Joe Toplyn

Joe Toplyn is an American television writer, producer, and author whose credits include Late Night with David Letterman, The Tonight Show with Jay Leno, Late Show with David Letterman, the sketch series In Living Color, and the detective comedy series Monk. He is a four-time Primetime Emmy Award winner for writing on Late Night with David Letterman and has served as head writer or co-head writer on both The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and Late Show with David Letterman.

Early life and education Toplyn studied applied physics and computer science at Harvard College, where he joined The Harvard Lampoon and became an editor. He served as head writer on the short-lived The Chevy Chase Show and later became co-head writer of The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and head writer of CBS's Late Show with David Letterman, also working as a producer on the latter. Together, they have two sons, and reside in Westchester County, New York.