WATCH: David Letterman announces he’s retiring from Late Show in 2015
TORONTO — David Letterman announced Thursday he is retiring.
The longtime host of the Late Show on CBS did not give a specific date but revealed that he and band leader Paul Shaffer “will be wrapping up and taking a hike” next year.
The audience inside the Ed Sullivan Theatre in New York rose to its feet upon hearing the news.
MORE: Top 10 memorable Letterman moments
Letterman turns 67 on April 12 and Shaffer, a native of Thunder Bay, Ont., is 64.
The retirement news made headlines shortly after Thursday’s taping of the Late Show when R.E.M. bassist Mike Mills tweeted: “Dave just announced his retirement #2015 #muchlovedave.”
Mills later defended scooping Letterman. “300 or so people in the audience, all with mobile phones,” he tweeted. “someone would have if not me.”
Letterman, who had a short-lived morning show in 1980, is the longest-running late night host on television.
He debuted on Feb. 1, 1982 with NBC’s Late Night, which ran for 11 seasons. Letterman left NBC in 1993 after the network chose Jay Leno to replace Johnny Carson on The Tonight Show.
Since Aug. 30, 1993, Letterman has been the host of the Late Show on CBS.
His current late night rivals include 46-year-old Jimmy Kimmel on ABC and 39-year-old Jimmy Fallon on NBC.
Social media reacted quickly to Letterman’s retirement announcement.
Girls star Lena Dunham used the opportunity to cast a vote for someone new in late night.
“I love Letterman but I am really excited about what this could mean for the diversification of late night,” she tweeted. “Trying not to be a pessimist…
“Take the ball and run with it, CBS!,” she added, suggesting Parks and Recreation star Reeta.
Dunham also tweeted: “Obvi will miss Letterman and his gorgeous tooth scenario/general brilliance.”
Here are some other celebrity reactions to Letterman’s announcement:
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