Stephen Colbert#Television career

Colbert was born in Washington, D.C.,{{cite news| title=A Funny Man of Good Report| work=Northwestern Magazine| first=Marley| last=Seaman| date=Winter 2005| url=https://www.northwestern.edu/magazine/winter2005/alumninews/close-ups/colbert.html| access-date=July 11, 2007| url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070714022233/http://www.northwestern.edu/magazine/winter2005/alumninews/close-ups/colbert.html| archive-date=July 14, 2007}} the youngest of eleven children (James III, Edward, Mary, William, Margo, Thomas, Jay, Elizabeth, Paul, and Peter) in a Catholic family.{{cite news |last1=Donovan |first1=Bryce |title=Great Charlestonian?{{nbsp}}... Or the Greatest Charlestonian? |url=http://colbertsheroes.org/articles/CharlestonPost-Apr29-06.shtml |access-date=August 20, 2020 |work=The Post and Courier |publisher=Evening Post Industries |date=April 29, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070108132259/http://www.colbertsheroes.org/articles/CharlestonPost-Apr29-06.shtml |archive-date=January 8, 2007 |location=Charleston, South Carolina |language=en}}{{cite news| url=https://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/25/magazine/25questions.html| title=Funny About the News| first=Deborah| last=Solomon| work=The New York Times| date=September 25, 2005| access-date=July 22, 2006| url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111026021336/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/09/25/magazine/25questions.html| archive-date=October 26, 2011}} Then he lived for a few years in Bethesda, Maryland.King, Larry. "Interview with Stephen Colbert". Larry King Live. CNN. October 14, 2007. Next, he grew up in James Island, an island and a suburb of Charleston, South Carolina. His father, James William Colbert Jr., was an immunologist and medical school dean at Yale University, Saint Louis University, and at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston. From 1969, James Colbert Jr. was the school's first vice president of academic affairs.{{cite web |last1=Darlington |first1=Abigail |title=Stephen Colbert's debut on 'Late Show' signals triumph for Charleston, state |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/archives/stephen-colbert-s-debut-on-late-show-signals-triumph-for-charleston-state/article_9c61ff35-f175-505e-b812-3cb71a1b6089.html |website=The Post and Courier |publisher=Evening Post Industries |location=Charleston, South Carolina |language=en |access-date=August 20, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200820015949/https://www.postandcourier.com/archives/stephen-colbert-s-debut-on-late-show-signals-triumph-for-charleston-state/article_9c61ff35-f175-505e-b812-3cb71a1b6089.html |archive-date=August 20, 2020 |date=September 4, 2015 |quote=Colbert told The Post and Courier in a 2006 interview that he "kind of just shut off" after that. He turned to science fiction novels, consuming one a day for eight years.}} Colbert's mother, Lorna Elizabeth Colbert (née Tuck), was a homemaker.{{cite web|title=Family & Education|publisher=Medical University of South Carolina Library|year=2009|url=http://www.library.musc.edu/exhibits/colbert/EarlyYears.php|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100317083210/http://www.library.musc.edu/exhibits/colbert/EarlyYears.php|archive-date=March 17, 2010}}{{cite magazine| url=https://people.com/celebrity/stephen-colberts-mom-dead-lorna-elizabeth-tuck-colbert-was-92/| title=Stephen Colbert's Mother Dies at 92| magazine=People| url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150522112104/http://www.people.com/people/article/0%2C%2C20709467%2C00.html| archive-date=May 22, 2015}}{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/stephen-colberts-mother-dies-at-569343|title=Stephen Colbert's Mother Dies at 92|last=Lewis|first=Hilary|website=The Hollywood Reporter|date=June 14, 2013|access-date=June 19, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140524173107/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/stephen-colberts-mother-dies-at-569343|archive-date=May 24, 2014}}

In interviews, Colbert has described his parents as devout people who nevertheless strongly valued intellectualism, and taught their children it was possible to question the Church and still be Catholic.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.timeout.com/newyork/DetailsAr.do?file=hotseat/506/506.hotseat.html |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060820014908/http://www.timeout.com/newyork/DetailsAr.do?file=hotseat%2F506%2F506.hotseat.html |archive-date=August 20, 2006 |title=Joyce Words |first=David |last=Cote |magazine=Time Out New York |date=June 9, 2005 |access-date=July 30, 2008 |url-status=dead}} Via the Internet Archive. He has said his father was interested in French humanist writers including Léon Bloy and Jacques Maritain, while his mother was fond of Catholic Worker Movement leader Dorothy Day.{{cite news|last1=Kamp|first1=David|title=Stephen Colbert on Faith and His 'Late Show' of Love|url=https://www.wsj.com/articles/stephen-colbert-interview-cover-story-11646140694|date=March 1, 2022|work=Wall Street Journal|access-date=September 29, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220306022914/https://www.wsj.com/articles/stephen-colbert-interview-cover-story-11646140694|archive-date=March 6, 2022|url-status=live}}{{cite web |title=25. Talking Sense with Stephen Colbert |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qIBrB7cuXMo |website=Chinwag with Paul Giamatti and Stephen Asma |access-date=September 28, 2023 |date=September 20, 2023}} Regardless, Colbert recalls having a "pretty conservative upbringing"; with his mother voting for a Democrat, John F. Kennedy, exactly once in her life.{{cite web|last=Blake|first=Meredith |title=Stephen Colbert discusses the new ways he's able to satirize Trump with 'Our Cartoon President' |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-ca-st-stephen-colbert-our-cartoon-president-20180202-story.html|website=Los Angeles Times |access-date=April 18, 2024|date=February 2, 2018}} In an interview, his mother has described him as "rambunctious".{{cite web |title=Stephen Colbert: His SC connections through the years |url=https://www.thestate.com/living/article13847510.html |website=The State |access-date=August 21, 2020 |location=Columbia, South Carolina |date=April 12, 2014}} As a child, he observed that Southerners were often depicted as being less intelligent than other characters on scripted television; to avoid that stereotype, he taught himself to imitate the speech of American news anchors.{{cite interview|url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4464017|title=A Fake Newsman's Fake Newsman: Stephen Colbert|first=Stephen|last=Colbert|interviewer=Terry Gross|work=Fresh Air|publisher=NPR|date=January 24, 2005|access-date=April 21, 2020|archive-date=July 1, 2007|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070701141740/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4464017|url-status=live}}{{cite news| url= https://www.cbsnews.com/news/the-colbert-report/| title=The Colbert Report| first=Morley| last=Safer| author-link=Morley Safer| series=60 Minutes| date=August 13, 2006| access-date=December 6, 2021| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060820141728/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/04/27/60minutes/main1553506.shtml| archive-date=August 20, 2006}}

Colbert sometimes jokingly claims that his surname is French. His ancestry though is actually 15/16 Irish, and one of his paternal great-great-grandmothers was of German and English descent.Smolenyak, Megan. {{cite news|url=http://irishamerica.com/2015/01/stephen-colbert-one-last-report-its-genealogical|title=Stephen Colbert: One Last Report (It's Genealogical)|work=Irish America Magazine|access-date=March 26, 2015|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150317031748/http://irishamerica.com/2015/01/stephen-colbert-one-last-report-its-genealogical/|archive-date=March 17, 2015}}{{cite news|last=Gagnon|first=Geoffrey|title=Top of Mind: Extended Q & A with Henry Louis Gates Jr.|work=Boston|year=2010|url=http://www.bostonmagazine.com/articles/skipgates/page2|access-date=February 4, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120229050129/http://www.bostonmagazine.com/articles/skipgates/page2|archive-date=February 29, 2012}} Many of his ancestors emigrated from Ireland to North America in the 19th century before and during the Great Famine.[https://www.pbs.org/wnet/facesofamerica/profiles/stephen-colbert/11/ "Faces of America: Stephen Colbert"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100310164800/http://www.pbs.org/wnet/facesofamerica/profiles/stephen-colbert/11/ |date=March 10, 2010 }}, PBS, Faces of America series, with Professor Henry Louis Gates, Jr. (2010).[http://colbert.ancestortree.net/pedigree.php "Pedigree of Stephen Colbert"] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214231610/http://colbert.ancestortree.net/pedigree.php |date=February 14, 2017 }}, AncestorTree.net; retrieved August 29, 2010. Originally, his surname was pronounced {{IPAc-en|ˈ|k|oʊ|l|b|ər|t}} {{respell|KOHL|bərt}} in English; Colbert's father, James, wanted to pronounce the name {{IPAc-en|k|oʊ|l|ˈ|b|ɛər}} {{respell|kohl|BAIR|'}}, but maintained the {{IPA|/ˈkoʊlbərt/}} pronunciation out of respect for his own father. He offered his children the option to pronounce the name whichever way they preferred. Colbert started using {{IPA|/koʊlˈbɛər/}} later in life when he transferred to Northwestern University, taking advantage of the opportunity to reinvent himself in a new place where no one knew him. Colbert's brother Edward, an intellectual-property attorney, retained {{IPA|/ˈkoʊlbərt/}}; this was shown in a February 12, 2009, appearance on The Colbert Report, when his second-oldest brother asked him, “{{IPA|/ˈkoʊlbərt/}} or {{IPA|/koʊlˈbɛər/}}?” Ed responded “{{IPA|/ˈkoʊlbərt/}}“, to which he jokingly replied, "See you in Hell."{{cite web|url=http://www.cc.com/video-clips/f0688o/the-colbert-report-obama-poster-debate---david-ross-and-ed-colbert|title=Obama Poster Debate – David Ross and Ed Colbert|publisher=The Colbert Report|date=February 12, 2009|access-date=February 15, 2009|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150914000441/http://www.cc.com/video-clips/f0688o/the-colbert-report-obama-poster-debate---david-ross-and-ed-colbert|archive-date=September 14, 2015}}

