Stephen Colbert facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Stephen Colbert
Colbert in 2024
Birth name	Stephen Tyrone Colbert
Born	(1964-05-13) May 13, 1964 (age 61) Washington, D.C., U.S.
Medium	Television film theater books
Education	Northwestern University (BA)
Years active	1984–present
Genres	Political/news satire improvisational comedy character comedy sketch comedy surreal humor
Subject(s)	American politics American culture political punditry pop culture current events mass media/news media civil rights religion social awkwardness human behavior
Spouse	Evelyn McGee ​ (m. 1993)​
Children	3
Relative(s)	James William Colbert Jr. (father) Elizabeth Colbert Busch (sister)
Signature

Stephen Tyrone Colbert (born May 13, 1964) is an American comedian, writer, producer, actor, and television host. He is famous for hosting the Comedy Central news satire show The Colbert Report from 2005 to 2014. Since September 2015, he has hosted the CBS talk show The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

Colbert first wanted to be a serious actor. But he became interested in improvisational theater (a type of live comedy where performers make up scenes on the spot) while at Northwestern University. He started his career as an understudy for Steve Carell at the famous Second City comedy theater in Chicago.

He gained a lot of attention as a correspondent on Comedy Central's The Daily Show. In 2005, he left to start his own show, The Colbert Report. On this show, he played a funny, over-the-top character who was a parody of conservative news hosts. The show was a huge success. After The Colbert Report ended, he was chosen to replace David Letterman as the host of the Late Show on CBS.

Colbert has won many awards, including nine Primetime Emmy Awards, two Grammy Awards, and three Peabody Awards. He was named one of Time magazine's 100 Most Influential People in 2006 and 2012.

Early Life and Family

Stephen Tyrone Colbert was born in Washington, D.C.. He was the youngest of eleven children in a Catholic family. He grew up on James Island, near Charleston, South Carolina. His father, James William Colbert Jr., was a doctor and a dean at several medical schools. His mother, Lorna Elizabeth Colbert, was a homemaker.

Colbert has said his parents were very religious but also valued learning and asking questions. As a child, he noticed that characters from the South were often shown as being less smart on TV. To avoid this stereotype, he learned to speak like American news anchors.

On September 11, 1974, when Colbert was ten years old, his father and two of his brothers, Paul and Peter, died in a plane crash. This was a very sad and difficult time for him. He later said that after the tragedy, "Nothing made any sense." He found comfort in reading science fiction and fantasy books, especially the works of J. R. R. Tolkien. He is still a big fan of The Lord of the Rings. He also enjoyed playing fantasy role-playing games like Dungeons & Dragons.

Colbert went to Porter-Gaud School in Charleston, where he acted in school plays. He had an ear injury as a child that prevented him from pursuing his dream of studying marine biology. He attended Hampden–Sydney College in Virginia for two years before transferring to Northwestern University in 1984 to study theater. He graduated in 1986.

Early Career in Comedy

Colbert and his wife Evelyn McGee at the Time 100 list event, May 2006

While at Northwestern, Colbert focused on serious acting and wasn't very interested in comedy. However, he started doing improv and found he had a talent for it. After graduating, he got a job at the Second City comedy theater in Chicago. He started by answering phones and selling souvenirs, but soon he was performing with the touring company.

At Second City, he met Amy Sedaris and Paul Dinello. The three became close friends and would later work together on several projects. They created a sketch comedy show called Exit 57 for Comedy Central, which aired from 1995 to 1996.

After Exit 57 was canceled, Colbert worked as a writer and cast member on The Dana Carvey Show with his friend Steve Carell. He also wrote for Saturday Night Live for a short time. In 1997, he was hired as a correspondent for The Daily Show.

Strangers with Candy

While working on The Daily Show, Colbert also co-created another show for Comedy Central called Strangers with Candy with Sedaris and Dinello. The show was a parody of after-school specials and aired from 1999 to 2000.

Colbert played Chuck Noblet, a strict but clueless history teacher. This character was similar to the "poorly informed, high-status idiot" persona he would later become famous for on The Daily Show and The Colbert Report.

Rise to Fame on Television

The Daily Show

Colbert joined The Daily Show in 1997. When Jon Stewart became the host in 1999, the show became more focused on political humor and grew very popular. Colbert became one of its most famous correspondents.

On the show, Colbert developed a character who was a parody of conservative political commentators like Bill O'Reilly. He described this character as "a well-intentioned, poorly informed, high-status idiot." He would interview people and pretend to know a lot about a topic, but his lack of knowledge would lead to funny situations. His work on the show earned him three Emmys as a writer.

The Colbert Report

In 2005, Colbert left The Daily Show to host his own spin-off, The Colbert Report. The show was a parody of personality-driven political talk shows. Colbert hosted the show as his "high-status idiot" character, a loud, right-wing pundit.

The show was an instant hit. It became one of Comedy Central's highest-rated series. On the show, Colbert often talked about his real-life interests, like Catholicism and The Lord of the Rings, but mixed them with his character's funny and absurd views. The show ran for nine years, ending on December 18, 2014.

