Spartina Productions

Stephen Colbert
Born	Stephen Tyrone Colbert (1964-05-13) May 13, 1964 Washington, D.C., U.S.
Occupation(s)	Comedian, writer, producer, political analyst, actor, television presenter
Years active	1986–present
Known for	Host of The Colbert Report and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Stephen Tyrone Colbert (born May 13, 1964) is a multifaceted American entertainer known for his work as a comedian, writer, producer, political analyst, actor, and television presenter. He gained prominence as the host of Comedy Central's satirical news program The Colbert Report (2005–2014) and has been leading CBS's The Late Show with Stephen Colbert since 2015.

Colbert initially pursued dramatic acting at Northwestern University but later shifted his focus to improvisational theater. He became part of Second City Chicago, collaborating with director Del Close. Early in his career, he served as an understudy to Steve Carell and worked alongside Paul Dinello and Amy Sedaris on the sketch show Exit 57 and the comedy series Strangers with Candy (1999–2000). Additionally, he contributed as a writer and performer on The Dana Carvey Show in 1996.

His national breakthrough came through his role as a correspondent on Comedy Central's The Daily Show. In 2005, he created and starred in The Colbert Report, a satirical take on personality-driven political commentary programs such as The O'Reilly Factor, portraying a fictional right-wing commentator. This character significantly boosted his visibility, culminating in a memorable appearance at the 2006 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner and establishing the show as one of Comedy Central’s top-rated series. After concluding The Colbert Report, he took over from David Letterman as the host of CBS’s Late Show in 2015. Colbert also served as host for the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards in 2017.

His achievements include nine Primetime Emmy Awards, two Grammy Awards, and three Peabody Awards. Time magazine recognized him among the 100 Most Influential People in both 2006 and 2012. His book, I Am America (And So Can You!), reached number one on The New York Times Best Seller list in 2007.

Early life and education

Stephen Tyrone Colbert was born in Washington, D.C. as the youngest sibling among eleven children in a deeply religious Catholic household. While spending part of his early years in Bethesda, Maryland, he was primarily raised in James Island, South Carolina, near Charleston. His father, James William Colbert Jr., was an immunologist who also served as dean at multiple medical schools, including the Medical University of South Carolina. His mother, Lorna Elizabeth Colbert (née Tuck), dedicated herself to managing the home. Colbert has characterized his parents as both devout and intellectually inquisitive, fostering an environment where questioning faith was encouraged. His father had a keen interest in French humanist literature while his mother admired Catholic social reformers. Nevertheless, Colbert recalls growing up with fairly conservative values.

His heritage is mainly Irish with some German and English lineage. The family surname was originally pronounced , but during college he adapted the pronunciation to , reinventing his personal identity.

At ten years old, Colbert endured a significant family loss when his father and two brothers perished in the 1974 crash of Eastern Air Lines Flight 212. This tragedy had a profound impact on him and deeply influenced his perspective on grief and adversity. Following this event, his mother relocated the family to downtown Charleston where she ran a bed and breakfast.

After moving, Colbert faced social challenges and distanced himself from typical childhood experiences. He found comfort in science fiction and fantasy literature—particularly works by J. R. R. Tolkien—and developed an early passion for role-playing games such as Dungeons & Dragons, which he later credited for honing his acting talents.

He attended Porter-Gaud School, an Episcopal institution in Charleston, where he engaged in theatrical productions and school media but showed limited enthusiasm academically. His early musical interests included leading a Rolling Stones tribute band. A damaged eardrum curtailed his ambition to pursue marine biology due to hearing loss.

Initially uncertain about higher education plans, Colbert enrolled at Hampden–Sydney College in 1982 with a major in philosophy while continuing to participate in theater. After two years, he transferred to Northwestern University to focus on theater performance, dedicating himself to acting despite modest audience sizes. He completed his degree at Northwestern’s School of Communication in 1986.

Early career in comedy

During his time at Northwestern, Colbert pursued dramatic acting, primarily participating in experimental theater and showing minimal enthusiasm for comedic roles. He started improvising with the university troupe No Fun Mud Piranhas and performed at Chicago's Annoyance Theatre, where his focus was on long-form improvisation rather than traditional comedy. Although initially skeptical of Second City, he later enrolled in their free improv classes after graduating in 1986, which he found highly enjoyable.

Shortly thereafter, Colbert became part of Second City's touring company as a backup for Steve Carell, where he connected with future collaborators Amy Sedaris and Paul Dinello. Despite early tensions, the three eventually formed a close creative bond through their shared comedic outlook. Talent scout Robert Smigel expressed interest in working with Colbert and assisted him in auditioning unsuccessfully for Saturday Night Live in 1992. Smigel also attempted to bring him onto Late Night with Conan O'Brien, but no opportunity came to fruition.

