David Letterman has been called the undisputed king of late night television by Time magazine. Born in 1947 in Indianapolis, Letterman studied radio and television at Ball State University in Indiana, then began his broadcasting career in Indianapolis where he worked as a talk show host, news anchor, and weatherman. He moved to Los Angeles in 1975 to perform stand-up comedy and write for sitcoms ('Good Times'). His stand-up routine landed him on Johnny Carson's 'Tonight Show' in 1978 where he became a regular guest host. The Carson connection led to a morning talk show for NBC that folded after just three months but netted Letterman his first Emmys (best host and best writing for daytime variety series). In 1982, 'Late Night with David Letterman' premiered on NBC where Letterman first unleashed his Top Ten List, Stupid Pet Tricks, and other signature skits on the world. Johnny Carson encouraged him to walk away from NBC when the network went with Jay Leno as Carson's replacement on 'The Tonight Show' in 1993. Letterman must have cried all the way to the bank because CBS signed him to compete head-to-head with Leno, which Letterman still does for an estimated $30 million a year. Fans were shocked in 2000 when Letterman underwent quintuple heart bypass surgery. Reticent about his private life, Letterman married longtime girlfriend Regina Lasko in secret nuptials at his ranch in Montana.

Here are some of the best lines attributed to David Letterman:

"Charlton Heston admitted he had a drinking problem, and I said to myself, 'Thank God this guy doesn't own any guns!'"

"New York... when civilization falls apart, remember, we were way ahead of you."

"The worst tempered people I have ever met were those who knew that they were wrong."

"USA Today has come out with a new survey - apparently, three out of every four people make up 75% of the population."

"Everyone has a purpose in life. Perhaps yours is watching television."

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