David Letterman comes to mind when viewers think of a well-known late-night host. From 1993 till his final episode in 2015, he hosted his show. Even though he had some awkward interviews, fans continued to tune in night after night to see what would happen. It's difficult to recall a celebrity who didn't come on this show; however, David did occasionally make statements that made all scratch their heads.While some of David Letterman’s bizarre interviews are well-known, little is known about his personal life. Fans know David has a son named Harry Joseph, the only child of the couple who once appeared in the headlines, but not in the way people are used to.And his son’s story is one that shows how a celebrity kid somehow became a victim of fame.
Who Is David Letterman’s Son, Harry Joseph?
In 1968, David Letterman married his college love, Michelle Cook. Unfortunately, the couple was unable to make their relationship work, and the television host later began dating Regina Lasko in 1986. David and Regina tied the knot in a courthouse civil ceremony in 2009, and they have been together ever since.
Their son Harry was born in 2003 several years before they got married. Although he is the son of the well-known host David and production manager Regina, there isn’t a ton of information about him in the public. Unlike other celebrity kids, he prefers to lead a life out of the spotlight. He makes rare appearance in the public with his parents.
When it comes to his education, he has remained tight-lipped about it. His father David said that his son was attending online classes during the lockdown in 2020. And being the son of such a wealthy father, there is no doubt that he lives a lavish lifestyle. Still, it hasn't always been easy.
Harry Joseph's Near Kidnapping Changed His Family's Life
Harry Joseph's story is one that shows how sad and frightening it may become if popularity exposes them to someone with bad intentions.
At the point that David and Regina married, their son, Harry was just six years old. The couple, who has worked behind the scenes in the entertainment business for Letterman's show as well as Saturday Night Live, had to deal with a scary situation.
When Harry Joseph was just 16 months old, the first big test of the couple’s relationship came about. In 2005, a Montana man named Kelly Allen Frank, a painter working at Letterman’s house, threatened to kidnap their son, as well as the young boy's nanny, demanding a $5 million ransom.
Frank was arrested and sent to jail. Upon court’s verdict, he was given a 10-year prison sentence but managed to escape in 2007. He couldn’t spend a long life as a fugitive as he was recaptured shortly and released on parole in 2014.
A year after, he was again arrested for violating the terms of his parole. Fortunately, Harry Joseph Letterman was unharmed.
What Is Life Like For David And His Son Today?
Many are wondering about their father-and-son relationship after becoming a victim of fame as a child of a famous TV host. David Letterman shared he wants to have a close relationship with Harry. In an interview, he said that while parenting advice often says that parents shouldn’t want to be pals with their children, he doesn’t believe in that.
He said, “People always say, ‘Well, you’re not going to be the kid’s best friend. You’re going to be his…’ And I say, ‘Screw that!’ He added, “Look at me – how much longer am I going to be around? I want to be the best friend. But he’s not keen on me being the best friend.”
The host had also some kind words about his son, and every time he’s interviewed about him, he seems like a doting father who just wants to spend his time with his family. He shared, “The most secure I ever feel is when I’m around my son.”
He also said that while he does feel nostalgic when looking back on his late-night show, it’s great that he’s able to hang out with Harry more, saying: “The best part is that I get to do stuff with my son.”
David Letterman's claim that he has been able to spend more time with his son Harry since he stopped hosting his late-night program in 2015 makes sense. Hosting a late-night show for decades must be extremely time-consuming and demanding, and while it appears that the Letterman family usually went on vacations, it appears like David is content with his current schedule.