On September 11, 1974, when Colbert was ten years old, his father and his brothers Paul and Peter, who were closest to him in age, died in the crash of Eastern Air Lines Flight 212 while attempting to land in Charlotte, North Carolina.{{cite news |title=Fiery Charlotte Jet Crash Kills Sixty Nine Persons |url=https://www.gendisasters.com/north-carolina/3843/charlotte%2C-nc-jet-crash-kills-sixty-nine%2C-sep-1974 |access-date=August 20, 2020 |work=Morning News |via=GenDisasters.com |date=September 12, 1974 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150329172250/http://www3.gendisasters.com/north-carolina/3843/charlotte%2C-nc-jet-crash-kills-sixty-nine%2C-sep-1974 |url-status=dead |archive-date=March 29, 2015 |location=Florence, South Carolina}}{{Cite news|url=http://www.businessinsider.com/stephen-colbert-bio-2015-9/#colbert-was-raised-catholic-to-this-day-he-is-a-dedicated-churchgoer-3|title=How Stephen Colbert endured tragedy and became one of the greatest political satirists of our time|work=Business Insider|access-date=October 12, 2017|archive-date=April 13, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190413043444/https://www.businessinsider.com/stephen-colbert-bio-2015-9#colbert-was-raised-catholic-to-this-day-he-is-a-dedicated-churchgoer-3|url-status=live}} They were en route to enroll Paul and Peter at Canterbury School in New Milford, Connecticut.{{cite news|title=Obituaries|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=September 14, 1974}} He has discussed the impact the tragedy has on him and his philosophy of grief and suffering.{{cite web |title=The Tragic Plane Crash That Changed Stephen Colbert Season 2 Episode 202 |url=http://www.oprah.com/own-oprahs-next-chapter/The-Tragic-Plane-Crash-That-Changed-Stephen-Colbert-Video#ixzz3lZTKha14 |website=Oprah.com |publisher=Oprah Winfrey |access-date=September 22, 2019 |date=September 30, 2012 |archive-date=February 3, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210203104631/https://www.oprah.com/own-oprahs-next-chapter/the-tragic-plane-crash-that-changed-stephen-colbert-video#ixzz3lZTKha14 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=Stephen Colbert and Anderson Cooper's beautiful conversation about grief |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=YB46h1koicQ | archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211029/YB46h1koicQ| archive-date=October 29, 2021|website=YouTube.com |publisher=CNN |access-date=September 22, 2019 |date=August 17, 2019}}{{cbignore}} Lorna Colbert moved the family from James Island to the George Chisolm House, in downtown Charleston, and she ran the carriage house as a bed and breakfast.{{cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=lJthDwAAQBAJ&q=%22carriage+house%22&pg=PA32 |last1=Aldridge |first1=Rebecca |title=Stephen Colbert |date=December 15, 2015 |publisher=The Rosen Publishing Group, Inc. |isbn=978-1-4994-6260-9 |page=32 |language=en |quote=Lorna hadn't remarried, and she was running a bed-and-breakfast out of a carriage house. |access-date=October 5, 2020 |archive-date=March 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308045420/https://books.google.com/books?id=lJthDwAAQBAJ&q=%22carriage+house%22&pg=PA32 |url-status=live }}{{cite web |last1=Austin |first1=Tom |title=Stephen Colbert's Favorite Things to Do in Charleston |url=https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-tips/celebrity-travel/stephen-colberts-favorite-things-to-do-in-charleston |website=Travel + Leisure |publisher=Meredith Corporation |access-date=August 20, 2020 |language=EN |date=May 14, 2014 |quote=Back then, if I booked a guest, I got ten percent. A kid could have a whole weekend of fun on fifteen bucks......We'd go swimming off Sullivan's Island |archive-date=November 25, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201125202348/https://www.travelandleisure.com/travel-tips/celebrity-travel/stephen-colberts-favorite-things-to-do-in-charleston |url-status=live }}{{cite web |title=39 East Bay Street (George Chisolm House) |url=https://charleston.pastperfectonline.com/archive/5897F7F8-D852-46B1-B126-481381463030 |website=Historic Charleston Foundation |publisher=Margaretta Childs Archives |access-date=August 20, 2020 |archive-date=March 8, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308045454/https://charleston.pastperfectonline.com/archive/5897F7F8-D852-46B1-B126-481381463030 |url-status=live }}

Colbert found the transition difficult and did not easily make friends in the new neighborhood. Later he described himself during this time as being detached, lacking a sense of importance regarding the things with which other children concerned themselves.{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/08/11/an-interview-with-stephen-colbert|title=An Interview with Stephen Colbert|first=Ken|last=P.|website=IGN|date=August 11, 2003|access-date=July 22, 2006|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105202148/http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/08/11/an-interview-with-stephen-colbert|archive-date=January 5, 2014}} "Nothing made any sense after my father and my brothers died. I kind of just shut off," he recalled.{{Cite web |date=2006-05-28 |title=An Interview With Steven Colbert |work=The Post and Courier |location=Charleston, SC |url=http://www.postandcourier.com/stories/?newsID=83674§ion=hiprofile |access-date=2025-01-24 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060528022142/http://www.postandcourier.com/stories/?newsID=83674§ion=hiprofile |archive-date=May 28, 2006 }}{{Cite web |last=Findlay |first=Prentiss |date=2014-04-09 |title=CBS picks Charleston's Stephen Colbert to succeed Letterman on 'Late Show' |url=https://www.postandcourier.com/archives/cbs-picks-charlestons-stephen-colbert-to-succeed-letterman-on-late-show/article_94a5b228-bef1-5c50-8f70-b2e0545bb829.html |access-date=2024-12-29 |website=Post and Courier |language=en}} He developed a love of science fiction and fantasy novels, especially the works of J. R. R. Tolkien, of which he remains an avid fan.{{Cite web |date=2012-11-16 |title=Playboy Interview: Steven Colbert |url=http://www.playboy.com/playground/view/playboy-interview-stephen-colbert?page=4 |access-date=2025-01-21 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121116102427/http://www.playboy.com/playground/view/playboy-interview-stephen-colbert?page=4 |archive-date=November 16, 2012 }} Colbert says two of his favorite chapters in The Lord of the Rings are The Shadow of the Past and The Council of Elrond.{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IZROSrGG8cU |title=Ben Falcone Gets To Make Out With Sean Spicer |date=2017-05-17 |last=The Late Show with Stephen Colbert |access-date=2025-01-21 |via=YouTube}} During his adolescence, he developed an intense interest in fantasy role-playing games, especially Dungeons & Dragons,{{cite web |url=http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/dungeons-dragons-online/537989p1.html |title=Stephen Colbert on D&D |first=Allen |last=Rausch |publisher=GameSpy |date=August 17, 2004 |access-date=July 22, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060818143601/http://pc.gamespy.com/pc/dungeons-dragons-online/537989p1.html |archive-date=August 18, 2006}} a pastime which he later characterized as an early experience in acting and improvisation.

Colbert attended Charleston's Episcopal Porter-Gaud School participating in several school plays and contributing to the school newspaper but he was not highly motivated academically. During his adolescence, he briefly fronted A Shot in the Dark, a Rolling Stones cover band.{{cite news| last=Daly| first=Steven| url=https://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/3673509/Stephen-Colbert-the-second-most-powerful-idiot-in-America.html| title=Stephen Colbert: the second most powerful idiot in America| page=3| work=The Daily Telegraph| date=May 18, 2008| access-date=May 18, 2008| location=London| url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312075305/http://www.telegraph.co.uk/culture/tvandradio/3673509/Stephen-Colbert-the-second-most-powerful-idiot-in-America.html| archive-date=March 12, 2009}}{{cite news| title=Stephen Colbert's Most Meaningful Musical Moments| newspaper=NPR| url=https://www.npr.org/2012/10/24/163547250/stephen-colberts-most-meaningful-musical-moments| series=Fresh Air| access-date=October 25, 2012| url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025043934/http://www.npr.org/2012/10/24/163547250/stephen-colberts-most-meaningful-musical-moments|archive-date=October 25, 2012}}{{cite web|last=Bean|first=Steve| title=A Shot in the Dark| website=MEL|date=December 5, 2015| url=https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?u=0b3452217ea6bc7ba6cde5b46&id=9c1a4e32be&e=27185f5886| access-date=November 15, 2024| url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210325064418/https://us12.campaign-archive.com/?u=0b3452217ea6bc7ba6cde5b46&id=9c1a4e32be&e=27185f5886|archive-date=March 25, 2021}} When he was younger, he had hoped to study marine biology, but surgery intended to repair a severely perforated eardrum caused him inner-ear damage severe enough to preclude a career involving scuba diving, and leaving him deaf in his right ear.{{cite web|url=https://www.newyorker.com/archive/2005/07/25/050725ta_talk_remnick|title=Reporter Guy|first=David|last=Remnick|magazine=The New Yorker|date=July 25, 2005|access-date=July 7, 2006|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070816234030/http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2005/07/25/050725ta_talk_remnick|archive-date=August 16, 2007}}

