Biff Henderson
Encyclopedia
James Jackson "Biff" Henderson, Jr. (born October 3, 1946) is an American comedian
and television personality best known for his work on The Late Show with David Letterman. He is the show's stage manager and appears in occasional humorous segments, often involving interviewing people he meets in public places or at well-attended public events. He acquired the nickname
"Biff" from his mother when her friend had a dream involving a boy named "Biff".
in the Hayti District
. He graduated Hillside High School in Durham, and earned a degree in business administration from Hampton Institute
. He also served in the United States Army
during the Vietnam War
. As a youth, he played a tennis
tournament
against Randy Newman
. He also worked as a stage manager on the 1969 version of To Tell the Truth
then began his most famous work with David Letterman
on The David Letterman Show
(NBC), Late Night with David Letterman
(NBC) then the current Late Show with David Letterman
(CBS). Henderson frequently participates in the on-screen antics and sometimes is the star of short segments recounting his humorous adventures in New York. Henderson's "theme" on the show is "Milestones" by Miles Davis
.
, Niagara Falls
and the Grand Canyon
. One segment Henderson performed in was a take-off of the MTV
show Punk'd
called "Biff'd". The segment resembled Candid Camera
. In the segment Henderson would come out of nowhere, either startle or scare the person, and say the catchphrase "you just got Biff'd." In one of Henderson's more memorable segments, Letterman sends Henderson to Camp Towanda, a sleepaway camp and films his stay.
During the taping of the February 8, 2010 Late Show, Henderson injured his right leg. Henderson was playing catch with a football thrown by Letterman during a break, he tripped off the stairs at the edge of the stage and landed on his right leg. Henderson was transported by ambulance to the hospital with his leg in a brace.
In addition to his appearances on the Late Show, Henderson has appeared on To Tell The Truth
and guest-starred on CSI: Miami
and Cosby.
Comedian
A comedian or comic is a person who seeks to entertain an audience, primarily by making them laugh. This might be through jokes or amusing situations, or acting a fool, as in slapstick, or employing prop comedy...
and television personality best known for his work on The Late Show with David Letterman. He is the show's stage manager and appears in occasional humorous segments, often involving interviewing people he meets in public places or at well-attended public events. He acquired the nickname
Nickname
A nickname is "a usually familiar or humorous but sometimes pointed or cruel name given to a person or place, as a supposedly appropriate replacement for or addition to the proper name.", or a name similar in origin and pronunciation from the original name....
"Biff" from his mother when her friend had a dream involving a boy named "Biff".
Early life and education
Henderson was born in Durham, North CarolinaDurham, North Carolina
Durham is a city in the U.S. state of North Carolina. It is the county seat of Durham County and also extends into Wake County. It is the fifth-largest city in the state, and the 85th-largest in the United States by population, with 228,330 residents as of the 2010 United States census...
in the Hayti District
Hayti District
Hayti district is the African American community in Durham, North Carolina. Over 200 African American businesses were located along Fayetteville, Pettigrew and Pine Streets, the bounties of Hayti. Hayti is home to many nationally known African Americans.North Carolina Central University lies...
. He graduated Hillside High School in Durham, and earned a degree in business administration from Hampton Institute
Hampton University
Hampton University is a historically black university located in Hampton, Virginia, United States. It was founded by black and white leaders of the American Missionary Association after the American Civil War to provide education to freedmen.-History:...
. He also served in the United States Army
United States Army
The United States Army is the main branch of the United States Armed Forces responsible for land-based military operations. It is the largest and oldest established branch of the U.S. military, and is one of seven U.S. uniformed services...
during the Vietnam War
Vietnam War
The Vietnam War was a Cold War-era military conflict that occurred in Vietnam, Laos, and Cambodia from 1 November 1955 to the fall of Saigon on 30 April 1975. This war followed the First Indochina War and was fought between North Vietnam, supported by its communist allies, and the government of...
. As a youth, he played a tennis
Tennis
Tennis is a sport usually played between two players or between two teams of two players each . Each player uses a racket that is strung to strike a hollow rubber ball covered with felt over a net into the opponent's court. Tennis is an Olympic sport and is played at all levels of society at all...
tournament
Tournament
A tournament is a competition involving a relatively large number of competitors, all participating in a sport or game. More specifically, the term may be used in either of two overlapping senses:...
against Randy Newman
Randy Newman
Randall Stuart "Randy" Newman is an American singer-songwriter, arranger, composer, and pianist who is known for his mordant pop songs and for film scores....
