same time.

[thanks to Elf for the tip.]