Michael Douglas Refused to Appear on David Letterman's Show for 18 Years
The actor cited the host's 'nasty sense of humor' and one specific on-air incident involving his late mother as reasons for his prolonged absence.
Michael Douglas revealed that he refused to appear on David Letterman's talk show for 18 years, stating that the host once "went too far" and possessed a "real nasty sense of humor."
In his memoir, "One Helluva Ride," Douglas recounts an appearance on "The Late Show" where Letterman aired a commercial featuring Douglas' late mother, Diana Dill, without prior warning. The actor felt Letterman's subsequent questioning about the commercial was akin to making fun of his mother.
This incident led Douglas to decline all future invitations to the show. He stated that even after Letterman sent personal letters of apology, his feelings remained unchanged, believing the host had "crossed a line."
Douglas eventually reconciled with Letterman, now 79, after his own cancer diagnosis in 2010. He described the interaction following his diagnosis as respectful, with Letterman asking "sincere and sympathetic questions."
Douglas reflected in his memoir that clearing the air with Letterman felt liberating, leading him to believe that life is too short to hold onto grudges. He characterized letting go as a favor to himself, as the resentment had become a burden he was ready to shed.
The memoir also touches on other personal revelations, including an affair Douglas had before his marriage to Catherine Zeta-Jones and his significant weight loss during his battle with cancer. Douglas and Zeta-Jones began their relationship in 1998, and he famously told her on their first meeting that he would be the father of her children, a statement that initially caused her to leave their date.