. He also worked as a stage manager on the 1969 version of To Tell the Truth
To Tell the Truth
To Tell the Truth is an American television panel game show created by Bob Stewart and produced by Goodson-Todman Productions that has aired in various forms since 1956 both on networks and in syndication...
then began his most famous work with David Letterman
David Letterman
David Michael Letterman is an American television host and comedian. He hosts the late night television talk show, Late Show with David Letterman, broadcast on CBS. Letterman has been a fixture on late night television since the 1982 debut of Late Night with David Letterman on NBC...
on The David Letterman Show
The David Letterman Show
The David Letterman Show was a live morning NBC talk show hosted by David Letterman from June 23 to October 24, 1980. The show originally ran for 90 minutes, then 60 minutes from August 4 onward.-Background:...
(NBC), Late Night with David Letterman
Late Night with David Letterman
Late Night with David Letterman is a nightly hour-long comedy talk show on NBC that was created and hosted by David Letterman. It premiered in 1982 as the first incarnation of the Late Night franchise and went off the air in 1993, after Letterman left NBC and moved to Late Show on CBS. Late Night...
(NBC) then the current Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman
Late Show with David Letterman is a U.S. late-night talk show hosted by David Letterman on CBS. The show debuted on August 30, 1993, and is produced by Letterman's production company, Worldwide Pants Incorporated. The show's music director and band-leader of the house band, the CBS Orchestra, is...
(CBS). Henderson frequently participates in the on-screen antics and sometimes is the star of short segments recounting his humorous adventures in New York. Henderson's "theme" on the show is "Milestones" by Miles Davis
Miles Davis
Miles Dewey Davis III was an American jazz musician, trumpeter, bandleader, and composer. Widely considered one of the most influential musicians of the 20th century, Miles Davis was, with his musical groups, at the forefront of several major developments in jazz music, including bebop, cool jazz,...
.
Late Show with David Letterman
One of Henderson's most notable roles has been his appearance during the CBS Mailbag segments. David Letterman would read the sender's name and hometown for each of the viewers' letters. Henderson would then find the hometown on a large map and stick a colorful pushpin in its location. Henderson's appearance during this segment became so popular that it led to the creation of the Late Show CBS Mailbag 2002 Biff Henderson's Map Across America Summer Tour. Henderson and his map traveled across the country and appeared via satellite from such locations as Mount RushmoreMount Rushmore
Mount Rushmore National Memorial is a sculpture carved into the granite face of Mount Rushmore near Keystone, South Dakota, in the United States...
, Niagara Falls
Niagara Falls
The Niagara Falls, located on the Niagara River draining Lake Erie into Lake Ontario, is the collective name for the Horseshoe Falls and the adjacent American Falls along with the comparatively small Bridal Veil Falls, which combined form the highest flow rate of any waterfalls in the world and has...
and the Grand Canyon
Grand Canyon
The Grand Canyon is a steep-sided canyon carved by the Colorado River in the United States in the state of Arizona. It is largely contained within the Grand Canyon National Park, the 15th national park in the United States...
. One segment Henderson performed in was a take-off of the MTV
MTV
MTV, formerly an initialism of Music Television, is an American network based in New York City that launched on August 1, 1981. The original purpose of the channel was to play music videos guided by on-air hosts known as VJs....
show Punk'd
Punk'd
Punk'd is an American hidden camera/practical joke reality television series that first aired on MTV in 2003 and was created by Ashton Kutcher and Jason Goldberg, produced and hosted by Ashton Kutcher. It bore a resemblance to both the classic hidden camera show Candid Camera and to TV's Bloopers...
called "Biff'd". The segment resembled Candid Camera
Candid Camera
Candid Camera is a hidden camera/practical joke reality television series created and produced by Allen Funt, which initially began on radio as Candid Microphone June 28, 1947...
. In the segment Henderson would come out of nowhere, either startle or scare the person, and say the catchphrase "you just got Biff'd." In one of Henderson's more memorable segments, Letterman sends Henderson to Camp Towanda, a sleepaway camp and films his stay.
During the taping of the February 8, 2010 Late Show, Henderson injured his right leg. Henderson was playing catch with a football thrown by Letterman during a break, he tripped off the stairs at the edge of the stage and landed on his right leg. Henderson was transported by ambulance to the hospital with his leg in a brace.
In addition to his appearances on the Late Show, Henderson has appeared on To Tell The Truth
To Tell the Truth
To Tell the Truth is an American television panel game show created by Bob Stewart and produced by Goodson-Todman Productions that has aired in various forms since 1956 both on networks and in syndication...
and guest-starred on CSI: Miami
CSI: Miami
CSI: Miami is an American police procedural television series, which premiered on September 23, 2002 on CBS. The series is a spin-off of CSI: Crime Scene Investigation....
and Cosby.