Richard Alva Cavett (/ˈkævɪt/; born November 19, 1936) is an American television personality, comedian …Richard Alva Cavett (/ˈkævɪt/; born November 19, 1936) is an American television personality, comedian and former talk show host notable for his conversational style and in-depth discussions. He appeared regularly on nationally broadcast television in the United States for five decades, from the 1960s through the 2000s.