David Letterman to Perform in Canada for First Time in Nearly 50 Years at Just for Laughs Vancouver

Legendary comedian and television host David Letterman is returning to the Canadian stage for the first time in almost half a century.

The former host of Late Night and Late Show With David Letterman will make his Just for Laughs festival debut in Vancouver on Feb. 18, appearing in an in-conversation event with actor and comedian Zach Galifianakis. The show is part of Just for Laughs Vancouver, now celebrating its 10th season.

Festival organizers say the pairing is a major moment for comedy fans.
“We couldn’t be more excited to welcome David Letterman to Just for Laughs Vancouver,” said Nick Brazao, vice president of programming and talent for the festival. “He is one of the defining voices in comedy history, and to be able to pair him with Zach Galifianakis for a show like this is incredibly special for us and for comedy fans in Vancouver.”

Letterman last performed stand-up in Canada in February 1978, when he appeared on the CBC variety program 90 Minutes Live. During that appearance, he joked in his trademark deadpan style that he had been advised to speak slowly “on behalf of the viewers in Brandon, Manitoba.”

While Letterman stepped away from nightly television in 2015, he has remained a prominent presence in entertainment. His Netflix interview series My Next Guest Needs No Introduction marked his return to the host’s chair after a 33-year run that made him the longest-serving late-night host in U.S. television history. The series has featured a wide range of guests, from world leaders to major figures in film, music and sports.

The Vancouver event, titled An Evening with David Letterman and Special Guest Zach Galifianakis, also signals a rare live appearance for Letterman, who has largely kept a low public profile in recent years. His other recent on-screen work includes the Disney+ documentary Bono & The Edge: A Sort of Homecoming, With Dave Letterman.

For Canadian audiences, the appearance represents a unique opportunity to see one of comedy’s most influential figures live—nearly 50 years after his last performance north of the border.