For a while, he was uncertain whether he would attend college,{{cite web|url=http://www2.hsc.edu/news/archive/colbert.html|title=Student Meets Daily Show Correspondent With Ties to the Hill|first=Nick|last=Beazley|year=2003|website=The Hampden–Sydney Tiger|publisher=Hampden–Sydney College|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20031006095313/http://www.hsc.edu/news/archive/colbert.html|archive-date=October 6, 2003}} but eventually he applied and was accepted to Hampden–Sydney College in Virginia, where a friend had also enrolled. Arriving in 1982, he majored in philosophy and continued to participate in plays.[https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=FktrNFjZfKg&t=1m35s Neil DeGrasse Tyson Interviews Stephen Colbert] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308045453/https://accounts.google.com/v3/signin/identifier?dsh=S-2012589505%3A1678251293062965&continue=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fsignin%3Faction_handle_signin%3Dtrue%26app%3Ddesktop%26hl%3Den%26next%3D%252Fsignin_passive%26feature%3Dpassive&hl=en&passive=true&service=youtube&uilel=3&flowName=GlifWebSignIn&flowEntry=ServiceLogin&ifkv=AWnogHeFVC0_0r-HJlCFK3cjRMCRYWQ2OFXNOZS-NCibs_Q_DtYu3r2bwMbVwhjqB4JjjckabbST |date=March 8, 2023 }}, Late Show (posted to YouTube on November 27, 2018)
Quote:
"When I was first in college I was a philosophy major{{nbsp}}..."{{cite news|url=https://nymag.com/news/politics/22322/index2.html|title=Stephen Colbert Has America by the Ballots|work=New York|first=Adam|last=Sternbergh|date=October 16, 2006|access-date=July 11, 2007|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070630235951/http://nymag.com/news/politics/22322/|archive-date=June 30, 2007}}
Quote:
"He studied philosophy in college."{{cite web|url=https://www.ign.com/articles/2003/08/11/an-interview-with-stephen-colbert?page=2|title=An Interview with Stephen Colbert|first=Ken|last=P.|website=IGN|date=August 11, 2003|access-date=July 22, 2006|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140105202148/http://www.ign.com/articles/2003/08/11/an-interview-with-stephen-colbert|archive-date=January 5, 2014}}
Quote:
"Philosophy is what I took most classes in." He found the curriculum to be rigorous, but was more focused than he had been in high school and was able to apply himself to his studies. Despite the lack of a significant theater community at Hampden–Sydney, Colbert's interest in acting escalated during this time. After two years, he transferred in 1984 to Northwestern University as a theater major to study performance, emboldened by the realization that he loved performing, even when no one was coming to shows.{{cite web|url=https://www.farmvilleherald.com/2015/09/tvs-colbert-started-career-in-farmville/|title=TV's Colbert started career in Farmville|first=Marge|last=Swayne|date=September 29, 2015|website=The Farmville Herald|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240519041421/https://www.farmvilleherald.com/2015/09/tvs-colbert-started-career-in-farmville/|archive-date=May 19, 2024}}{{cite magazine|url=https://archive.org/details/recordofhampd7812002hamp/page/30/mode/2up|title=Alumni Profile: Stephen Colbert '86, actor-writer|date=October 2002|magazine=The Record of Hampden-Sydney College|publisher=Hampden–Sydney College|access-date=November 15, 2024|volume=78|page=30-31}} He graduated from Northwestern's School of Communication in 1986.{{cite news| url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2011/05/05/stephen-colbert-to-receive-honorary-degree-from-northwestern-university/ |title=Stephen Colbert to receive honorary degree from Northwestern University |newspaper=Chicago Tribune| date=May 5, 2011|access-date=November 29, 2015|author=Manker, Rob|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151208160833/http://articles.chicagotribune.com/2011-05-05/news/ct-talk-small-talk-0506-20110505_1_honorary-degree-baby-names-laura-wattenberg|archive-date=December 8, 2015}}

File:Time 100 Stephen Colbert and wife.jpg list]]

While at Northwestern, Colbert studied with the intent of becoming a dramatic actor; mostly he performed in experimental plays and was uninterested in comedy. He began performing improvisation while in college, both in the campus improv team No Fun Mud Piranhas{{cite news|url = http://www.northwestern.edu/magazine/winter2010/feature/the-real-stephen-colbert.html|title = The Real Stephen Colbert|work = Northwestern Magazine|access-date = May 1, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110303031537/http://www.northwestern.edu/magazine/winter2010/feature/the-real-stephen-colbert.html|archive-date = March 3, 2011}} and at the Annoyance Theatre in Chicago as a part of Del Close's ImprovOlympic at a time when the project was focused on competitive, long-form improvisation, rather than improvisational comedy. "I wasn't gonna do Second City", Colbert later recalled, "because those Annoyance people looked down on Second City because they thought it wasn't pure improv – there was a slightly snobby, mystical quality to the Annoyance people". After Colbert graduated in 1986, however, he was in need of a job. A friend who was employed at Second City's box office offered him work answering phones and selling souvenirs. Colbert accepted and discovered that Second City employees were entitled to take classes at their training center free of charge. Despite his earlier aversion to the comedy group, he signed up for improvisation classes and enjoyed the experience greatly.{{cite web|url=https://m.chicagoreader.com/chicago/stephen-colbert-second-city-late-show/Content?oid=18958403|title=How Chicago Shaped Stephen Colbert|first=Mike|last=Thomas|website=Chicago Reader|date=September 3, 2015|access-date=March 1, 2018|archive-date=March 2, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180302103848/https://m.chicagoreader.com/chicago/stephen-colbert-second-city-late-show/Content?oid=18958403|url-status=live}}

Shortly thereafter, he was hired to perform with Second City's touring company, initially as an understudy for Steve Carell. It was there he met Amy Sedaris and Paul Dinello, with whom he often collaborated later in his career. By their retelling, the three comedians did not get along at first – Dinello thought Colbert was uptight, pretentious and cold, while Colbert thought of Dinello as "an illiterate thug"{{cite news|title = Wigging Out|first = Darel|last = Jevens|work = Chicago Sun-Times|date = April 27, 2003}} – but the trio became close friends while touring together, discovering that they shared a similar comic sensibility.

Robert Smigel, initially looking for Carell, scouted Colbert at Second City and became "obsessed" with working with him.{{cite web |last=Rabin |first=Nathan|author-link=Nathan Rabin |title=Robert Smigel |date=June 3, 2008 |website=The AV Club |url=https://www.avclub.com/robert-smigel-1798214098 |access-date=May 16, 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240228140050/https://www.avclub.com/robert-smigel-1798214098 |archive-date=February 28, 2024}} Smigel tried to get him hired at Saturday Night Live, for which Colbert unsuccesfully auditioned, in 1992.{{cite web|url=https://www.gq.com/story/dana-carvey-oral-history-dana-carvey-show|title=Teats Out: An Oral History of the Rise and Fall (and Rise) of "The Dana Carvey Show"|first=Mike |last=Ryan|website=GQ|date=August 8, 2011|access-date=April 22, 2025|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230416013144/https://www.gq.com/story/dana-carvey-oral-history-dana-carvey-show|archive-date=April 16, 2023}}{{Cite web |last=Heisler |first=Steve |date=June 15, 2009 |title=Dana Carvey and Robert Smigel|url=https://www.avclub.com/dana-carvey-and-robert-smigel-1798216785 |access-date=May 9, 2010 |website=The A.V. Club |archive-date=November 5, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131105042849/http://www.avclub.com/articles/dana-carvey-and-robert-smigel,29184/ |url-status=live}} A year later, Smigel, then head-writer at Late Night with Conan O'Brien, wanted to get him involved in the show either as writer or performer, but after Colbert had a meeting with O'Brien, the host did not think there was a place for him. When Sedaris and Dinello were offered the opportunity to create a television series for HBO Downtown Productions, Colbert left Second City and relocated to New York to work with them on the sketch comedy show Exit 57. The series debuted on Comedy Central in 1995 and aired through 1996. Although it lasted only 12 episodes, the show received favorable reviews{{cite news|title = Critic's Corner|first = Matt|last = Roush|work = USA Today|date = August 18, 1995}}{{cite news|title = The new skitcoms: Sketches of pain|first = David|last = Lipsky|magazine = Rolling Stone|date = January 21, 1995}} and was nominated for five CableACE Awards in 1995, in categories including best writing, performance, and comedy series.{{cite web|url = http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/the_daily_show/news_team/correspondents/stephen_colbert.jhtml|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051026174626/http://www.comedycentral.com/shows/the_daily_show/news_team/correspondents/stephen_colbert.jhtml|archive-date = October 26, 2005|title = Biography of Stephen Colbert at The Daily Show official website|publisher = Comedy Central|access-date = July 22, 2006}}