When Sedaris and Dinello launched the HBO Downtown Productions sketch series Exit 57, Colbert relocated to New York to join the cast. The show aired on Comedy Central from 1995 to 1996, running for 12 episodes and receiving positive critical attention along with five CableACE Award nominations recognizing writing, performance, and comedy series achievements.

The Dana Carvey Show (1996)

Following the cancellation of Exit 57, Colbert became a cast member and writer on The Dana Carvey Show, collaborating with Steve Carell, Smigel, Charlie Kaufman, Louis C.K., and Dino Stamatopoulos. Known for its edgy satire, the program lost sponsorship soon after its debut and ended after seven episodes. Colbert briefly contributed as a freelance writer for Saturday Night Live, where Smigel introduced his animated creation The Ambiguously Gay Duo; Colbert provided the voice of Ace opposite Carell’s Gary. To supplement his earnings, he also served as a script consultant for VH1 and MTV and recorded correspondent segments for Good Morning America. Although only one segment was broadcast, this exposure led producer Madeline Smithberg to offer him a trial position on The Daily Show in 1997.

Strangers with Candy (1999–2000)

During this timeframe, Colbert reunited with Sedaris and Dinello to develop the Comedy Central series Strangers with Candy. After being greenlit in 1998—shortly after Colbert began on The Daily Show—he scaled back his involvement there, producing approximately 20 segments yearly while dedicating more attention to the new project.

Strangers with Candy satirized after-school specials by focusing on Jerri Blank, a 46-year-old dropout who returns to high school after many years away. The show was known for its provocative humor, concluding each episode with a twisted, politically incorrect moral lesson. Colbert was a principal writer and played Chuck Noblet, Jerri’s authoritarian yet uninformed history teacher—a character type that anticipated his later portrayals of "ignorant but high-status" individuals. A recurring gag centered on Noblet’s closeted homosexuality and his overt relationship with fellow teacher Geoffrey Jellineck, emphasizing a theme of obliviousness also common in Colbert’s other roles.

The series aired 30 episodes on Comedy Central from 1999 through 2000. Despite modest viewership, it developed a devoted cult audience. Colbert returned as Noblet for the 2005 film adaptation, which debuted at Sundance before receiving limited theatrical release in 2006. He co-authored the screenplay alongside Sedaris and Dinello; critical reception was mixed.

The Daily Show (1997–2005)

Stephen Colbert became part of Comedy Central's The Daily Show in 1997 during its sophomore season, joining as one of four correspondents responsible for remote segments. Initially labeled "the new guy," he worked alongside host Craig Kilborn until 1999, when Jon Stewart assumed hosting duties and redirected the program toward a more politically focused format. This shift significantly increased the show's appeal, particularly throughout the 2000 U.S. presidential election cycle. Correspondents' responsibilities grew to include more studio appearances and international reports utilizing greenscreen technology. Colbert was typically involved in writing and editing his own material.

Distinct from Stewart’s approach of hosting as himself, Colbert crafted a correspondent persona that satirized conservative commentators such as Bill O'Reilly. He characterized this alter ego as "a well-intentioned, poorly informed, high-status idiot" who confidently tackled subjects despite lacking expertise. His segments featured scripted dialogues emphasizing his character’s ignorance and frequently incorporated comedic logical fallacies. This innovative style influenced fellow correspondents; both Rob Corddry and Aasif Mandvi have acknowledged Colbert’s significant impact on their work. Madeleine Smithberg, co-creator of the show, recognized his comedic talent from early on.

Colbert regularly appeared in recurring features like "Even Stevphen" alongside Steve Carell and "This Week in God", where he covered religious news using the "God Machine." He reported live from Democratic and Republican National Conventions during the 2000 and 2004 election cycles; numerous pieces from 2004 were compiled in The Daily Show: Indecision 2004 DVD release. Notable segments included satirical reports such as "Grouse Hunting in Shropshire" and parody campaign appearances. Occasionally, Colbert substituted for Stewart as anchor, including a full week in March 2002.

Following Colbert’s exit, Rob Corddry assumed hosting duties for "This Week in God," although Colbert’s voice continued to be used for the God Machine sound effects. Subsequent episodes featured reruns of Colbert’s segments under the title "Klassic Kolbert." During his tenure at The Daily Show, he received three Emmy Awards for writing in 2004, 2005, and 2006.