The Late Show

On April 10, 2014, CBS announced that Colbert would take over for David Letterman as the host of The Late Show. He began hosting The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on September 8, 2015. Unlike on The Colbert Report, he hosts this show as himself, not as a character. The show has a strong focus on politics and current events.

On July 17, 2025, CBS announced that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert would end in May 2026. The network praised Colbert and his team for making the show number one in late-night television for nine seasons.

Political Involvement

Colbert has described himself as a Democrat. Although he plays a conservative character on TV, his real views are more left-of-center. He has used his comedy to make important points about politics and society.

2006 White House Correspondents' Dinner

In 2006, Colbert was the featured entertainer at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner. He performed his routine in character, standing just a few feet away from President George W. Bush. He made many jokes that criticized the president and the news media.

The performance was met with a quiet and uncomfortable reaction from the audience of politicians and journalists. However, a video of his speech quickly went viral online. Many people praised him for his bravery and sharp satire. The event made him even more famous and boosted the ratings for The Colbert Report.

2008 Presidential "Campaign"

In 2007, Colbert announced on his show that he was running for president, but only in his home state of South Carolina. He tried to get on the ballot for both the Republican and Democratic parties.

The South Carolina Democratic Party eventually voted to keep him off the ballot, saying he was not a "serious candidate." Colbert then dropped out of the race. Even though it was a joke campaign, it drew a lot of attention to the political process.

Support for U.S. Troops

In June 2009, Colbert traveled to Baghdad, Iraq, to film a week of shows for the U.S. troops stationed there. The series was called "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando". He even had his head shaved in a military style to show his support for the soldiers.

Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear

Colbert at the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear in Washington D.C., October 2010

In 2010, after conservative commentator Glenn Beck held a large rally in Washington, D.C., Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert decided to hold their own. On October 30, 2010, they hosted the "Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear" on the National Mall.

The rally was a mix of comedy and serious calls for a more reasonable and less angry political discussion in the country. Hundreds of thousands of people attended the event.

Other Projects

Colbert at an event at Florida State University in Tallahassee, November 2006

Besides his television shows, Colbert has been involved in many other projects.

• He co-wrote the book Wigfield: The Can Do Town That Just May Not with Amy Sedaris and Paul Dinello.
• He wrote the best-selling book I Am America (And So Can You!), based on his Colbert Report character.
• He has appeared in movies like Bewitched and had a cameo in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.
• He has provided voices for animated shows like Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law and American Dad!.
• In 2011, he performed in a concert version of the musical Company with the New York Philharmonic.
• He is a big supporter of the Montclair Film Festival in New Jersey, where he lives.

Personal Life

Colbert with his sons, Peter and John, at the Tribeca Film Festival in 2008

Colbert is a practicing Roman Catholic and has taught Sunday school. He married Evelyn "Evie" McGee-Colbert in 1993. They have three children and live in Montclair, New Jersey.

Colbert has talked about dealing with anxiety when he was younger. He found that performing and creating things helped him work through it. He said, "Creating something is what helped me from just spinning apart... And I haven't stopped since."

In 2020, he was diagnosed with a balance disorder called benign paroxysmal positional vertigo. In November 2023, he had surgery for a ruptured appendix, which caused his show to go on a short break while he recovered.

Awards and Honors

Colbert with his Peabody Award, May 2012

Colbert has received many awards for his work.

• He has won nine Primetime Emmy Awards and three Peabody Awards.
• In 2006, the American Dialect Society named "truthiness" the Word of the Year. Colbert had coined the word on the first episode of The Colbert Report.
• He has received several honorary degrees from colleges and universities, including Knox College and Yale University.
• In 2007, Ben & Jerry's created an ice cream flavor in his honor called "Stephen Colbert's AmeriCone Dream." All proceeds go to charity.
• Several animal species have been named after him, including a spider (Aptostichus stephencolberti) and a wasp (Aleiodes colberti).
• In 2009, NASA named a treadmill on the International Space Station the "Combined Operational Load-Bearing External Resistance Treadmill," or COLBERT.

• 

  The C.O.L.B.E.R.T. logo being put on the treadmill at NASA before it was sent to space.

• 

  The launch of Space Shuttle Discovery, which carried the COLBERT treadmill to the International Space Station.

• 

  A cosmonaut exercises on the COLBERT treadmill aboard the International Space Station.

• 

  The astronaut crew who delivered the treadmill to space.

