Calvert DeForest was born …:
… July 23, 1929, presumably in New York.
Calvert’s Early Work:
After his first appearance – in a spoof of the 1930s era Frankenstein – Calvert, as Larry “Bud” Melman, became a regular part of Letterman’s show.
Previously, he’d worked at the rehabilitation center as a drug counselor, a job he kept until it was made known publicly. Afterward, he retired as a counselor, but maintained his acting career.
During his stint as Larry “Bud” Melman, Calvert appeared in a number of TV shows and music videos in character, including NBC’s Wings and videos from Run DMC and The Offspring. He even introduced Nine Inch Nails at Woodstock in the early 90s.
Being Calvert DeForest:
When Letterman moved from NBC to CBS, NBC declared the name “Larry ‘Bud’ Melman” the intellectual property of the network. Letterman – and Calvert – couldn’t take it with them.
So, when Late Show debuted, Larry didn’t join the cast. But Calvert did. The character remained the same, but the name was all DeForest’s.
Heavenly Comedic:
"Everyone always wondered if Calvert was an actor playing a character, but in reality he was just himself — a genuine, modest and nice man," Letterman said 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."
Of his first Letterman appearance, Calvert once said: "It was the greatest thing that had happened in my life.