{{Main|The Dana Carvey Show}}

Following the cancelation of Exit 57, Colbert worked for six months as a cast member and writer on The Dana Carvey Show, alongside former Second City castmate Steve Carell, and also Smigel, Charlie Kaufman, Louis C.K., and Dino Stamatopoulos, among others. The series, described by one reviewer as "kamikaze satire" in "borderline-questionable taste", had sponsors pull out after its first episode aired and was canceled after seven episodes.{{cite web|last=Millman|first=Joyce|author-link=Joyce Millman|url = http://www.salon.com/09/reviews/carvey1.html|title = Dana Carvey bites the hand that feeds him|website = Salon|date = February 15, 1996|access-date = November 25, 2006|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20061125183623/http://www.salon.com/09/reviews/carvey1.html |archive-date = November 25, 2006}} Colbert then worked briefly as a freelance writer for Saturday Night Live with Smigel, after unsuccesfully auditioning for a second time.{{cite magazine |last1=Marchese |first1=David|author-link=David Marchese |title=Normcore: Norm Macdonald's Quest to Host 'The Late Late Show' |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/normcore-norm-macdonalds-quest-to-host-the-late-late-show-68651/ |magazine=Rolling Stone |access-date=April 22, 2025 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20250117013433/https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/normcore-norm-macdonalds-quest-to-host-the-late-late-show-68651/ |archive-date=January 17, 2025 |date=June 2, 2014 |url-status=live|url-access=subscription}} Smigel brought his animated sketch, The Ambiguously Gay Duo, to SNL from The Dana Carvey Show; Colbert provided the voice of Ace on both series, opposite Steve Carell as Gary.{{cite web |title=Animation: TV & Broadcast – The Dana Carvey Show |publisher=J.J. Sedelmaier Productions |year=2008 |url=http://www.jjsedelmaier.com/animation/carvey.html |access-date=2008-11-07 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081207064156/http://www.jjsedelmaier.com/animation/carvey.html |archive-date=December 7, 2008}}{{cite web|last=Vicenty|first=Samantha|url=https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/snl-ambiguously-gay-duo-safety-tips-voices-steve-carell-stephen-colbert|title=SNL's "Ambiguously Gay Duo" Sketch Secretly Starred Steve Carrell and Stephen Colbert|website = NBC|date = January 26, 2025|access-date=April 22, 2025|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250127172312/https://www.nbc.com/nbc-insider/snl-ambiguously-gay-duo-safety-tips-voices-steve-carell-stephen-colbert|archive-date=January 27, 2025}} Needing money, he also worked as a script consultant for VH1 and MTV, before taking a job filming humorous correspondent segments for Good Morning America. Only two of the segments he proposed were ever produced and only one aired, but the job led his agent to refer him to The Daily Show's producer, Madeline Smithberg, who hired Colbert on a trial basis in 1997.{{cite web| url=http://www.mediabistro.com/articles/cache/a238.asp| title=So What Do You Do, Stephen Colbert?| first=Jacqueline| last=Schneider| publisher=Mediabistro.com| date=May 6, 2003| access-date=July 22, 2006| url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061029204435/https://mediabistro.com/articles/cache/a238.asp| archive-date=October 29, 2006}}{{clarify|reason=Conflicts with the Dana Carvey Show Hulu documentary where both Colbert and Carell said that the waiters skit on the Dana Carvey Show singlehandedly got them to Comedy Central.|date=May 2022}}

{{Main|Strangers with Candy}}

During the same period, Colbert worked again with Sedaris and Dinello to develop a new comedy series for Comedy Central, Strangers with Candy. Comedy Central picked up the series in 1998 after Colbert had already begun working on The Daily Show. As a result, he accepted a reduced role, filming only around 20 Daily Show segments a year while he worked on the new series.

Strangers with Candy was conceived of as a parody of after school specials, following the life of Jerri Blank, a 46-year-old dropout who returns to finish high school after 32 years of life on the street. Most noted by critics for its use of offensive humor, it concluded each episode by delivering to the audience a skewed, politically incorrect moral lesson.{{cite web| title=Review – Strangers With Candy| first=Ken| last=Fox| magazine=TV Guide| url=http://movies.tvguide.com/strangers-candy/review/281396| access-date=July 11, 2007| url-status=live| archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120402234730/http://movies.tvguide.com/strangers-candy/review/281396| archive-date=April 2, 2012}} Colbert served as a main writer alongside Sedaris and Dinello, and portrayed Jerri's strict but uninformed history teacher, Chuck Noblet, seen throughout the series dispensing inaccurate information to his classes.{{cite news|title=Stephen Colbert: A Great Talk-Show Host? No, the Greatest! |first =Corliss |last =Richard|author-link=Richard Corliss|magazine = Time|date =December 18, 2014|access-date=October 2, 2024 |url =https://time.com/3640446/stephen-colbert-report-ending/ |url-status=live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20231213212307/https://time.com/3640446/stephen-colbert-report-ending/|archive-date = December 13, 2023}}{{cite news|title=Stephen Colbert's Rise From Sketch Shows to America's Hero|first =Christopher R. |last =Weingarten|magazine = Rolling Stone|date=September 2, 2009 |access-date=October 2, 2024 |url = https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/stephen-colberts-rise-from-sketch-shows-to-americas-hero-53881/|url-status=live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20210917234139/https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-news/stephen-colberts-rise-from-sketch-shows-to-americas-hero-53881/|archive-date =September 17, 2021}} Colbert has likened this to the character he played on The Daily Show and later The Colbert Report, claiming that he has a very specific niche in portraying "poorly informed, high-status idiot" characters. Another running joke throughout the series was that Noblet, a closeted homosexual, was having a "secret" affair with fellow teacher Geoffrey Jellineck, despite the fact that their relationship was apparent to everyone around them.{{cite web|title=A Fake Newsman's Fake Newsman: Stephen Colbert| first=Terry| last=Gross| work=NPR| date=January 24, 2005| url=https://freshairarchive.org/segments/fake-newsmans-fake-newsman-stephen-colbert| access-date=May 2, 2024}} This obliviousness also appears in Colbert's Daily Show and Colbert Report character.{{cite web|title=Stephen Colbert - Watch What Happens Live|work=Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen|date=July 22, 2018 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=iVnEghynEiU| access-date=May 2, 2024}}{{cite web|title=Oprah and Gayle|date=July 19, 2006|work=The Colbert Report |url=https://www.cc.com/video/vmqv4k/the-colbert-report-oprah-and-gayle|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230924032142/https://www.cc.com/video/vmqv4k/the-colbert-report-oprah-and-gayle|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 24, 2023|accessdate=April 22, 2024}}

Thirty episodes of Strangers with Candy were made, which aired on Comedy Central in 1999 and 2000.{{Cite news|url=http://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/interviews/a33697/amy-sedaris-paul-dinello-strangers-with-candy-interview/|title=Amy Sedaris and Paul Dinello on Why 'Strangers with Candy' Should Never Come Back|date=March 17, 2015|work=Esquire|access-date=January 25, 2018|archive-date=August 23, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823132123/http://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/interviews/a33697/amy-sedaris-paul-dinello-strangers-with-candy-interview/|url-status=live}} Though its ratings were not remarkable during its initial run, it has been characterized as a cult show with a small but dedicated audience.{{cite magazine|title = 50 Best TV Shows on DVD|first = Mandi|last = Bierly|magazine = Entertainment Weekly|date = November 26, 2004}} Colbert reprised his role for a film adaptation which premiered at the Sundance Film Festival in 2005 and had a limited release in 2006. The film received mixed reviews. Colbert also co-wrote the screenplay with Sedaris and Dinello.{{cite web|title = Strangers With Candy (2006): Reviews|website = Metacritic|url = https://www.metacritic.com/movie/strangers-with-candy/|access-date = October 10, 2023|url-status=live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20230715155512/https://www.metacritic.com/movie/strangers-with-candy/|archive-date = July 15, 2023}}

{{Main|The Daily Show}}

Colbert joined the cast of Comedy Central's parody-news series The Daily Show in 1997, when the show was in its second season. Originally one of four correspondents who filmed segments from remote locations in the style of network news field reporters, Colbert was referred to as "the new guy" on-air for his first two years on the show, during which time Craig Kilborn served as host. When Kilborn left the show prior to the 1999 season, Jon Stewart took over hosting duties, also serving as a writer and co-executive producer. From this point, the series gradually began to take on a more political tone and increase in popularity, particularly in the latter part of the 2000 U.S. presidential election season.{{cite news|title=The joke is up...sometimes|magazine = Tampa Bay Times|date= March 11, 2002|access-date = October 2, 2024|url = https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2002/03/11/the-joke-is-up-sometimes/|url-status=live|archive-url =https://web.archive.org/web/20241002160643/https://www.tampabay.com/archive/2002/03/11/the-joke-is-up-sometimes/ |archive-date=October 2, 2024}} The roles of the show's correspondents were expanded to include more in-studio segments and international reports, which were almost always done in the studio with the aid of a greenscreen. Colbert usually wrote and edited his own pieces.{{cite web|last=Sparks|first=Gregg|url=https://www.dailycardinal.com/article/2002/04/cardinal-alum-karlin-talks-daily-show|title=Cardinal alum Karlin talks 'Daily Show'|website=The Daily Cardinal |date=April 4, 2002|access-date=October 15, 2024}}

