Dick Assman, the Regina gas station worker whose surname led to a brief stint on David Letterman's late-night talk show, has died at age 82.

Assman, who was born in Neudorf, Sask., in 1934, died on Monday.

He worked as a manager, mechanic and gas attendant at service stations in Saskatchewan his whole life.

In the summer of 1995, Assman became an instant celebrity when the Late Show host took an interest in his name.

Assman had moved from working at one gas station location to another and the owner decided to put an ad in the paper to let people know.

ARCHIVE: Wendy Mesley profile of Dick Assman from 1995 8:05

The ad struck someone as humorous. A copy was submitted, anonymously, to the Late Show for a segment called Dumb Ads.

The popular television host took sophomoric glee in the name and made Assman the focal point for a comedy bit.

When Letterman phoned Assman for more laughs, the then 61-year-old man became an instant celebrity. In time, he was invited to New York City to appear on the show.

After appearing on Letterman's show, Assman became the talk of Regina. He told CBC News last year that he still had a laugh over his Letterman fame.