David Letterman’s Greatest Guests Through The Years

Filed Under: CBS+, Entertainment, Photo Galleries

Letterman's Greatest Guests - Bill MurrayBill Murray spray paints Dave's desk on the first taping of the Late Show with David Letterman, August 30, 1993 on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Alan Singer/CBS ©1993 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved

Letterman's Greatest Guests - Paul NewmanPaul Newman, surprises Dave from the audience saying "Where the Hell are the Singing Cats?" on the first taping of the Late Show with David Letterman, August 30, 1993 on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Alan Singer/CBS ©1993 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved

Letterman's Greatest Guests - Robin WilliamsRobin Williams on the second taping of the Late Show with David Letterman, August 31, 1993 on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Alan Singer/CBS ©1993 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved

Letterman's Greatest Guests - Vice President Al GoreVice President Al Gore cracks an ashtray with a hammer on the Late Show with David Letterman, September 8, 1993 on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Alan Singer/CBS ©1993 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved

Letterman's Greatest Guests - Johnny CarsonJohnny Carson in his first and only talk show appearance since stepping down as host of "The Tonight Show," gets a standing ovation by Letterman and the studio audience when he makes a surprise appearance on the Late Show with David Letterman in May, 13, 1994 on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Tony Esparza/CBS ©1994 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved

Letterman's Greatest Guests - Drew BarrymoreDrew Barrymore turns to the audience after flashing host David Letterman during the April 12, 1995 taping of the Late Show with David Letterman in New York City. This show was taped on Dave's Birthday. Photo: Alan Singer/CBS ©1995 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved

Letterman's Greatest Guests - George ClooneyActor George Clooney on the Late Show with David Letterman, November 23, 1995 on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Alan Singer/CBS ©1995 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved

Letterman's Greatest Guests - Howard SternHoward Stern in full drag on the Late Show with David Letterman, December 20, 1995 on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Alan Singer/CBS ©1995 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved

Letterman's Greatest Guests - Steve MartinSteve Martin with David Letterman on the 5th Anniversary of the Late Show with David Letterman November 23, 1998 on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Alan Singer/CBS ©1998 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved

Letterman's Greatest Guests - Dan RatherDan Rather, of the CBS Evening News, is comforted by David Letterman during a break after Rather was overcome by emotion while discussing the World Trade Center and Pentagon tragedies on The Late Show with David Letterman, September 17, 2001 on CBS. This was the first broadcast of The Late Show with David Letterman following the tragedies of September 11, 2001. Photo: John P. Filo/CBS ©2001 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved

Letterman's Greatest Guests - Jack HannaJack Hanna, Director Emeritus of the Columbus Zoo, jumps up in his chair as a Western diamondback rattlesnake moves his way after striking and bursting a balloon taped to a snake hook that was held by host David Letterman during on the Late Show with David Letterman, November 26, 2002 on the CBS Television Network. Photo: John Paul Filo/CBS ©2002 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved

Letterman's Greatest Guests - The cast of The SopranosTen members of "The Sopranos" cast present the "Top Ten Things Never Before Said on 'The Sopranos'" when they visit the Late Show with David Letterman, Monday, May 24, 2004. Pictured from left to right: James Gandolfini, Edie Falco, Michael Imperioli, Drea de Matteo, Tony Sirico, Jamie-Lynn DiScala, Robert Iler, Steven Van Zandt, Aida Turturro, and Dominic Chianese. Photo: John Paul Filo/CBS ©2004 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved

Letterman's Greatest Guests - Oprah WinfreyOprah Winfrey returns to chat with David Letterman, 16 years after her previous visit on The Late Show with David Letterman, December 1, 2005 on the CBS Television Network. Following the interview, Dave escorted Oprah across 53rd street to the opening of her new Broadway Show "The Color Purple". Photo: Jeffrey R. Staab/CBS ©2005 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved

Letterman's Greatest Guests - Joaquin PhoenixJoaquin Phoenix, waves to the audience during his interview with Late Show host David Letterman during the Late Show with David Letterman Wednesday Feb. 11, 2008 on the CBS Television Network. Photo: John Paul Filo/CBS ©2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Letterman's Greatest Guests - Regis PhilbinRegis Philbin dressed as Shrek stops by to chat with Dave on the Late Show with David Letterman Wednesday April 22, 2009 on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Jeffrey R. Staab/CBS ©2009 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved

Letterman's Greatest Guests - Bill ClintonFormer President Bill Clinton on the Late Show with David Letterman Monday September 20, 2010 on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Jeffrey R. Staab /CBS ©2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved

Letterman's Greatest Guests - Robert DeNiro and Dustin HoffmanAcademy Award-winning actors Robert DeNiro and Dustin Hoffman visit the Late Show with David Letterman, Friday, Dec. 17, 2010. While this was Hoffman's seventh visit to the Late Show, this marked the first time DeNiro has ever sat down for an interview with Letterman. Photo: John Paul Filo/CBS ©2010 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved

Letterman's Greatest Guests - Tom Hanks and Julia RobertsTom Hanks surprises Julia Roberts and David Letterman when he drops by the Late Show with David Letterman, Thursday, June 30, 2011. Letterman tested Roberts' knowledge of Hanks "Newlywed Game"-style, asking her questions about the actor. Photo: Heather Wines/CBS ©2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved.

Letterman's Greatest Guests - The Edge and BonoU2's the Edge, Bono and Late Show host David Letterman watch as Spiderman drops in for a visit on the Late SHow with David Letterman July 18, 2011 on the CBS Television Network. Photo: John Paul Filo/CBS ©2011 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved

Letterman's Greatest Guests - Conan O'BrienLate night talk show host Conan O'Brien chats with Dave when he visits the Late Show with David Letterman, Thursday May 17, 2012 on the CBS Television Network. Photo: Jeffrey R. Staab/CBS ©2012 CBS Broadcasting Inc. All Rights Reserved