Unlike Stewart, who essentially hosted The Daily Show as himself,{{cite news|title = The American Bald Ego|first = James|last = Poniewozik|author-link=James Poniewozik|magazine = Time|date = November 6, 2005|access-date = October 30, 2006|url = http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,1126747,00.html|url-status=dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070106223348/http://www.time.com/time/magazine/article/0%2C9171%2C1126747%2C00.html|archive-date = January 6, 2007}} Colbert developed a correspondent character for his pieces on the series that was a parody of conservative political pundits such as Bill O'Reilly. Colbert has described his correspondent character as "a well-intentioned, poorly informed, high-status idiot"{{cite web|first=Will|last=Leitch|url=https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2014-12-15/stephen-colbert-is-dead-long-live-stephen-colbert|title=Stephen Colbert is Dead. Long Live Stephen Colbert|website=Bloomberg.com|date=December 15, 2014|access-date=December 7, 2021|archive-date=December 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208015446/https://www.bloomberg.com/news/features/2014-12-15/stephen-colbert-is-dead-long-live-stephen-colbert|url-status=live}} and "a fool who has spent a lot of his life playing not the fool – one who is able to cover it at least well enough to deal with the subjects that he deals with". Colbert was frequently pitted against knowledgeable interview subjects, or against Stewart in scripted exchanges, with the resultant dialogue demonstrating the character's lack of knowledge of whatever subject he is discussing.Steinberg, Jacques (October 12, 2005). [https://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/12/arts/television/12colb.html The News Is Funny, as a Correspondent Gets His Own Show] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080308110943/http://www.nytimes.com/2005/10/12/arts/television/12colb.html?ei=5088&en=262a857c34eb149f&ex=1286769600&partner=rssnyt&emc=rss&pagewanted=print |date=March 8, 2008 }}. The New York Times. Retrieved July 13, 2006. Colbert also made generous use of humorous fallacies of logic in explaining his point of view on any topic. Other Daily Show correspondents have adopted a similar style; former correspondent Rob Corddry recalls that when he and Ed Helms first joined the show's cast in 2002, they "just imitated Stephen Colbert for a year or two".Corddry, Rob. Interview with Terry Gross (March 8, 2007). [https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7773229 Rob and Nate Corddry Find Their Place on TV] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080118130325/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=7773229 |date=January 18, 2008 }}. Fresh Air. WHYY. Retrieved October 28, 2007. Correspondent Aasif Mandvi has stated "I just decided I was going to do my best Stephen Colbert impression".{{cite news|url=http://www.tampabay.com/features/media/article545843.ece|title=For Aasif Mandvi, cultural irreverence on 'The Daily Show'|newspaper=St. Petersburg Times|author=Deggans, Eric|date=June 1, 2008|access-date=November 18, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081214212553/http://www.tampabay.com/features/media/article545843.ece|archive-date=December 14, 2008}} Reminiscing on his hiring, Smithberg said, "We saw what comedy genius was up close".{{cite news|last=Blake|first=Meredith |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2021-07-22/the-daily-show-creators-lizz-winstead-madeleine-smithberg-25th-anniversary|title=The true story of the women who made 'The Daily Show' — and were 'erased' from its legacy|work=Los Angeles Times |date=July 22, 2021|access-date=October 14, 2024 }}

Colbert appeared in several recurring segments for The Daily Show, including "Even Stevphen" with Steve Carell,{{cite web |url= https://www.cc.com/video/s7mibo/the-colbert-report-steve-carell |title=Steve Carell – The Colbert Report – Video Clip |publisher=Comedy Central |date=July 7, 2010 |access-date=December 6, 2021 |url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101228013532/http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/340910/july-07-2010/steve-carell |archive-date=December 28, 2010}} in which both characters were expected to debate a selected topic but instead would unleash their anger at one another. Colbert commonly hosted "This Week in God", a report on topics in the news pertaining to religion, presented with the help of the "God Machine". Colbert filed reports from the floor of the Democratic National Convention and the Republican National Convention as a part of The Daily Show's award-winning coverage of the 2000 and 2004 U.S. presidential elections; many from the latter were included as part of their The Daily Show: Indecision 2004 DVD release. Other pieces that have been named as his signature segments include "Grouse Hunting in Shropshire", in which he reported on the "gayness" of British aristocracy, his mock lionization of a smoking-rights activist and apparent chain-smoker, and his cameo appearances during his faux campaign for president.Rudolph, Ileane (July 27, 2015). "Alumni Association: A roundup of The Daily Show{{'}}s coolest Graduates". TV Guide. pp 21–22. In several episodes of The Daily Show, Colbert filled in as anchor in the absence of Jon Stewart, including the full week of March 3, 2002, when Stewart was scheduled to host Saturday Night Live. After Colbert left the show, Rob Corddry took over "This Week in God" segments, although a recorded sample of Colbert's voice was still used as the sound effect for the God Machine. Later episodes of The Daily Show have reused older Colbert segments under the label "Klassic Kolbert". Colbert won three Emmys as a writer of The Daily Show in 2004, 2005, and 2006.{{cite web|url=http://comedians.about.com/od/comediansal/p/stephencolbert.htm|title=Stephen Colbert Biography – Biography of Comedian Stephen Colbert|last=Bromley|first=Patrick|access-date=November 25, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110707074958/http://comedians.about.com/od/comediansal/p/stephencolbert.htm|archive-date=July 7, 2011}}

{{Main|The Colbert Report|Stephen Colbert (character)}}

File:Michelle Obama on The Colbert Report.jpg; the set decor of The Colbert Report satirized cable-personality political talk shows. ]]

Colbert hosted his own television show, The Colbert Report, from October 17, 2005, through December 18, 2014.de Moraes, Lisa. 2014, "Stephen Colbert Immortalized In Final Episode Of 'The Colbert Report' (Video, with text transcription), at Deadline.com, December 19, 2014, see {{cite journal |url=https://deadline.com/2014/12/colbert-report-last-show-stephen-colbert-1201329643/ |title=Stephen Colbert Immortalized In Final Episode Of 'The Colbert Report' – Video |access-date=2020-03-22 |url-status=live |journal=Deadline Hollywood |date=December 19, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141219153839/https://deadline.com/2014/12/colbert-report-last-show-stephen-colbert-1201329643/ |archive-date=December 19, 2014}}. Retrieved 19 December 2014. The Colbert Report was a Daily Show spin-off that parodied the conventions of television news broadcasting, particularly cable-personality political talk shows like The O'Reilly Factor, Hannity, and Glenn Beck.{{cite magazine |url=https://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2006/03/27/fear-factor |title=Fear Factor |first=Nicholas |last=Lemann |magazine=The New Yorker |date=March 27, 2006 |access-date=July 8, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070905164243/http://www.newyorker.com/archive/2006/03/27/060327fa_fact |archive-date=September 5, 2007}} Colbert hosted the show in-character as a blustery right-wing pundit, generally considered to be an extension of his character on The Daily Show. Conceived by co-creators Stewart, Colbert, and Ben Karlin in part as an opportunity to explore "the character-driven news", the series focused less on the day-to-day news style of the Daily Show, instead frequently concentrating on the foibles of the host-character himself.{{cite news |url=https://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4630860 |title='Daily Show' Correspondent Readies 'The Colbert Report' |last=Siegel |first=Robert |publisher=NPR |work=All Things Considered |date=May 4, 2005 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060427052953/http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4630860 |archive-date=April 27, 2006 }}

The concept for The Report was first seen in a series of Daily Show segments which advertised the then-fictional series as a joke. It was later developed by Stewart's Busboy Productions and pitched to Comedy Central, which green-lighted the program; Comedy Central had already been searching for a way to extend the successful Daily Show franchise beyond a half-hour.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.medialifemagazine.com/the-wit-and-sense-of-colbert-report/ |title=The wit and sense of 'Colbert Report' |magazine=Media Life |first=Toni |last=Fitzgerald |date=October 20, 2005 |access-date=July 11, 2007 |url-status=dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130607105808/http://www.medialifemagazine.com/the-wit-and-sense-of-colbert-report/|archive-date = June 7, 2013}} The series opened to strong ratings, averaging 1.2 million viewers nightly during its first week on the air. Comedy Central signed a long-term contract for The Colbert Report within its first month on the air, when it immediately established itself among the network's highest-rated shows.{{cite journal |url=https://www.eonline.com/news/51015/comedy_central_keeps_colbert |first=Charlie |last=Amter |title=Comedy Central Keeps Colbert |journal=E! |date=November 2, 2005 |access-date=December 6, 2021 |url-status=live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110629203346/http://www.eonline.com/uberblog/b51015_Comedy_Central_Keeps_Colbert.html |archive-date=June 29, 2011 }}{{cite magazine |url=http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9767517/site/newsweek/ |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051023081359/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9767517/site/newsweek/ |archive-date=October 23, 2005 |title=Life, The Docudrama |first=Tom |last=Masland |magazine=Newsweek |date=October 21, 2005 |url-status=dead |access-date=July 11, 2007}}

Much of Colbert's personal life was reflected in his character on The Colbert Report. With the extended exposure of the character on the show, he often referenced his interest in and knowledge of Catholicism, science fiction, and The Lord of the Rings, as well as using real facts to create his character's history. His alternate persona was also raised in South Carolina, is the youngest of 11 siblings and is married.{{cite web |last=Gordon |first=Avery |title=Stephen's bio |url= https://press.cc.com/series/the-colbert-report/bio/69253 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080325224351/http://www.colbertnation.com/cn/stephens-bio.php |archive-date=March 25, 2008 |website=Comedy Central| access-date=December 6, 2021}} However, Colbert's actual career history in acting and comedy was often downplayed or even denied outright, and he frequently referred to having attended Dartmouth College (which was at the forefront of the conservative campus movement in the 1980s) rather than his actual alma mater, Northwestern. In July 2012, Colbert added two years to his contract with Comedy Central, extending the run of The Colbert Report until the end of 2014.{{cite news |url=http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/25/stewart-and-colbert-extend-comedy-central-contracts/ |title=Stewart and Colbert Extend Comedy Central Contracts |work=The New York Times |first=Bill |last=Carter |date=July 25, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120726013145/http://mediadecoder.blogs.nytimes.com/2012/07/25/stewart-and-colbert-extend-comedy-central-contracts/ |archive-date=July 26, 2012 }}

The final episode on December 18, 2014, featured a rendition of "We'll Meet Again" and appearances from former guests of the show, including Jon Stewart, Randy Newman, Bryan Cranston, Willie Nelson, Yo-Yo Ma, Mandy Patinkin, Neil deGrasse Tyson, Tom Brokaw, David Gregory, J. J. Abrams, Big Bird, Gloria Steinem, Ken Burns, James Franco, Barry Manilow, Bob Costas, Jeff Daniels, Sam Waterston, Bill de Blasio, Katie Couric, Patrick Stewart, George Lucas, Henry Kissinger, Cookie Monster, Alan Alda, Eliot Spitzer, Vince Gilligan, Paul Krugman, and a text from Bill Clinton. There were appearances by Alex Trebek, U.S. and coalition Afghanistan forces, and further characters (for example a space station astronaut, Santa Claus, and Abraham Lincoln).

