At 77, David Letterman dismisses retirement as 'a myth' and 'nonsense'

David Letterman may have stepped away from the late-night spotlight, but he's far from calling it quits. In a recent GQ interview, he delved into his career trajectory, affirming his intention to forge ahead.

"Retirement is a fallacy," he remarked, dismissing the notion of considering himself "semi-retired." "It's pure folly. One doesn't truly retire," he insisted. "The human psyche simply won't permit it."

When the interviewer noted that people do indeed retire, Letterman wittily responded, "But what then? Do they just sit around waiting for, let’s say, 'Judge Judy' to air?"

He elaborated, "As long as you're in good health, the drive to create remains. You naturally seek new avenues. After leaving the show, it took me a couple of years to comprehend the shift, realizing it was a wholly different cadence. The absence of your familiar rhythm is largely dissatisfying. So, finding something meaningful becomes essential."

Letterman has accomplished this with his Netflix talk show, "My Next Guest Needs No Introduction," featuring notable guests like Barack Obama, Kim Kardashian, and Miley Cyrus.

Despite his enjoyment, the veteran host confided to GQ, "I’m astonished to still be doing this at my age."

"Yet, I still derive joy from our endeavors," he continued. "What does that imply? I'm uncertain."

Letterman bid farewell to "The Late Show" in 2015 after a 22-year tenure. He made a guest appearance on the revamped "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" in 2023.