I always think of Cheech Marin too.
Wow, I was on his show once, in a mother-son spelling bee.
But my answer to the OP is Dave Brubeck.
No famous Daves came to mind at all. My SO was first, and then I thought of all the uncles and cousins by that name.
My first thought also. Second was my first boyfriend…
Dave Matthews. I was a big fan in high school and college.
The guy in the Stuart McLean Vinyl Cafe stories. 
It surprises me that I’m the first, but I thought of Dave Gilmour.
I heard the Cheech and Chong Dave skit on the radio yesterday, and laughed as much as I used to.
That Dave’s not local. 
We have some lovely parting gifts for you though. 
Dave’s not here, man.
I’ve really had fun with the responses to this thread! I’m going to do an actual tally if/when we get to 100 posts, but a rough guess (without actually counting them) would have these as the most popular replies thus far:
- Letterman
- the Cheech and Chong bit (“Dave’s not here.”)
- 2001 (HAL)
- Kids in the Hall (These are the Daves I know)
- a relative
- a co-worker
- a musician/band member
- Kevin Kline movie
- oneself
There are at least 10 once-only names of celebrities I had never heard of! Way too many for a poll, which would defeat the purpose of “first thing to pop into your mind.”
Keep 'em coming!
Zeldar, if you don’t mind, I’d like to suggest you change your categories a bit. I have had friends named “Dave” too. Perhaps merge “relatives”, “co-workers”, and “friends” into “personal acquaintances”?
Pod bay doors Dave, closely followed by Dave Thomas.
Good plan. Will do. I may even find other groupings that simplify the actual answers as I summarize for real.
I do want to have mentioned any specific individuals named instead of tossing them into a category, mainly because, as I said, I don’t know some of these people. But a catchall where no identities are provided makes good sense. What about “Others”?
Dave Barry (the writer).
Most people I know of named “David” are “David” to me, not Dave.
The quote “I’m sorry I can’t do that, Dave” (the HAL computer from the movie “2001”) was a very close second, but I’m really picturing (hearing) the computer talking and have no mental image of the character or actor in the movie, so that may not count.
I can’t think of many more examples of “Dave”. I think Dave Davies is the front man for The Kinks, but I’m not 100% sure without looking it up that I’m not remembering his name wrong.
But other famous “Davids” that quickly come to mind (aside from personal friends who you wouldn’t likely know) include: the statue by Michelangelo, David Hasselhoff, David Bowie, David Wright (the baseball player), David Letterman…
Same here.
I’m surprised to see so many people jumping right to famous Daves when it’s such a common name among us common folk.
Barry, alas. I don’t find him funny.
My brother.
There are so many possibilities that it’s kind of random which one I would think of, but this time…Dave Thomas, the comedian?
Lister.