{{Main|The Late Show with Stephen Colbert}}

File:Stephen Colbert and Ethan Hawke (41955976932) (cropped).jpg in 2018]]

On April 10, 2014, CBS announced in a press release{{cite press release |url=https://www.viacomcbspressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/releases/view?id=38627 |title=CBS Announces Stephen Colbert as The Next Host Of The 'Late Show' |date=April 10, 2014 |access-date=December 6, 2021 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140411062235/http://www.cbspressexpress.com/cbs-entertainment/releases/view?id=38627 |archive-date=April 11, 2014 |publisher=CBS}} that Colbert "will succeed David Letterman as the host of The Late Show, effective when Mr. Letterman retires from the broadcast." On January 12, 2015, CBS announced that Colbert would premiere as the Late Show host on Tuesday, September 8, 2015.{{cite web |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-late-show-stephen-colbert-september-8-premiere-cbs-20150112-story.html |title=Late Show With Stephen Colbert' will premiere Sept. 8, CBS says |date=January 12, 2015 |last=Collins |first=Scott |newspaper=Los Angeles Times |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150113113338/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-late-show-stephen-colbert-september-8-premiere-cbs-20150112-story.html|archive-date=January 13, 2015}} The first guest of the new Late Show was George Clooney.{{cite web |url=https://www.imdb.com/title/tt3697842/trivia?ref_=tt_trv_trv |title=The Late Show with Stephen Colbert |access-date=December 17, 2015 |website=IMDb |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160829135316/http://www.imdb.com/title/tt3697842/trivia?ref_=tt_trv_trv |archive-date=August 29, 2016 }} The show has a much more political focus than David Letterman's Late Show.{{cite news|url=http://mashable.com/2017/09/08/the-late-show-stephen-colbert-digital-ratings/|title=Stephen Colbert's 'Late Show' is rewriting the rules of late night TV for a digital audience|last=Prudom|first=Laura|work=Mashable|access-date=October 12, 2017|archive-date=October 12, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012150842/http://mashable.com/2017/09/08/the-late-show-stephen-colbert-digital-ratings/|url-status=live}}{{Cite journal |url=https://www.indiewire.com/2016/05/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-getting-reboot-from-cbs-due-to-slipping-ratings-291481/ |title='The Late Show With Stephen Colbert' Getting 'Reboot' From CBS Due To Slipping Ratings |journal=IndieWire |last=Sharf |first=Zack |date=May 2, 2016 |access-date=October 12, 2017 |archive-date=October 12, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171012150702/http://www.indiewire.com/2016/05/the-late-show-with-stephen-colbert-getting-reboot-from-cbs-due-to-slipping-ratings-291481/ |url-status=live }}

During his tenure as the host of The Late Show, Colbert hosted the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards, broadcast on CBS on September 17, 2017.{{cite news |last1=Koblin |first1=John |title=Stephen Colbert Will Host the Emmy Awards |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/23/arts/television/stephen-colbert-will-host-the-emmy-awards.html |access-date=September 18, 2017 |work=The New York Times |date=January 23, 2017 |archive-date=July 14, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170714054851/https://www.nytimes.com/2017/01/23/arts/television/stephen-colbert-will-host-the-emmy-awards.html |url-status=live }} In 2021, he and his Spartina Productions company signed a deal with CBS Studios, through which programs such as Tooning Out the News and Fairview were produced. Colbert was also an executive producer on Comedy Central's Tha God's Honest Truth.{{Cite web|last=Littleton|first=Cynthia|date=October 28, 2021|title=Stephen Colbert's Spartina Productions Inks First-Look Deal With CBS Studios (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/stephen-colberts-spartina-productions-inks-first-look-deal-with-cbs-studios-1235099355/|access-date=October 29, 2021|website=Variety|language=en-US|archive-date=October 29, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211029000229/https://variety.com/2021/tv/news/stephen-colberts-spartina-productions-inks-first-look-deal-with-cbs-studios-1235099355/|url-status=live}} On August 30, 2023, Colbert and fellow talk show hosts Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel, and John Oliver, began hosting the comedy podcast Strike Force Five to support their staff members out of work due to the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike.{{Cite news |last=Horton |first=Adrian |date=August 30, 2023 |title=Strike Force Five: what happens when late-night TV hosts make a podcast? |language=en-GB |work=The Guardian |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/aug/30/strike-force-five-late-night-hosts-podcast-fallon-kimmel-colbert |access-date=September 1, 2023 |issn=0261-3077|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240210202301/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2023/aug/30/strike-force-five-late-night-hosts-podcast-fallon-kimmel-colbert|archive-date=February 10, 2024}}{{Cite web |last=Rancilio |first=Alicia |date=August 30, 2023 |title=Late-night hosts team up for 'Strike Force Five' podcast to benefit their out-of-work staff |url=https://apnews.com/article/latenight-hosts-podcast-strike-force-five-f57d2b60642ded98799c4b57c627e5d6 |access-date=September 1, 2023 |website=AP News |language=en|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240215163827/https://apnews.com/article/latenight-hosts-podcast-strike-force-five-f57d2b60642ded98799c4b57c627e5d6|archive-date=February 15, 2024}}{{Cite web |last=Spangler |first=Todd |date=August 29, 2023 |title=Late-Night Hosts Hook Up for Spotify Podcast With Proceeds to Benefit Unemployed Staffers During Writers Strike |url=https://variety.com/2023/digital/news/late-night-hosts-spotify-strike-team-five-writers-strike-1235706901/ |access-date=September 1, 2023 |website=Variety |language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118111658/https://variety.com/2023/digital/news/late-night-hosts-spotify-strike-team-five-writers-strike-1235706901/|archive-date=January 18, 2024}} Since 2024 he is a producer of the CBS late-night comedy panel game show, After Midnight, alongside his wife Evie.{{Cite web |last=del Rosario |first=Alexandra |date=November 1, 2023 |title=Taylor Tomlinson to host 'After Midnight' on CBS, filling 'Late Late Show' slot |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2023-11-01/cbs-after-midnight |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102142412/https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/tv/story/2023-11-01/cbs-after-midnight |archive-date=November 2, 2023 |access-date=November 2, 2023 |website=Los Angeles Times |language=en-US}}{{Cite magazine |last=Madarang |first=Charisma |date=November 2, 2023 |title=Taylor Tomlinson to Host CBS' 'After Midnight,' Produced by Stephen Colbert |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/taylor-tomlinson-host-after-midnight-stephen-colbert-cbs-1234868515/ |access-date=November 2, 2023 |magazine=Rolling Stone |language=en-US |archive-date=November 2, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231102104532/https://www.rollingstone.com/tv-movies/tv-movie-news/taylor-tomlinson-host-after-midnight-stephen-colbert-cbs-1234868515/ |url-status=live }} The show will end in June 2025, after two seasons, following host Taylor Tomlinson's departure.{{Cite web |last=Porter |first=Rick |date=March 26, 2025|title='After Midnight' Ending After Two Seasons on CBS |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/after-midnight-ending-after-2-seasons-cbs-1236173309/|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20250401165150/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/after-midnight-ending-after-2-seasons-cbs-1236173309/|archive-date=April 1, 2025 |access-date=April 1, 2025|website=The Hollywood Reporter |language=en-US}}

Although, by his own account, he was not particularly political before joining the cast of The Daily Show, Colbert has described himself as a Democrat according to a 2004 interview.{{cite news|url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/09/AR2005100901551.html|title = TV's Newest Anchor: A Smirk in Progress|first = Howard|last = Kurtz|author-link = Howard Kurtz|newspaper = The Washington Post|date = October 10, 2005|access-date = August 11, 2006|url-status=live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20051026020451/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2005/10/09/AR2005100901551.html|archive-date = October 26, 2005}}{{cite magazine|url = https://ew.com/article/2004/08/13/daily-show-reporter-finds-humor-politics/|title =Daily Show reporter finds humor in politics|first = Mandi|last = Bierly|magazine = Entertainment Weekly|date = July 22, 2006|access-date = July 22, 2006|url-status=live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070226092347/http://www.ew.com/ew/article/0%2C%2C677356%2C00.html|archive-date = February 26, 2007}} In an interview at the Kennedy School of Government at Harvard Institute of Politics, he said he has "no problems with Republicans, just Republican policies".{{cite web|url = https://iop.harvard.edu/events/conversation-stephen-colbert|title = A Conversation With Stephen Colbert|publisher = Harvard Institute of Politics|date = October 1, 2006|access-date = October 5, 2023}} Columnist and close friend Jonathan Alter has described him as "left of center".{{cite news |url=https://www.chicagotribune.com/2011/07/20/who-benefits-most-from-the-colbert-bump/ |title=Who benefits most from the Colbert Bump?|date=August 23, 2021|newspaper=Chicago Tribune|accessdate=April 18, 2024 |archive-date=April 18, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240418130642/https://www.chicagotribune.com/2011/07/20/who-benefits-most-from-the-colbert-bump/ |url-status=live}} On the intersection of faith and politics, Colbert has pointed out that his views are in line with those of Cesar Chavez.{{cite web|url=https://foreverdogpodcasts.com/2021/02/17/stephen-colbert-on-godcast/|title=Stephen Colbert on Godcast|website=ForeverDog|date=January 27, 2021|access-date=March 21, 2021|archive-date=April 15, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210415133406/https://foreverdogpodcasts.com/2021/02/17/stephen-colbert-on-godcast/|url-status=live}}
Quote:" [Answering to the question: "So you share along the same "Radical Marxist Leftist Agenda" that Jesus had, is that fair to say?"]

