Born Name:  Calvert Grant DeForest

Born Date:  July 23, 1921

Born Place:  New York City

Died Date:  March 19, 2007

Died Place:  West Islip, New York

Occupations:  Actor, comedian

Brief Biography:  Calvert DeForest was known as the quirky, fumbling character Larry "Bud" Melman on David Letterman’s NBC and CBS talk shows. Discovered in the early 1980s, his deadpan delivery and unique presence made him a cult television celebrity, acting as a recurring sidekick until 2002.

Early Life and Career:
Pre-Fame Work: He worked for many years as a file clerk at Parke-Davis (later Pfizer) and later as a receptionist at a drug rehabilitation center.
Acting Ambitions: Despite having early aspirations, his acting career was delayed by his mother's discouragement until after her death in 1969, leading to part-time backstage and minor film work.

Letterman Era (1982–2002):
Larry "Bud" Melman: He was discovered for Late Night with David Letterman in 1982. He performed "odd jobs," remote segments, and read cue cards, quickly becoming a fan favorite.
Name Change: When Letterman moved to CBS in 1993, NBC owned the rights to "Larry "Bud" Melman," forcing DeForest to perform under his real name on the Late Show.
Memorable Skits: He famously appeared in a "hot towel" skit at the Port Authority Bus Terminal, covered events, and appeared in comedic bits.

Other Work and Later Life:
Appearances: He appeared in films such as Freaked (1993) and Cabin Boy, as well as in Pee-wee’s Playhouse, Wings, and music videos for Run-DMC and Vince Gill.
Personality: Known as a modest, genuinely nice, and unpretentious person in real life, unlike his onscreen persona.