The Colbert Report (2005–2014)

Stephen Colbert helmed The Colbert Report from October 17, 2005, through December 18, 2014. This spin-off from The Daily Show parodied political cable news programs such as The O'Reilly Factor and Hannity. In this series, Colbert performed entirely in character as a bombastic right-wing pundit—an extension of the persona he developed previously. The show was created by Jon Stewart, Stephen Colbert, and Ben Karlin to focus on "character-driven news," emphasizing the quirks of the host-character rather than straightforward current events.

Initially introduced as a fictional segment within The Daily Show, it was developed by Stewart’s Busboy Productions and pitched to Comedy Central, which approved the series to expand upon the thriving Daily Show brand. The program debuted with strong viewership—averaging approximately 1.2 million nightly viewers during its first week—and rapidly became one of Comedy Central’s top-rated series, securing a long-term contract within its inaugural month.

Colbert infused his character with facets drawn from his personal interests such as Catholicism, science fiction, and The Lord of the Rings. He concocted a backstory portraying himself as a South Carolina native, the youngest sibling among eleven children, and a married man. He downplayed his actual background in comedy and acting while often claiming to have attended Dartmouth College instead of Northwestern University. In July 2012, he extended his contract with Comedy Central through 2014.

The final episode aired on December 18, 2014, featuring musical performances and appearances by prominent figures including Jon Stewart, Randy Newman, Bryan Cranston, Willie Nelson, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Tom Brokaw, Gloria Steinem, George Lucas, Henry Kissinger, and Bill Clinton (via text message). The finale also showcased cameos from Alex Trebek, coalition forces stationed in Afghanistan, and various characters such as Santa Claus and Abraham Lincoln.

The Late Show (2015–present)

On April 10, 2014, CBS revealed Stephen Colbert as the successor to David Letterman as host of The Late Show. Colbert officially took over on September 8, 2015, with George Clooney as his first guest. Under Colbert’s leadership, the program shifted toward a more pronounced political commentary, reflecting his personal style and audience expectations.

In 2017, Colbert served as host for the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards. He further expanded his industry footprint in 2021 by securing a production agreement between his Spartina Productions and CBS Studios. This partnership resulted in projects such as Tooning Out the News and Fairview, while Colbert also held an executive producer role on Comedy Central’s Tha God's Honest Truth. Amid the 2023 Writers Guild strike, he collaborated with other late-night hosts to launch the charitable podcast Strike Force Five, aimed at supporting their staff members affected by the work stoppage.

Between 2024 and 2025, Colbert co-produced CBS’s late-night comedy panel show After Midnight alongside his wife, Evie. The program ended after two seasons following the departure of host Taylor Tomlinson.

On July 17, 2025, shortly after CBS resolved a $16 million lawsuit involving Donald Trump, the network announced plans to conclude The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and retire the franchise by May 2026. Despite maintaining the top spot in late-night ratings for nine straight seasons and receiving praise for Colbert’s strategic guidance, CBS attributed the decision to challenging corporate considerations amid evolving market conditions. The network expressed profound appreciation for Colbert and his team, pledging to honor their efforts throughout the show's remaining tenure.

Political Perspectives

Stephen Colbert identifies politically as a Democrat and has described his views as "left of center." While he expresses respect for Republicans as individuals, he disagrees with many of their policy positions. Inspired by leaders like Cesar Chavez, Colbert’s outlook aligns with progressive movements. Notably, he keeps a 1972 Richard Nixon campaign poster in his office, recognizing Nixon’s progressive contributions such as establishing the EPA and lowering the voting age, yet condemns Nixon’s extension of the Vietnam War as profoundly harmful.

Initially a supporter of Ronald Reagan, Colbert’s political beliefs shifted leftward during his college years. He has criticized Reagan’s response to the AIDS epidemic and advocates for political awareness, recommending intellectuals like Noam Chomsky. Throughout the Obama administration, Colbert voiced opposition to U.S. drone warfare and NSA surveillance practices.

In electoral matters, he has criticized Hillary Clinton for representing entrenched Washington corruption and expressed doubts about her presidential viability. He endorses Bernie Sanders’ Medicare for All proposal as a superior alternative to Obamacare and supports abortion rights. During the 2023 Writers Guild strike, Colbert publicly backed union rights and collective bargaining efforts.

In 2023, Russia prohibited Colbert from entering the country, accusing him of promoting "Russophobic" sentiments amid U.S. sanctions. He has been critical of Israel’s policies toward Palestinians and advocated for a ceasefire following the 2024 Gaza conflict, holding Israeli officials accountable. Additionally, he defended pro-Palestinian demonstrations on college campuses as protected under First Amendment rights.

Colbert played a moderating role at a 2024 fundraiser for Joe Biden's presidential campaign that featured Biden alongside Bill Clinton and Barack Obama. Following Biden's initial debate performance in 2024, Colbert publicly suggested that Biden should consider withdrawing from the race.

