David Letterman at the 5th anniversary of Joining Forces and the 75th anniversary of the USO, May 5, 2016. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais)
Is retired late-night host David Letterman moving closer to Judaism?
Well, probably not, but it’s hard to deny Letterman has been channeling some decidedly Orthodox-Jewish chic since leaving his television career behind. And now former Late Show colleague Paul Shaffer says his comedian friend’s bushy beard has led to him often being mistaken for a rabbi.
“I understand the beard has its own agent now,” Shaffer, who was Letterman’s band leader and sidekick for 35 years on screen, joked during an interview with the New York Post on Thursday.
“The other day, I received an honor at a dinner from a Chabad organization, and Dave was nice enough to come out and give the award at this event. There were a lot of religious people there, and he said, “I can’t tell you how many people have come up to me and asked, ‘Rabbi, which way to the buffet?’”
Letterman left the Late Show in May 2015 and was replaced as host by Stephen Colbert.
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For 33 years, Paul Shaffer was the legendary band leader for David Letterman. (Courtesy)
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