Former late-night television host David Letterman has opened up about finding his authentic self after leaving the bright lights of Hollywood behind for his home state of Indiana. In a candid interview with GQ magazine, the 77-year-old comedian reflected on how relocating has positively impacted his life and perspective.
Letterman, who ended his 22-year run on "The Late Show with David Letterman" in 2015, admitted that show business had shaped him into someone he didn't recognize. "In show business, I find that I have pretended to be someone I'm truly not," he revealed in the interview.
The television icon, who left Indianapolis in his early twenties to pursue stand-up comedy in Hollywood, acknowledged that the entertainment industry's pressures had affected him negatively. After stepping away from his late-night role, Letterman chose to return to his roots in Indiana, a decision that has brought him greater personal satisfaction.
"I just feel like personally, I have greater humanity than I did when I was in show business," Letterman shared. He described his previous career as being "single-minded" with "real unimagined" pressure that consumed his focus.
The move back to Indiana has allowed Letterman to broaden his perspective beyond television. "All I cared about was television, one hour of television that I was responsible for, for 30 years," he reflected. Now, he says he has "the energy and the broader focus to recognize humanity has other fulfilling pursuits."
While primarily residing in Indiana, Letterman maintains properties in Montana and upstate New York. He continues to work selectively, hosting "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction" for Netflix, featuring conversations with notable guests like John Mulaney, Miley Cyrus, and Charles Barkley.
Despite his step back from mainstream entertainment, Letterman dismisses the notion of full retirement. "Retirement is a myth. Retirement is nonsense," he declared. "You won't retire. The human mechanism will not allow you to retire."