Stephen: Um, I'm really closer to Cesar Chavez but he and Jesus mostly agreed."{{cite web|url=https://ufw.org/Change-org-Immigrant-Rights-Cesar-Chavez-s-Granddaughter-to-March-for-Immigrant-Rights-at-Rally-to-Restore-Sanity/|title=Change.org Immigrant Rights: Cesar Chavez's Granddaughter to March for Immigrant Rights at Rally to Restore Sanity|website=United Farm Workers|date=October 29, 2010|access-date=March 21, 2021|archive-date=May 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518100427/https://ufw.org/Change-org-Immigrant-Rights-Cesar-Chavez-s-Granddaughter-to-March-for-Immigrant-Rights-at-Rally-to-Restore-Sanity/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://swampland.time.com/2010/09/24/stephen-colberts-fallback-position-expert-witness/|title=Stephen Colbert's Fallback Position: Expert Witness?|website=Time Magazine|date=September 24, 2010|access-date=March 21, 2021|archive-date=May 18, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220518232450/https://swampland.time.com/2010/09/24/stephen-colberts-fallback-position-expert-witness/|url-status=live}}

Colbert owns a 1972 Richard Nixon campaign poster, which hangs on a wall in his office. The poster reads: "For the first time in 20 years we are spending more on human resources than on defense!" and highlights Nixon's compromise towards progressive issues.{{cite news |url=https://digital.library.cornell.edu/catalog/ss:10639027|title=President Nixon: Now More Than Ever|website=Cornell University Library|accessdate=April 20, 2024}} Colbert has half-jokingly made reference to those views: "He started the EPA. He opened China. He gave 18-year-olds the vote. His issues were education, drugs, women, minorities, youth involvement, ending the draft, and improving the environment. John Kerry couldn't have run on this!"{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna21641435|title='Tim Russert' for Nov. 3|date=November 5, 2007|newspaper=NBC News|accessdate=April 20, 2024 |archive-date=April 20, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240420162826/https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna21641435 |url-status=live}} As a child, he recalled being transfixed by the Watergate hearings, while his siblings explained the importance of what had happened. In 2013 he said that Nixon's prolongation of the Vietnam War for political gain, "Led to the deaths of tens of thousands of peoples, shattered the trust of the American people to the American military establishment, to trusting the president, and changed your [the press] relationship to the president forever." Adding that, "the depth of his selfish evil musn't be forgotten. Because while he's not the only one, he's the Ur for me".{{cite news |url=https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2013/03/stephen-colbert-surprises-a-slate-crowd-talks-about-nixons-selfish-evil-and-panda-arousal-007444|title=Stephen Colbert surprises a Slate crowd, talks about Nixon's 'selfish evil' and panda arousal|date=March 21, 2013|newspaper=Politico|accessdate=April 20, 2024 |archive-date=April 20, 2024|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240420164816/https://www.politico.com/states/new-york/albany/story/2013/03/stephen-colbert-surprises-a-slate-crowd-talks-about-nixons-selfish-evil-and-panda-arousal-007444 |url-status=live}}

Initially "all in" for Ronald Reagan, Colbert's political ideas shifted left as he went to Northwestern: "I'm not buying the hype because I see how well-staged all of this is. Then after that, I was in theater and there's no turning back." He has joked that Reagan is "in hell" for his handling of the AIDS crisis.{{cite news |url=https://www.thewrap.com/colbert-ronald-reagan-in-hell-kevin-mccarthy-joke-clip/|title=Colbert Imagines Ronald Reagan in Hell While Roasting GOP House Speaker Drama (Video)|date=January 5, 2023|newspaper=The Wrap|accessdate=April 20, 2024}} While teaching improv at The Second City he would tell his students to read and stay informed; recommending them the works of Noam Chomsky.{{cite web|title=Abby McEnany Gets Improv Notes From Her Second City Teacher, Stephen Colbert |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XMUweNpYbag&t=265s|website=The Late Show with Stephen Colbert |access-date=April 20, 2024|date=January 16, 2020}}

Colbert has criticized the United States' use of drone strikes,{{cite web|url=https://www.cc.com/video/nzr8wl/the-colbert-report-the-word-due-or-die|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210801202317/https://www.cc.com/video/nzr8wl/the-colbert-report-the-word-due-or-die|url-status=dead|archive-date=August 1, 2021|title=The Word - Due or Die|publisher = The Colbert Report|date = March 6, 2012|access-date = January 11, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cc.com/video/sib2qy/the-colbert-report-barack-obama-s-righteous-drone-strikes|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210410134849/https://www.cc.com/video/sib2qy/the-colbert-report-barack-obama-s-righteous-drone-strikes|url-status=dead|archive-date=April 10, 2021|title=Barack Obama's Righteous Drone Strikes|publisher = The Colbert Report|date = May 31, 2012|access-date = January 11, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cc.com/video/s3t2y6/the-colbert-report-the-word-two-birds-with-one-drone|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210518014919/https://www.cc.com/video/s3t2y6/the-colbert-report-the-word-two-birds-with-one-drone|url-status=dead|archive-date=May 18, 2021|title=The Word - Two Birds With One Drone|publisher = The Colbert Report|date = May 31, 2012|access-date = January 11, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cc.com/video/1p3who/the-colbert-report-u-s-drone-controversy|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210614175822/https://www.cc.com/video/1p3who/the-colbert-report-u-s-drone-controversy|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 14, 2021|title=U.S. Drone Controversy|publisher = The Colbert Report|date=November 13, 2013|access-date = January 11, 2024}} and NSA's surveillance tactics, during the Obama administration.{{cite web|url=https://www.cc.com/video/pqopug/the-colbert-report-nsa-software-implants|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210926140046/https://www.cc.com/video/pqopug/the-colbert-report-nsa-software-implants|url-status=dead|archive-date=September 26, 2021|title =NSA Software Implants |publisher = The Colbert Report|date = January 16, 2014|access-date = January 11, 2024}}{{cite web|url=https://www.aclu.org/news/national-security/its-funny-because-its-true-colbert-nsa-spying|title=It's Funny Because It's True: Colbert on NSA Spying |publisher = American Civil Liberties Union|date =October 23, 2008|access-date = January 11, 2024}} He has also described the 2016 Democratic candidate, Hillary Clinton, as someone who has "been around for a long time, but actually represents [...] what you would think of as the common systemic corruption of Washington, D.C." adding "I think people's hesitancy about Hillary Clinton is completely reasonable. [...] I can imagine that Trump might be the only person she could beat because she's not a great candidate. And she's got a lot of flaws and a lot of baggage that she can't shake off, however historic or even prepared for the job she is in this case."{{cite web|url=https://freshairarchive.org/segments/late-show-host-stephen-colbert-says-hes-finally-found-his-post-report-voice|title='Late Show' Host Stephen Colbert Says He's Finally Found His Post-'Report' Voice|website=Fresh Air with Terry Gross|date=November 2, 2016|access-date=May 4, 2023|archive-date=January 21, 2022|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220121025206/https://freshairarchive.org/segments/late-show-host-stephen-colbert-says-hes-finally-found-his-post-report-voice|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=LvkFkzpVYJ4|title=WERD: The Lesser of Two Evils|website=The Late Show with Stephen Colbert|date=July 28, 2016|access-date=May 4, 2023}}

Colbert supports the implementation of the Medicare for All plan introduced by Bernie Sanders, considering it "a sensible fix to Obamacare".{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?t=216&v=asho8u2X8XA&feature=youtu.be|title=Flipped Interviews: Late Show Guests Interview Stephen|website=Youtube|date=November 28, 2018|access-date=January 23, 2021|archive-date=March 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308045449/https://accounts.google.com/v3/signin/identifier?dsh=S-1442553201%3A1678251289259610&continue=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.youtube.com%2Fsignin%3Faction_handle_signin%3Dtrue%26app%3Ddesktop%26hl%3Den%26next%3D%252Fsignin_passive%26feature%3Dpassive&hl=en&passive=true&service=youtube&uilel=3&flowName=GlifWebSignIn&flowEntry=ServiceLogin&ifkv=AWnogHffdEFXX0s9ts68_gpM2pCpsCXFGuD8365RC0aYu1j6S7MCyF_hWzH58v7KpPn8Xs9t0ekC|url-status=live}}
Quote: "What would I wear the MAGA hat for? Uh, a sensible fix to Obamcare, if he [Trump] would support a sensible fix to Obamacare, because I think that's the way that you could most improve the lives of the most Americans, is to give them... Medicare For All. Medicare For All." He is also in favor of abolishing the U.S. Senate.{{cite web|last=Cronin|first=Colleen|url=https://www.bostonglobe.com/2022/01/18/nation/no-one-would-drop-single-tear-warren-colbert-talk-voting-rights-filibuster-abolishing-senate/

|title='No one would drop a single tear': Warren, Colbert talk voting rights, the filibuster, and abolishing the Senate|website=The Boston Globe|date=November 2, 2022|access-date=September 24, 2023}}