2006 White House Correspondents' Dinner

On April 29, 2006, Colbert served as the headline entertainer at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, performing mere feet from President George W. Bush before an audience described by the Associated Press as an elite gathering of influential figures and celebrities. Adopting his politically conservative persona from The Colbert Report, he delivered a pointed satire that critiqued both the Bush administration and the White House press corps:

Colbert’s performance was met with a predominantly subdued reaction; many of his jokes were greeted with silence or quiet murmurs, interrupted only occasionally by bursts of laughter. Initial media coverage was minimal, with some analysts attributing this to his dual-edged critique of both the president and the media. While certain reviewers dismissed the act as lacking humor, the video rapidly gained viral traction, driving a 37% surge in The Colbert Report viewership to nearly 1.5 million per episode in the week that followed.

Industry experts acknowledged the occasion as a pivotal cultural event; Time magazine described it as "the political-cultural touchstone issue of 2006," and half a year later, The New York Times referred to it as a "defining moment" during the 2006 midterm elections. This appearance significantly expanded Colbert’s influence in the marketplace and cemented his status as a leading figure in political satire.

2008 presidential bid

Throughout 2007, Colbert’s fictional character on The Colbert Report teased a potential presidential campaign, which gained momentum following the release of his book, I Am America (And So Can You!). On October 16, 2007, he formally declared his intention to run for president, aiming to appear on both the Republican and Democratic ballots as a "favorite son" candidate in South Carolina. He subsequently abandoned plans to seek the Republican nomination due to the $35,000 filing fee but persisted in pursuing the Democratic ballot. On October 28, 2007, Colbert campaigned in Columbia, South Carolina, where Mayor Bob Coble awarded him the key to the city.

Colbert actively promoted donations to Donorschoose.org, an online platform linking contributors with classrooms in need. This initiative generated $68,000 for schools across South Carolina, benefiting more than 14,000 underprivileged students. In 2008, he replicated this approach during Pennsylvania’s primary by organizing a "straw poll that makes a difference," encouraging donations to classroom projects supporting Barack Obama or Hillary Clinton. This effort raised $185,000 for initiatives impacting 43,000 students in Pennsylvania.

On November 1, 2007, the executive council of the South Carolina Democratic Party voted 13–3 against placing Colbert on their primary ballot, citing concerns about his candidacy’s legitimacy. Shortly afterward, Colbert withdrew to avoid a contentious Supreme Court confrontation reminiscent of the 2000 election recount. Reports indicated that supporters of Obama influenced party officials to block Colbert’s bid despite his growing popularity in polls.

Although Colbert ended his actual campaign efforts, his fictional presidential run persisted within Marvel Comics. Editor-in-chief Joe Quesada confirmed that Colbert’s campaign storyline appeared on covers and within narratives of The Amazing Spider-Man throughout 2008, including an extended guest role in issue No. 573. Furthermore, Colbert lent his voice to portray the U.S. president in the 2009 animated feature Monsters vs. Aliens.

2009 Support for U.S. Forces in Iraq

On June 5, 2009, Colbert journeyed to Baghdad, Iraq to record a series of episodes called "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando", produced in partnership with the USO. To show his support for American soldiers, he donned a custom Army Combat Uniform and sported a military-style haircut. The premiere episode included a special appearance by President Barack Obama. John Hanson, USO Senior Vice President, highlighted the program’s significance as a morale enhancer for troops stationed overseas.

2010 Testimony Before Congress

On September 24, 2010, Colbert appeared in character before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Security. Invited by chairwoman Zoe Lofgren, he recounted his experience working alongside migrant workers through the United Farm Workers' "Take Our Jobs" initiative. At the end of his testimony, Colbert stepped out of character to underscore the lack of legal protections faced by migrant laborers despite their vital contributions:

Democratic representative John Conyers questioned whether Colbert’s presence was appropriate and requested his removal; however, chairwoman Lofgren intervened and Conyers retracted his demand.

Colbert’s appearance sparked criticism from conservative media figures who deemed his satirical tone unsuitable for congressional proceedings. Yuval Levin of The Corner described the event as "awkward and futile," while Ed Morrissey from Hot Air pointed out the clash between Colbert’s comedic approach and the seriousness of the hearing.

2010 Demonstrations in Washington, D.C.

After Glenn Beck's Restoring Honor rally in September 2010, a movement encouraged Colbert to organize a rally at the Lincoln Memorial. During the September 10 broadcasts of both Daily Show and The Colbert Report, Stewart and Colbert previewed an upcoming event. On September 16, they revealed plans for two rival rallies on the National Mall scheduled for October 30, 2010: Stewart’s "Rally to Restore Sanity" and Colbert’s "March to Keep Fear Alive". These events were eventually combined into the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear.

