Highlights

• Despite David Letterman's sordid past, his 35-year-long relationship with his wife Regina Lasko has remained strong through salacious rumors and even a kidnapping plot.
• Letterman and Lasko met while he was still in a long-term relationship with another woman, Merrill Markoe, and they had to continue working together after their breakup.
• Letterman's cheating scandal in 2009 threatened their marriage, but Lasko forgave him while Letterman continues to struggle with guilt, despite their continuing strong bond and regular fancy dates.

David Letterman has been synonymous with the talk show circuit for over 30 years. One of the most prominent men in the entertainment industry, he even had the honor of interviewing former President Barack Obama on his Netflix series My Next Guest Needs No Introduction. But in recent years, his esteemed reputation has been sullied by the resurfacing of sordid clips of Letterman being creepy towards female guests on his show. In light of these revelations, it comes as somewhat of a surprise that he's been with his wife, Regina Lasko, the whole time.

While other marriages have broken down due to arguably much less, the relationship between Letterman and Lasko has remained strong. Through the years, they have endured salacious rumors, blackmail, and even a kidnapping plot.

Here's a look inside David Letterman's 35-year long relationship with his wife, Regina Lasko.

Updated November 2023: David Letterman and Regina Lasko are still happily married. They recently became empty nesters with their son, Henry going off to college. In addition, Letterman has been making the rounds on the late night talk show circuit, most recently at his old stomping grounds, at the Ed Sullivan Theater (to be interviewed by Stephen Colbert). To keep himself busy since that time, Letterman has hosted the popular Netflix show, 'My Next Guest Needs No Introduction' which had new episodes in 2022.

10 Letterman Already Had A Girlfriend When He Started Dating Lasko

David Letterman Was In A Long-Term Relationship With Merrill Markoe

• Letterman and Markoe had to work together after they broke up

By the mid '80s, David Letterman was an established talk show host. Late Night with David Letterman had debuted in 1982, bringing him to national recognition. At the time, he was in a long-time relationship with Merrill Markoe, who was the head writer on his show.

In 1986, Letterman met Regina Lasko and the pair soon fell in love. However, he didn't break up with Markoe, with whom he was cohabiting, until 1988, and the ex-couple still had to work together.

9 Regina Lasko Also Worked In The Entertainment Industry

Regina Lasko Was A Successful Production Manager

• Lasko worked on Late Night with David Letterman, Saturday Night Live, and more during her career

Much like Letterman's previous girlfriend, Merrill Markoe, Regina Lasko was a staple behind the scenes of the entertainment industry. She was a production manager and began working on Late Night with David Letterman in 1987, a year after she first met the host. Her role on the show continued until 1989. She has also worked behind the scenes on Saturday Night Live.

Today, like Letterman, Lasko is happily retired and no longer working in the entertainment industry.

8 Regina Lasko And David Letterman Welcomed Their Son Later In Life

David Letterman Was 56-Years Old And Regina Lasko Was 43-Years Old When Their Son Was Born

• Henry Letterman is now 20 years old

In 2003, a then 56-year-old David Letterman and 43-year-old Regina Lasko welcomed their son, Harry Joseph. It's increasingly common for celebs (and the public) to have kids after the age of 35.

Harry is now attending college at Brown University. And as Letterman revealed while on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, it is difficult getting adjusted to being an empty nester.

7 A Horrific Incident Brought David Letterman And Regina Lasko Closer Together

David Letterman And Regina Lasko's Son Was Part Of A Kidnapping Plot

• Henry Letterman is currently attending college

Letterman and Lasko endured every parent's worst nightmare when a man plotted to kidnap their infant son in 2005.

Kelly A. Frank worked as a painter on the couple's Montana ranch and plotted to kidnap Harry Joseph in the hope of receiving a $5 million ransom. Thankfully, the plot was foiled and Frank was arrested and sentenced to 10 years in jail.

After breaking out of prison in 2007, he was given an additional 10 years, but was freed in 2018.

6 David Letterman And Regina Lasko Waited Over 20 Years Before Getting Married

David Letterman And Lasko Have Been Together For 35 Years

• Letterman and Lasko have been married for 14 years

Although they met in 1986, Letterman and Lasko didn't feel any pressure to get married. It wasn't until 2009 that they decided to tie the knot, 23 years after they first began dating.

When the two decided to get married, the chose the location of Choteau, Montana. They were married in a simple ceremony attended by just a few of their friends.

5 David Letterman And Regina Lasko Have Been Plagued By Cheating Rumors

David Letterman Was Accused Of Several Affairs With Staffers

• Letterman was accused of sexual harassment

In 2009, a mere six months after Letterman married Lasko, he faced a major cheating scandal. It was alleged that he had been having affairs with several of his female employees, behavior that apparently did not constitute sexual harassment at the time.

However, had these affairs come to light years later during the MeToo movement, Letterman certainly be heavily scrutinized. He, perhaps, may have even been canceled as a result of his actions.

4 David Letterman Has Admitted To Cheating On Regina Lasko

David Letterman Publicly Admitting To Cheating On Regina Lasko

• Letterman used his talk show to publicly admit to cheating on his wife

Facing an extortion attempt by a blackmailer who threatened to expose his infidelity, Letterman had no choice but to own up to the cheating claims rather than pay the blackmailer any more money.

In 2009, the host admitted to his Late Show audience that he had been cheating on his wife.

"My response to that [allegation] is, yes, I have," Letterman admitted. "Would it be embarrassing if it were made public? Perhaps it would."

3 Regina Lasko Forgave David Letterman For Cheating, But David Letterman Couldn't Forgive Himself

Guilt Plagues David Letterman For Cheating To This Day

• Letterman may have been forgiven but he lives with the burden of cheating

Understandably, Lasko was furious when she discovered that her long-term partner had been cheating on her. For years, she no longer appeared in public with him and kept a low profile.

In recent years, she has, by Letterman's own admission, forgiven him. Letterman, on the other hand, cannot forgive himself.

"No, I don't have that luxury," Letterman admitted on Oprah. "I can't forgive that behavior."

2 David Letterman And Regina Lasko Still Go Out On Fancy Dates

Vacations And Dates Keep The Romance Alive Between David Letterman And Regina Lasko

• A grand vacation in 2020 and regular dates out on the town keep the romance alive between Letterman and Lasko

Despite the cheating scandal and kidnapping horrors they have endured, Letterman and Lasko's marriage is still going strong.

The couple enjoys attending classical concerts together and were spotted getting cozy on a New Year's date to St Barts in 2020.

1 How David Letterman And Regina Lasko Saved Their Marriage

David Letterman And Regina Lasko Have Been Married For 14 Years

• Taking responsibility for his actions save Letterman's marriage

Taking responsibility for his actions was key to Letterman saving his marriage.

"I have no one to blame but myself," Letterman admitted on Oprah. "I think if you're going to have a flow chart of the responsibility for this circumstance, for this sex scandal, my name is at the top... I'm taking responsibility for it, trying to atone for it."

Letterman also added that no longer having to live with secrets has improved his marriage:

"My life is fun and full of joy now -- I only pretended it before."

Source: Oprah