Biff Henderson


James Jackson "Biff" Henderson, Jr. is an American comedian and television personality best known for his work on the Late Show with David Letterman. He was the show's stage manager and appeared in occasional humorous segments, which often involved interviewing people at public places and events.

Early life and education

Henderson was born in Durham, North Carolina, in the Hayti District. He acquired the nickname "Biff" from his mother when her friend had a dream involving a boy named "Biff". He graduated from Hillside High School in Durham, and earned a degree in business administration from Hampton Institute. He also served in the United States Army and deployed to Vietnam during the Vietnam War.

Career

Henderson worked as a stage manager on the 1969 version of To Tell the Truth. He joined NBC in the early 1970s, working first for the NBC Radio sales department and then as stage manager during NBC's coverage of the World Series and coverage of various NASA missions.
His association with David Letterman, which spanned 35 years, began in 1980 as a stage manager on The David Letterman Show. He rejoined Letterman with the launch of Late Night with David Letterman in 1982, remaining with it and Late Show with David Letterman for their entire runs. Henderson frequently participated in the on-screen antics and sometimes was the star of short segments recounting his humorous adventures in New York. Henderson's "theme" music on the show was "Milestones" by Miles Davis.
Henderson took part in a Jimmy Kimmel Live! skit honoring Back to the Future during a Kimmel broadcast from Brooklyn in October 2015. When Michael J. Fox and Christopher Lloyd ask Kimmel what became of their nemesis Biff, Henderson came onstage, prompting "Marty" to tell Kimmel, "no, not that Biff."