2011 Formation of Political Super PAC

In May 2011, Colbert submitted paperwork to the Federal Election Commission (FEC) requesting a media exemption that would allow coverage of his political action committee, ColbertPAC, on The Colbert Report. By June 2011, the FEC approved a limited exemption permitting unlimited airtime and use of show resources to promote the Super PAC without disclosure requirements—but only for advertisements broadcast on The Colbert Report. Subsequently, Colbert officially filed documents establishing his Super PAC.

2012 South Carolina GOP Primary Involvement

Following the New Hampshire primary in early 2012, a Public Policy Polling survey conducted between January 5–7 among 1,112 likely GOP voters showed Colbert receiving 5% support—surpassing Jon Huntsman’s 4%—despite not being an official candidate on the ballot. He ranked behind Rick Perry (7%) and Ron Paul (8%), with Mitt Romney leading at 27%. On the January 11 episode of The Colbert Report, he teased a "Major Announcement" regarding a possible presidential bid in South Carolina.

On January 12, Colbert addressed legal limitations preventing him from running while managing his Super PAC. With advice from attorney Trevor Potter, he transferred control of the Super PAC to Jon Stewart and renamed it "The Definitely Not Coordinating With Stephen Colbert Super PAC." Relieved from these legal obstacles, Colbert declared he was forming an exploratory committee to consider a presidential campaign in South Carolina, stressing that he was still evaluating this possibility.

On January 16, 2012, Colbert humorously encouraged viewers to cast their votes for Herman Cain in the South Carolina primary. Although Cain had withdrawn from the race, votes for him were portrayed by Colbert as symbolic backing for his own potential candidacy.

Additional Endeavors

Colbert collaborated with Amy Sedaris and Paul Dinello to co-write the satirical novel Wigfield: The Can Do Town That Just May Not (2003). This work, which included fabricated interviews and photographs, was transformed into a theatrical tour during the same year.

In 2005, he appeared in a supporting capacity in the film Bewitched and made guest appearances on television programs such as Curb Your Enthusiasm, Spin City, Law & Order: Criminal Intent, and Whose Line Is It Anyway?. His voice acting credits include roles on Adult Swim's Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law, Cartoon Network's The Venture Bros., Comedy Central’s Crank Yankers and American Dad!, as well as the Canadian show The Wrong Coast. Additionally, he portrayed Homer Simpson’s life coach in the episode "He Loves to Fly and He D'ohs" of The Simpsons.

Colbert was a frequent contributor to Air America Radio’s The Majority Report, where he occasionally substituted for Sam Seder, and also reported for The Al Franken Show. He took part in the tribute compilation Wig in a Box honoring Hedwig and the Angry Inch and performed as Leopold Bloom during Bloomsday on Broadway XXIV in 2005. His appearances extended to commercials for General Motors, and he played the letter Z in a 2005 Sesame Street production.

In 2007, Colbert published a book linked to his television persona titled I Am America (And So Can You!), released by Grand Central Publishing. The volume contains predominantly political satire penned by Colbert himself. His 2008 holiday special, A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!, premiered on Comedy Central and was subsequently issued on DVD.

During the 2010 Winter Olympics, Colbert acted as assistant sports psychologist for the U.S. Olympic speed skating team while also joining NBC’s coverage team. The following year, he participated in a concert revival of Stephen Sondheim’s musical Company at Lincoln Center, which was recorded for cinema distribution. In 2011, he captained the yacht "Spirit of Juno" in the Charleston to Bermuda Race, securing second place.

From 2012 onward, Colbert engaged with the Montclair Film Festival—established by his wife Evelyn McGee Colbert—by serving on its advisory board and hosting yearly fundraising events featuring prominent entertainment figures. He made a brief appearance as a "Laketown Spy" alongside his family in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.

Outside of talk shows, Colbert hosted the Kennedy Center Honors ceremonies between 2014 and 2016 and presided over the 2017 69th Primetime Emmy Awards. In 2018, he authored a satirical children’s book titled Whose Boat Is This Boat?, which compiled unedited statements from President Trump; proceeds exceeding $1 million were donated toward hurricane relief efforts.

In 2014, Colbert co-created Scripto, a collaborative scriptwriting platform utilized by several major late-night programs including his own show. His wife is acknowledged as a co-founder of this software.

He hosted events such as the 2019 Montclair Film Festival screening of Tolkien and facilitated cast reunions related to the Lord of the Rings Blu-ray release in 2021.

Through their production company Spartina, Colbert and his wife served as executive producers for the film adaptation of Derek DelGaudio’s off-Broadway performance In & Of Itself. In 2024, they jointly authored a cookbook titled Does This Taste Funny?, focusing on Lowcountry cuisine with recipes from their family heritage.