Filmography

Film

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1993	Missing Persons	Chet Davies	Episode: "Cabe... What Kind of Name Is That?"
1995–1996	Exit 57	Various	12 episodes; also co-creator and writer
1996	The Dana Carvey Show	Various	8 episodes; also writer
	Spin City	Frank	Episode: "The Competition"
1996–2011	Saturday Night Live	Ace / Dr. Brainio (voices)	14 episodes; also writer
1997	Apartment 2F	Various roles	Episode: "1.6"
	The Chris Rock Show	Announcer (voice)	Episode: "1.5"
	HBO Comedy Hour: Janeane Garofalo	Dog trainer	TV Special
1997–2005	The Daily Show	Stephen Colbert (correspondent)	1,316 episodes; also writer
1999	Late Night with Conan O'Brien	Violin Player	Episode: "1,144"
	Random Play	Various	2 episodes
1998	Whose Line Is It Anyway?	Himself	Season 1, Episode 17
1999–2000	Strangers with Candy	Chuck Noblet	30 episodes; also co-creator, writer, and executive producer
2001–2007	Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law	Phil Ken Sebben / Myron Reducto / Various voices	34 episodes
2002	The New York Friars Roast of Chevy Chase	Himself	Television special
2002	Crank Yankers	Rob (voice)	Episode: "1.1"
2004	Curb Your Enthusiasm	Tourist Man	Episode: "Opening Night"
	Law & Order: Criminal Intent	James Bennett	Episode: "The Saint"
	The Wrong Coast	Various voices	2 episodes
2004, 2006 2015	The Venture Bros.	Professor Richard Impossible (voice)	3 episodes
2005	American Dad!	Dr. Dandliker (voice)	Episode: "All About Steve"
	All-Star Alphabet	The letter 'Z'	Sesame Street special
2005–2014	The Colbert Report	Stephen Colbert (host)	1,447 episodes; also co-creator, writer, and executive producer
2006	White House Correspondents' Dinner	Stephen Colbert (host)	TV special
2007	The Simpsons	Colby Krause (voice)	Episode: "He Loves to Fly and He D'ohs"
2008	A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!	Stephen Colbert	TV special
2010	Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear	Stephen Colbert (host)	TV special
2012	The Office	Broccoli Rob	Episode "Here Comes Treble"
2013	Alpha House	Stephen Colbert	Episode: "Pilot"
2014	@midnight	Stephen Colbert	Episode: "156"
2014–2015	BoJack Horseman	Mr. Witherspoon (voice)	2 episodes
2015	House of Cards	Stephen Colbert	Episode: "Chapter 27"
	The Mindy Project	Father Michael O'Donnell	Episode: "Confessions of a Catho-holic"
	Rick and Morty	Zeep Xanflorp (voice)	Episode: "The Ricks Must Be Crazy"
2015–present	The Late Show with Stephen Colbert	Himself (host)	The Late Show with Stephen Colbert logo The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is a popular American late-night talk show that you can watch on the CBS television channel. It is hosted by the funny and smart Stephen Colbert. This show is the second version of the Late Show series, which started after the first host, David Letterman, retired. The show's bandleader, who plays music and adds to the fun, is Jonathan Batiste. The very first episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert aired on September 8, 2015. Before this show, Stephen Colbert was well-known for hosting another show called The Colbert Report on Comedy Central. About The Late Show The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is a type of TV program called a late-night talk show. These shows usually air late in the evening. They feature a host who talks about the news of the day, often with jokes. The host also interviews famous guests like actors, musicians, and politicians. There's usually a live band and sometimes comedy sketches. What is a Talk Show? A talk show is a television or radio program where one person, the host, talks to different guests. The guests are often celebrities, experts, or people with interesting stories. The host asks them questions, and they share their thoughts and experiences. It's a way for viewers to learn more about famous people or important topics in a relaxed setting. Who is Stephen Colbert? Stephen Colbert is an American comedian, writer, producer, and television host. He is famous for his quick wit and his ability to make people laugh while also discussing serious topics. Before hosting The Late Show, he hosted The Colbert Report. On that show, he played a character who was a very opinionated news commentator. He won many awards for his work on The Colbert Report, including several Primetime Emmy Awards. The Show's Home The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is filmed in New York City. It takes place at the historic Ed Sullivan Theater. This theater has been home to many famous television shows over the years, including The Ed Sullivan Show. It's a special place with a lot of history in entertainment. Images Stephen Colbert hosted his satirical news show, The Colbert Report, which won seven Primetime Emmy Awards on Comedy Central, from October 2005 to December 2014. The Ed Sullivan Theater's marquee Colbert interviewing Secretary of State John Kerry See also In Spanish: The Late Show with Stephen Colbert para niños episodes; also executive producer and writer
2017	At Home with Amy Sedaris	Himself	Episode: "Gift Giving"
	69th Primetime Emmy Awards	Himself (host)	TV special
2018–2020	Our Cartoon President	—	46 episodes; also co-creator, writer, and executive producer
		Wolf Blitzer / Various voices	25 episodes
2018	Harvey Birdman: Attorney General	Phil Ken Sebben (voice)	TV special
2019	Madam Secretary	Himself	Episode "Hail to the Chief"
2019–2022	Critical Role	Capo / Lucky Jack	2 episodes
2020–2023	Tooning Out the News	—	Co-creator, writer, and executive producer
2021	Girls5eva	Alf Musik	Episode: "Alf Musik"
2022	Fairview	—	Executive producer
2024	After Midnight	—	Executive producer

See also

In Spanish: Stephen Colbert para niños

• New Yorkers in journalism
• Political satire