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Remembering the Gravel-Voice and Long Ash of Kenny Sheehan, Late Show with David Letterman Stagehand

  • Kenny Sheehan on Late Show with David Letterman (CBS)
    Kenny Sheehan on Late Show with David Letterman (CBS)

    Longtime fans of The Late Show with David Letterman will fondly remember Kenny Sheehan, the gravel-voiced stagehand who often appeared on camera with a smoldering cigarette for his deadpan responses to whatever comedy Letterman was throwing his way at the time. 

    Sheehan passed away Friday morning, and Letterman archivist Don Giller has compiled a massive collection of his appearances on The Late Show, including his long-running bit with fellow stagehand Pat Farmer, simply titled "Pat and Kenny Read Oprah Transcripts." Sheehan's delivery was the whole punchline of that bit, and part of the joke within that sketch was to see just how long he could get the ash on his cigarette to last before it fell off, and his talent with that was impressive.

    Here is the Oprah transcript compilation:

    Here is Part 1 of Giller's exhaustive compilation of Sheehan's appearances:

    Here is Part 2:

    And here is Part 3:

    Andy Hunsaker has a head full of sitcom gags and nerd-genre lore, and can be followed @AndyHunsaker if you're into that sort of thing.

    TOPICS: Late Show with David Letterman, CBS, David Letterman, Don Giller, Kenny Sheehan, Pat Farmer