Influences

Stephen Colbert has acknowledged a diverse range of comedic inspirations, including Don Novello, Phil Silvers, Alec Guinness, Bill Cosby, George Carlin, Dean Martin, Jon Stewart, Monty Python, Steve Martin, and David Letterman. However, following the 2017 sexual assault allegations against Cosby, Colbert publicly stated that he could no longer appreciate Cosby’s work.

Among the comedians who have drawn inspiration from Colbert are Nathan Fielder, James Corden, Mindy Kaling, Hasan Minhaj, Jordan Klepper, Ziwe Fumudoh, Sara Benincasa, John Mulaney, Derrick Beckles, Julie Klausner, and Billy Eichner.

Personal life

Colbert is a devout Roman Catholic who has experience teaching Sunday school. During his youth, he served as an altar boy for eleven years and holds ordination as a minister through the Universal Life Church Monastery. A passionate reader, his literary preferences include authors such as J. R. R. Tolkien, J. D. Salinger, Robertson Davies, George Saunders, Larry Niven, Henry Kuttner, and Isaac Asimov.

Family

Since 1993, Colbert has been married to Evelyn "Evie" McGee-Colbert, whose father is Charleston civil attorney Joseph McGee of Buist Moore Smythe McGee. Evelyn appeared alongside Colbert in Strangers with Candy, portraying his mother; she also had a cameo in the series pilot and a credited role in the film adaptation. Before meeting Colbert in 1990, she had met Jon Stewart. Their first encounter occurred at the world premiere of Hydrogen Jukebox during Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston, where they discovered they shared many childhood acquaintances. The couple resides in Montclair, New Jersey, and they have three children together.

Health

Throughout his college years and early career, Colbert struggled with depression and anxiety that required medication. In a 2018 interview with Rolling Stone, he discussed his battle with anxiety and how developing new television projects played a crucial role in managing it, highlighting how performing contributed to his recovery.

In 2020, he was diagnosed with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, which impacted his equilibrium. In April 2022, Colbert contracted COVID-19, leading to a temporary suspension of The Late Show production due to persistent symptoms. He tested positive again in October 2023.

In November 2023, during a taping session, Colbert experienced a ruptured appendix that necessitated surgery and resulted in several weeks away from work. He later disclosed that the pain intensified following an impromptu dance with chef José Andrés during a cooking segment. Colbert made his return to the program on December 11, 2023.

Awards and honors

Colbert and the writing team of The Daily Show secured three Emmy Awards in 2000. He received further Emmy nominations for The Colbert Report in 2005 and 2006. Between 2006 and 2008, he earned multiple Emmy nods for Best Performance in a Variety, Musical Program or Special. Notably, in 2006 he introduced the term truthiness, which was subsequently named Word of the Year by both the American Dialect Society and Merriam-Webster, significantly enhancing his cultural footprint.

In June 2006, Knox College awarded him an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts degree. Time magazine included him among their 100 most influential individuals in both 2006 and 2012. New York magazine recognized him as one of the most impactful figures in media. He was honored as Person of the Year at the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival (2007) and received Speaker of the Year from the Cross Examination Debate Association for shaping political dialogue.

Maxim ranked him second among Sexiest TV News Anchors in 2006; he also appeared on People magazine’s Sexiest Man Alive list. He was featured in GQ's Men of the Year (2006) and became the first man selected for Maxim’s Hot 100 list (2012). Colbert has won three Peabody Awards (2007, 2011, 2020) and earned five Television Critics Association nominations for The Colbert Report.

His public recognitions include receiving keys to various cities, having a Virgin America airplane named "Air Colbert," and being acknowledged by Oshawa’s mayor following a promotional wager. In 2007, Spike TV awarded him Gutsiest Move for his White House Correspondents' Dinner performance.

The Associated Press named him Celebrity of the Year in December 2007. That same year he won a Peabody Award for The Colbert Report along with an Emmy for writing. He delivered Princeton University’s Class Day address in 2008 and received a Webby Award as Person of the Year.

Colbert earned a Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album in 2010 for A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!. Northwestern University invited him as commencement speaker in 2011 and conferred an honorary degree upon him. Additional distinctions include an Emmy for writing (2013), a Grammy for Best Spoken Word Album (2014), inclusion by Rolling Stone among "The 50 Funniest People Now" (2013), and Paste magazine’s listing of his Twitter account among "The 75 Best Twitter Accounts" (2014). He also gave Wake Forest University’s commencement speech in 2015.

