Alan Kalter Wiki – Alan Kalter Biorgaphy
Alan Kalter was an American television announcer, best known as the announcer for the Late Show with David Letterman. He also hosted Alan Kalter’s Celebrity Interview that ran concurrently with The Late Show. Nicknamed “Big Red” for his hair, he provided the opening introductions on the “Late Show with David Letterman” on CBS from September 1995 until Letterman’s last episode on May 20, 2015, having taken the mantle after Bill Wendell’s retirement.
With musical accompaniment from Paul Shaffer and the CBS Orchestra, Kalter announced the guests and cheekily introduced the host at the top of each show, then voiced the comic one-liner over the Worldwide Pants title card end credits. In between, Kalter often acted in funny sketches that included hosting “Alan Kalter’s Celebrity Interview” after Letterman was finished with the guest and speaking from his announcer’s podium.
He had since appeared in a 2015 Letterman documentary, “David Letterman: A Life on Television,” and reprised his announcing role for Letterman in 2017 when the former late-night host was honored with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor at the Kennedy Center.
Before the “Late Show,” Kalter was a famous voiceover artist and spokesman in commercials for brands including Gillette, Michelin, CBS Cares, New York Mega Million, and the announcer for “Commander USA’s Groovie Movies” on the USA Network. His other major announcing credits include “The $10,000 Pyramid,” “The $25,000 Pyramid,” “The Money Maze,” “To Tell The Truth” – where he also replaced Wendell – and the 2003 Grammy Awards.
Alan Robert Kalter was born in Brooklyn, New York, on March 21, 1943, and raised in the New York communities of LittleNeck and Cedarhurst. In 1964, he graduated from Hobart College in Geneva, New York, then attended law school at NYU. He taught English and public speaking in high school on Long Island for about three years before beginning his broadcasting career at the radio station WHN.
Age
Alan Robert Kalter was born March 21, 1943, in New York City, New York. He died on October 4, 2021, in Stamford, Connecticut. He was 78.
Wife, Family
Alan Kalter was married twice. His longtime marriage to his first wife, Carol Kepler, ended in divorce. He married his second wife, Peggy Masterson, in 2003.
Besides his wife, Peggy Masterson, and their two daughters, Alan Kalter is survived by a brother, Gary, two sons-in-law, grandchildren Samantha, Ethan and Jordan Hass, Isabelle and Owen Binger, and many nieces and nephews.
Alan Kalter Death
Alan Kalter passed away on October 4, 2021, at the age of 78. He died at Stamford Hospital in Connecticut with his wife, Peggy Masterson, and their two daughters by his side, said Rabbi Joshua Hammerman of Temple Beth El, the synagogue Kalter attended.
“Beyond his fame and his golden voice, Alan was a past president of TBE and a true mensch, who was deeply committed to Jewish values and the Jewish people and was especially devoted to this, his home community,” Hammerman said in a statement. “Over the past year, he attended our daily Zoom minyan so religiously that he even joined in from the golf course at Rockrimmon.”
“When our announcer of 15 years Bill Wendell retired, producer Robert Morton came to my office with an audiotape containing auditions for several announcers. Alan’s was the first and only voice we listened to. We knew he would be our choice,” Letterman said in a statement to The Hollywood Reporter.
“Whatever else, we always had the best announcer in television. Wonderful voice and eagerness to play a goofy character of himself. Did I mention he could sing? Yes, he could. He enthusiastically did it all. A somber day, but many great memories.”
Former “Late Show” writer Carter Bays, who went on to co-create “How I Met Your Mother,” said: “To us ‘Late Show’ writers Alan was so much more than just the ‘From New York…’ guy. He was our muse. We loved writing for him—such a cheerful presence on the show. And around the office. Rest easy, Big Red.”
Bays’ writing partner, fellow “HIMYM” co-creator Craig Thomas added: “Oh man, @CarterBays and I loved writing for Alan — some of my fondest memories of Late Show are the batshit-bonkers bits we wrote for Alan, who was always game to let us make him look insane…rest in peace, Alan, and thanks for the laughs.”
He lived in Stamford and was active in Temple Beth El. A private funeral will be held at the Stamford synagogue on Wednesday, October 6, 2021, and will be live-streamed. Instead of flowers or food baskets, the family requests that memorial donations be made to Temple Beth El/Rabbi’s Mitzvah Fund, SilverSource in Stamford, or the charity of your choice.
Net Worth
Alan Kalter’s net worth is estimated to be $2 million.
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