Roanoke Times
Copyright (c) 1995, Landmark Communications, Inc.
DATE: TUESDAY, May 2, 1995 TAG: 9505020088
SECTION: EXTRA PAGE: 1 EDITION: METRO
SOURCE: KATHLEEN WILSON STAFF WRITER
DATELINE: LENGTH: Medium
Then, as if on cue, stage manager Biff Henderson of ``The Late Show With David Letterman'' walks into Jee's Hello Deli for his daily cup of coffee.
I'm not the only one who bursts out, ``Biff! Hi!''
Henderson is one of the ``Late Show's'' more prominent and recognizable staff members. He's been with David Letterman since the very beginning.
Born and raised in Durham, N.C., Henderson wound up in New York City after receiving a degree in business administration.
What had he planned to do with that degree?
``I had no idea,'' he admits.
Henderson first worked for Letterman on his very short-lived morning show. It was Letterman's poor fortune that the show only lasted six months, but that was enough to qualify Henderson for the Director's Guild and establish him in the world of television.
``Then one day - when he got ``Late Night'' over at NBC - [Letterman] called me up,'' recalls Henderson, who has been with the king of late-night television ever since.
He's done a number of odd things for his boss, things not generally listed on the job description for a stage manager.
Once, he and Letterman went out and took lessons on how to audition for commercials. If the boss requests it - and he has - Henderson appears on camera with a beverage - usually coffee - squirting out of his ears.
On the old show, he was memorable in ``Stage Hand Theater,'' a running gag that showcased some of the worst acting in the history of modern civilization.
Is there anything he wouldn't do for the show?
``Honestly, I can't think of anything,'' he says. ``They come up with ideas and ask me if I'm willing and if it's funny and helps things for the show and things for Dave, then I'll do it.''
Henderson is one of those people who walks around with a perpetual sweet smile on his face. The man looks genuinely happy. All the time.
``I certainly can't complain,'' he admits. At Hillside High School in Durham, he was voted most popular.
``But I'm not aware I'm always smiling, though lots of people have told me that.''
Even though he seems to have it made, Henderson admits, he doesn't always feel up. ``But life's too short to waste time focusing on the negatives.''
That seems diametrically opposed to how his boss is perceived. In just about every article written about him, Letterman is portrayed as a man who is never happy with the work he does. A man obsessively concerned that he never does anything as well as he could have.
``They say no one individual can know anyone better than their own self, but I think I know Dave as well as anyone, and I know I'm the same way,'' Henderson says. ``He's a perfectionist and a professional and so am I. We just handle it in different ways.''
What Henderson likes the most about his job is that it's different every day.
``It's fun,'' he says, ``but it's not easy. Every night we try to get it right. We try to satisfy Dave. We try to satisfy the audience.''
When told his parents must be terribly proud of their son, he answers, ``Well, I'm proud of them. They are wonderful people.''
A married man with a daughter in college and a son in high school, Henderson still makes it a priority to visit Durham on a monthly basis.
``Sometimes I go every other weekend.''
In fact, this thoroughly positive man with the perpetual smile has only one complaint.
``I just wish the airfare's would become more reasonable.''
by CNB