In recognition of his contributions to the U.S. Army community, Colbert received the Department of the Army’s Outstanding Civilian Service Award in 2015. The Hollywood Reporter named him one of "The 35 Most Powerful People in New York Media" for both 2017 and 2018. GQ honored him as one of its Men of the Year (2017), while Vanity Fair repeatedly included him on its New Establishment List from 2011 through 2018.

Most recently, Yale University bestowed upon Colbert an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree in May 2021.

Ben & Jerry's AmeriCone Dream Ice Cream

In February 2007, Ben & Jerry's introduced a new ice cream flavor called Stephen Colbert's AmeriCone Dream as a tribute to Stephen Colbert. The entire profit from this flavor was directed to charitable organizations through the Stephen Colbert AmeriCone Dream Fund, supporting a variety of philanthropic efforts.

Species Named in Tribute

Stephen Colbert’s cultural influence has extended into the scientific community, with multiple species named in his honor. In 2008, biology professor Jason Bond designated a California trapdoor spider as Aptostichus stephencolberti after Colbert encouraged viewers on his show to have a species named after him. Additional species bearing his name include the Venezuelan diving beetle Agaporomorphus colberti, the Chilean stonefly Diamphipnoa colberti, and the Ecuadorian parasitic wasp Aleiodes colberti. Furthermore, in 2016, a rove beetle named Sonoma colberti was linked to Colbert’s television persona. These namings underscore Colbert’s reach beyond entertainment into scientific acknowledgment.

COLBERT Treadmill

In 2009, NASA developed an innovative treadmill for use aboard the International Space Station (ISS), delivered by Space Shuttle Discovery during the STS-128 mission. This treadmill plays a vital role in daily exercise routines for astronauts, helping preserve muscle strength and bone density in microgravity conditions. Originally designated T-2, NASA officially renamed it the "Combined Operational Load-Bearing External Resistance Treadmill" (COLBERT) on April 14, 2009.

The name honors comedian Stephen Colbert following a public voting campaign he initiated during the naming process for ISS Node 3. Garnering 230,539 votes, "Colbert" outpaced the second-place contender by approximately 40,000 votes. Engineered to endure throughout the ISS’s operational life, the COLBERT treadmill is projected to support up to 38,000 miles of astronaut running by the station’s anticipated retirement around 2024 or later. If extended until 2028 or beyond, its lifespan could reach as high as 150,000 miles.

This designation marks a distinctive milestone for NASA: COLBERT is the sole piece of NASA-designed equipment in space named after a living person. Astronaut Sunita Williams revealed this honor on The Colbert Report, emphasizing the treadmill’s importance in facilitating extended space missions.

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1997	Shock Asylum	Dr. Dewalt	Short film
2003	Nobody Knows Anything!	TV Newsman
2005	The Great New Wonderful	Mr. Peersall
	Bewitched	Stu Robison
2006	Strangers with Candy	Chuck Noblet	Also credited as writer and producer
2008	The Love Guru	Jay Kell
2009	Monsters vs. Aliens	President Hathaway (voice)
2011	Company	Harry
2013	The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug	Lake-town spy	Cameo appearance
2014	Mr. Peabody & Sherman	Paul Peterson (voice)
2017	Too Funny to Fail	Himself	Documentary film
2020	In & Of Itself	—	Executive producer role
2024	Despicable Me 4	Perry Prescott (voice)

Television

rowspan=3 from=2015 to=2015 rowspan=2 from=2017 to=2017 rowspan=2 from=2018 to=2020 rowspan=2 from=2021 to=2021

