Dick Cavett facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Dick Cavett
Cavett in 2010
Born	Richard Alva Cavett (1936-11-19) November 19, 1936 (age 88) Buffalo County, Nebraska, U.S.
Alma mater	Yale University (BA)
Occupation	Talk show host, comedian
Years active	1959–present
Spouse(s)	Carrie Nye ​ ​ (m. 1964; died 2006)​ Martha Rogers ​ (m. 2010)​

Richard Alva Cavett (born November 19, 1936) is an American comedian and a famous former talk show host. For many years, from the 1960s to the 2000s, he was a regular face on television across the United States.

Later in his career, Cavett wrote a column for The New York Times newspaper. He also helped promote DVDs of his old shows. On the channel Turner Classic Movies, he hosted reruns of his interviews with many stars. His guests included Bette Davis, Lucille Ball, Groucho Marx, Katharine Hepburn, Marlon Brando, John Lennon, and Jimi Hendrix.

Early Life and School Days

Dick Cavett was born in Nebraska in 1936. His parents, Erabel and Alva Cavett, were both teachers. His mother sadly died of cancer when he was ten years old. His father later remarried another teacher named Dorcas Deland. In 1995, a new school in Lincoln, Nebraska, was named the Dorcas C. and Alva B. Cavett Elementary School to honor them.

As a boy, Cavett was very active and talented. In eighth grade, he directed a live radio show. He was also a state champion in gymnastics. One of his classmates was Sandy Dennis, who also grew up to be a famous actress.

Cavett became interested in magic at a young age. He started performing magic shows for $35 a night. In 1952, he won the "Best New Performer" trophy at a magicians' convention. Around that time, he met another young magician, Johnny Carson, who would later become a famous talk show host himself.

After high school, Cavett went to the prestigious Yale University. He studied drama and graduated in 1958. He loved meeting famous people and would often hang around stage doors in New York City to see them.

Starting His Career

In 1956, Cavett acted in several plays at the Oregon Shakespeare Festival. After college, he had many different jobs. He worked as a store detective and as a copyboy for Time magazine.

Writing for The Tonight Show

Dick Cavett and Jack Paar

While working at Time magazine, Cavett read an article about Jack Paar, the host of The Tonight Show. Paar was looking for jokes for his show. Cavett wrote some jokes and handed them to Paar in a hallway. Paar liked them and used them on the show that night.

Soon, Cavett was hired as a writer for The Tonight Show. He even wrote a famous introduction for the actress Jayne Mansfield. When Johnny Carson took over as the host, Cavett continued to write for the show. He also wrote for other comedians like Jerry Lewis and Merv Griffin.

Through his work, he became friends with many famous people. He met comedian Woody Allen and the legendary Groucho Marx. Cavett later said that meeting Groucho Marx was an unbelievable experience.

Becoming a Stand-up Comic

Cavett, Alan King and Johnny Carson in 1968

In 1964, Cavett started performing as a stand-up comedian. He told jokes at clubs in New York, Chicago, and San Francisco. He also appeared on TV game shows like What's My Line and on The Ed Sullivan Show.

In 1968, the television network ABC hired Cavett to host a morning show called This Morning. The show was considered very smart, and ABC later moved it to a late-night time slot. This led to the creation of his most famous program.

The Dick Cavett Show

From 1968, Cavett hosted his own talk show on different TV and radio networks, including ABC, CBS, and PBS. His most popular show was on ABC from 1969 to 1974.

Cavett became known as "the thinking man's talk show host." He was praised for being a great listener who had deep and interesting conversations with his guests. Unlike other hosts, he often invited guests with opposite opinions to discuss important topics. For example, he had famous athletes, politicians, and artists on his show.

His show often featured famous musicians. Rock stars like David Bowie, Jimi Hendrix, and Janis Joplin appeared to talk and perform. Because of this, his show won several Emmy Awards.

With Anthony Quinn in 1971

The show was also known for discussing controversial subjects. In 1971, he hosted a debate about the Vietnam War between John Kerry and John O'Neill. The discussion made President Richard Nixon so angry that he was heard on the famous Watergate tapes talking about finding a way to cause trouble for Cavett's show.

Clips from The Dick Cavett Show have been used in many movies, including Annie Hall (1977), Forrest Gump (1994), and Apollo 13 (1995).

Other TV and Movie Appearances

Cavett has appeared as himself in many TV shows, like The Odd Couple and Cheers. He even hosted Saturday Night Live in 1976.

He also acted in movies. In A Nightmare on Elm Street 3: Dream Warriors (1987), he played himself in a dream where he turned into the scary character Freddy Krueger. In the movie Beetlejuice (1988), he played a character other than himself, which was rare for him.

In the 1990s, he was the voice of himself in an episode of The Simpsons called "Homie the Clown". From 2000 to 2002, he was the narrator in the Broadway musical The Rocky Horror Show.

Personal Life

While at Yale, Cavett met actress Carrie Nye. They married in 1964 and were together until she passed away in 2006. In 2010, Cavett married author Martha Rogers. They live in Connecticut.

Cavett has spoken openly about his struggles with clinical depression, a type of health challenge that affects a person's mood. He first experienced it in college. He has shared his story to help others understand the illness and to show that there are effective treatments.

Legacy and Influence

Dick Cavett's smart and thoughtful interview style has influenced many later talk show hosts. Stephen Colbert, host of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, has said that Cavett was a huge influence on him. Colbert admired Cavett's honesty and his interesting questions.

Works

Film

Television

Theater

Images for kids

• 

  Cavett in 2008