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1993	Missing Persons	Chet Davies	Appearance in episode: "Cabe... What Kind of Name Is That?"
1995–1996	Exit 57	Multiple roles	Featured in 12 episodes; also served as co-creator and writer
1996	The Dana Carvey Show	Various characters	Participated in 8 episodes; credited as writer as well
	Spin City	Frank	Guest role in episode: "The Competition"
1996–2011	Saturday Night Live	Ace / Dr. Brainio (voice roles)	Appeared in 14 episodes; contributed as a writer too
1997	Apartment 2F	Various characters	Featured in episode: "1.6"
	The Chris Rock Show	Announcer (voice)	Appeared in episode: "1.5"
	HBO Comedy Hour: Janeane Garofalo	Dog trainer	Television special appearance
1997–2005	The Daily Show	Stephen Colbert (correspondent)	Participated in 1,316 episodes; also a writer for the show
1999	Late Night with Conan O'Brien	Violin Player	Featured in episode: "1,144"
	Random Play	Various roles	Appeared in 2 episodes
1998	Whose Line Is It Anyway?	Himself	Season 1, Episode 17 appearance
1999–2000	Strangers with Candy	Chuck Noblet	Starred in 30 episodes; co-created, wrote, and executive produced the series
2001–2007	Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law	Phil Ken Sebben / Myron Reducto / Additional voices	Voiced characters across 34 episodes
2002	The New York Friars Roast of Chevy Chase	Himself	Participated in television special
2002	Crank Yankers	Rob (voice)	Featured in episode: "1.1"
2004	Curb Your Enthusiasm	Tourist Man	Guest role in episode: "Opening Night"
	Law & Order: Criminal Intent	James Bennett	Appeared in episode: "The Saint"
	The Wrong Coast	Various voices	Contributed to 2 episodes
2004, 2006, 2015	The Venture Bros.	Professor Richard Impossible (voice)	Voiced character in 3 episodes
2005	American Dad!	Dr. Dandliker (voice)	Episode: "All About Steve (American Dad!)" appearance
	All-Star Alphabet	The letter 'Z'	Featured in a Sesame Street special
2005–2014	The Colbert Report	Stephen Colbert (host)	Hosted 1,447 episodes; also co-creator, writer, and executive producer
2006	Stephen Colbert at the 2006 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner	Stephen Colbert (host)	Television special appearance
2007	The Simpsons	Colby Krause (voice)	Guest role in episode: "He Loves to Fly and He D'ohs"
2008	A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!	Stephen Colbert	Featured in TV special
2010	Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear	Stephen Colbert (host)	Hosted television special
2012	The Office	Broccoli Rob	Guest appearance in episode "Here Comes Treble"
2013	Alpha House	Stephen Colbert	Appeared in pilot episode
2014	@midnight	Stephen Colbert	Featured in episode "156"
2014–2015	BoJack Horseman	Mr. Witherspoon (voice)	Contributed voice to 2 episodes
House of Cards	Stephen Colbert	Guest role in episode: "Chapter 27"	The Mindy Project	Father Michael O'Donnell	Appeared in episode: "Confessions of a Catho-holic"	Rick and Morty	Zeep Xanflorp (voice)	Featured in episode: "The Ricks Must Be Crazy"
2015–present	The Late Show with Stephen Colbert	Himself (host)	Also serves as executive producer and writer
At Home with Amy Sedaris	Himself	Guest appearance in episode: "Gift Giving"	69th Primetime Emmy Awards	Himself (host)	Hosted television special
rowspan=2 style="text-align:center;" colspan="2"|Our Cartoon President	Participated in 46 episodes; co-creator, writer, and executive producer	Wolf Blitzer / Various voices	Voiced characters across 25 episodes
2018	Harvey Birdman: Attorney General	Phil Ken Sebben (voice)	Television special
2019	Madam Secretary	Himself	Featured in episode "Hail to the Chief"
2019–2022	Critical Role	Capo / Lucky Jack	Appeared in 2 episodes
2020–2023	Tooning Out the News	—	Co-creator, writer, and executive producer
Girls5eva	Alf Musik	Guest role in episode: "Alf Musik"	Teenage Euthanasia	Announcer (voice)	Voice role in episode: "Dada M.I.A."
2021–2023	Hell of a Week with Charlamagne tha God	—	Executive producer
2022	Fairview	—	Executive producer
2024	After Midnight	—	Executive producer

Video Games

Year	Title	Voice Role
2005	Outlaw Tennis	Announcer

Theatre

Year	Production	Character	Location
2011	Company	Harry	Performance with the New York Philharmonic at Lincoln Center

Published Works

• Colbert, Dinello, Sedaris; Wigfield: The Can-Do Town That Just May Not (Hyperion; May 19, 2004)
• America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction (Warner Books; September 2004)
• I Am America (And So Can You!) (Grand Central Publishing; October 9, 2007)
• America Again: Re-becoming the Greatness We Never Weren't (Grand Central Publishing; October 2, 2012)
• I Am a Pole (And So Can You!) (Grand Central Publishing; May 8, 2012)
• Stephen Colbert's Midnight Confessions (Simon & Schuster; September 5, 2017)
• Colbert, McGee-Colbert, Does This Taste Funny?: Recipes Our Family Loves (Celadon Books; September 17, 2024)

See Also

• New Yorkers in journalism
• Political satire

Further Reading

• Rogak, Lisa. And Nothing but the Truthiness: The Rise (and Further Rise) of Stephen Colbert. Thomas Dunne Books, October 11, 2011. ISBN 978-0-312-61610-6.
• Watson, Bruce. Stephen Colbert: Beyond Truthiness. New Word City, May 29, 2014. ISBN 978-1-61230-757-2.

External Links

• IMDb profile
• New York Times topic
• NPR profile
• Charlie Rose interview
• C-SPAN appearances
• Transcript of 60 Minutes interview (April 30, 2006)
• Twitter
• Instagram