When asked about his views on abortion, Colbert positioned himself as pro-choice.{{cite web|url=https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/06/03/magazine/stephen-colbert-politics-religion.html|title=Stephen Colbert on the political targets of satire.|website=The New York Times Magazine|first=David|last=Marchese|date=May 31, 2019|access-date=January 23, 2021|archive-date=February 10, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210210032326/https://www.nytimes.com/interactive/2019/06/03/magazine/stephen-colbert-politics-religion.html|url-status=live}}
Quote: "I support a woman's legal right to exert all her rights. One of her rights, presently, is to have an abortion. I am not in favor of the judges who have been appointed who might likely overturn that. I respect the women I know and their opinion on the subject. I believe that abortion is a woman's choice. I also know and love many people who feel differently." During the 2023 writers' strike he showed his support to the writers, saying: "I'm a member of the guild. I support collective bargaining. This nation owes so much to unions."{{cite web|last=Saad|first=Nardine|url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment-arts/business/story/2023-05-02/writers-strike-2023-reactions|title=Fallon, more react to WGA strike: 'I wouldn't have a show if it wasn't for my writers'|website=Los Angeles Times|date=May 2, 2023|access-date=May 3, 2023}} In May 2023, Colbert was permanently banned from entering Russia alongside 500 other Americans, due to being "involved in the spread of Russophobic attitudes and fakes." These bans were made in response to U.S. imposed sanctions on the country.{{cite web|last=Haring|first=Bruce|url=https://deadline.com/2023/05/russia-bans-jimmy-kimmel-stephen-colbert-seth-meyers-us-sanctions-blamed-1235373826/|title=Russia Bans Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert And Seth Meyers, US Sanctions Blamed|website=Deadline Hollywood|date=May 9, 2023|access-date=May 23, 2023}}

Colbert has been critical of Israel's treatment of Palestinians.{{cite web|url=https://www.cc.com/video/0eesk5/the-colbert-report-formidable-opponent-michael-oren|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220706103654/https://www.cc.com/video/0eesk5/the-colbert-report-formidable-opponent-michael-oren|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 6, 2022|title =Formidable Opponent - Michael Oren |publisher = The Colbert Report|date = June 9, 2010|access-date = May 4, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=HCM-MHflWH0|title= Israel & Palestine Debate – Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn |publisher = Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn|date =May 3, 2013|access-date = May 4, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cc.com/video/yesa8j/the-colbert-report-obama-s-israel-trip|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210704101416/https://www.cc.com/video/yesa8j/the-colbert-report-obama-s-israel-trip|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 4, 2021|title=Obama's Israel Trip|publisher = The Colbert Report|date = June 9, 2010|access-date = May 4, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://www.cc.com/video/7dpy0t/the-colbert-report-peter-beinart|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210306122210/https://www.cc.com/video/7dpy0t/the-colbert-report-peter-beinart|url-status=dead|archive-date=March 6, 2021|title=Peter Beinart|publisher = The Colbert Report|date = March 29, 2012|access-date = May 4, 2023}} He called for a ceasefire in Gaza after the 2024 World Central Kitchen aid convoy attack carried by the IDF. Addressing Israeli prime minister Benjamin Netanyahu he said: "Nothing just happens. You are responsible. If your answer is, 'This happens in war,' then maybe consider ending the war."{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/stephen-colbert-world-central-kitchen-netanyahu-gaza-attack/|title=Stephen Colbert Blasts Benjamin Netanyahu for Gaza Attack on World Central Kitchen Workers: 'You Are Responsible'|website=The Wrap|first=Mike|last=Roe|date=April 4, 2024|access-date=May 15, 2024}} He also defended the pro-Palestine college protests saying: "Students should be allowed to protest. It's their first amendment right."{{cite web|url=https://www.thewrap.com/stephen-colbert-college-protests-first-amendment-monologue-late-show/|title=Stephen Colbert Stands Up for College Gaza Protesters: 'It's Their First Amendment Right'|website=The Wrap|first=Ross A.|last=Lincoln|date=April 30, 2024|access-date=May 15, 2024}}

In 2024, he moderated a fundraiser for the Joe Biden 2024 presidential campaign featuring Joe Biden, Bill Clinton and Barack Obama.{{Cite web |last=House |first=The White |date=2024-03-29 |title=Remarks by President Biden, President Obama, and President Clinton in a Moderated Conversation with Stephen Colbert at a Campaign Reception {{!}} New York, NY |url=https://bidenwhitehouse.archives.gov/briefing-room/speeches-remarks/2024/03/28/remarks-by-president-biden-president-obama-and-president-clinton-in-a-moderated-conversation-with-stephen-colbert-at-a-campaign-reception-new-york-ny/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=The White House |language=en-US}} Following his performance in the first presidential debate on June 27 Colbert called on Biden to drop out of the race.{{Cite news|last=Pilley|first=Max |date=July 9, 2024 |title=Stephen Colbert says Joe Biden should "self-sacrifice" and step down as presidential candidate |url=https://www.nme.com/news/tv/stephen-colbert-says-joe-biden-should-self-sacrifice-and-step-down-as-presidential-candidate-3773388 |work=NME |access-date=July 10, 2024 |archive-date=July 10, 2024 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240710015337/https://www.nme.com/news/tv/stephen-colbert-says-joe-biden-should-self-sacrifice-and-step-down-as-presidential-candidate-3773388 |url-status=live }}

{{Main|Stephen Colbert at the 2006 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner}}

On Saturday, April 29, 2006, Colbert was the featured entertainer for the 2006 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner. Standing a few yards from U.S. President George W. Bush{{cite news |url=http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/culture/detail?entry_id=4791 |title=Stephen Colbert Has Brass Cojones |last=Morford |first=Mark |work=San Francisco Chronicle |date=May 1, 2006 |access-date=June 1, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101121184433/http://www.sfgate.com/cgi-bin/blogs/culture/detail?entry_id=4791 |archive-date=November 21, 2010 }} – in front of an audience the Associated Press called a "Who's Who of power and celebrity"{{cite news |last=White |first=Elizabeth |author2=Associated Press |newspaper=The Washington Post |title=Bush Plays Straight Man to His Lookalike |date=April 30, 2006 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/30/AR2006043000147.html |access-date=June 3, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025013624/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/04/30/AR2006043000147.html |archive-date=October 25, 2012}} – Colbert delivered a searing routine targeting the president and the media.{{cite magazine |url=http://www.banderasnews.com/0605/wr-colbert.htm |magazine=Editor & Publisher |title=Colbert Lampoons Bush at White House Correspondents Dinner – President Not Amused? |date=April 29, 2006 |access-date=May 7, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060824162309/http://www.banderasnews.com/0605/wr-colbert.htm |archive-date=August 24, 2006 }} In his politically conservative character from The Colbert Report, Colbert satirized the George W. Bush Administration and the White House Press Corps with such lines as:

{{blockquote|I stand by this man. I stand by this man because he stands for things. Not only for things, he stands on things. Things like aircraft carriers and rubble and recently flooded city squares. And that sends a strong message, that no matter what happens to America, she will always rebound – with the most powerfully staged photo ops in the world.{{cite journal |url=https://www.salon.com/2006/05/01/colbert_10/ |title=The truthiness hurts |first=Michael |last=Scherer |journal=Salon |date=May 2, 2006 |access-date=December 6, 2021 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080409220811/http://www.salon.com/opinion/feature/2006/05/01/colbert/index.html |archive-date=April 9, 2008}}}}

Colbert received a chilly response from the audience.{{cite news |url=http://www.onthemedia.org/transcripts/transcripts_050506_dinner.html |title=Guess Who's Coming to Dinner? |series=On the Media |publisher=NPR |date=May 5, 2006 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061001131548/http://www.onthemedia.org/transcripts/transcripts_050506_dinner.html |archive-date=October 1, 2006}} His jokes were often met with silence and muttering, apart from the enthusiastic laughter of a few in the audience.{{cite journal |url=https://slate.com/culture/2006/05/stephen-colbert-s-correspondents-dinner-routine.html |first=Tray |last=Patterson |title=Dinner Theater: Why Stephen Colbert didn't bomb in D.C |journal=Slate |date=May 2, 2006 |access-date=December 6, 2021|url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120503221459/http://www.slate.com/articles/arts/television/2006/05/dinner_theater.html |archive-date=May 3, 2012}} The major media outlets paid little attention to it initially. Washington Post columnist Dan Froomkin and Columbia University Graduate School of Journalism professor Todd Gitlin claimed that this was because Colbert's routine was as critical of the media as it was of Bush.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2006/05/02/BL2006050200755.html |access-date=May 7, 2006 |newspaper=The Washington Post |title=The Colbert Blackout |first=Dan |last=Froomkin |date=May 2, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20081010183610/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2006/05/02/BL2006050200755.html |archive-date=October 10, 2008}}{{cite news |url=http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1529981/20060502/index.jhtml?headlines=true |date=May 2, 2006 |access-date=May 7, 2006 |title=Stephen Colbert's Attack on Bush Gets A Big 'No Comment' From U.S. Media |first=Gil |last=Kaufman |work=MTV News |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060615071913/http://www.mtv.com/news/articles/1529981/20060502/index.jhtml?headlines=true |archive-date=June 15, 2006}} Richard Cohen, also writing for The Washington Post, responded that the routine was not funny.{{cite news |url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/03/AR2006050302202.html |date=May 4, 2006 |title=So Not Funny |newspaper=The Washington Post |last=Cohen |first=Richard |access-date=April 15, 2007 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061128164309/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2006/05/03/AR2006050302202.html |archive-date=November 28, 2006}} The video of Colbert's performance became an internet and media sensation,{{cite journal |url=http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-6068398-7.html |access-date=May 8, 2006 |journal=CNET |title=Video of Presidential roast attracts big Web audience |date=May 3, 2006 |last=Sandoval |first=Greg |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090806092911/http://news.cnet.com/8301-10784_3-6068398-7.html |archive-date=August 6, 2009 }}{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/22/business/media/22colbert.html |title=That After-Dinner Speech remains a favorite dish |work=The New York Times |first=Noam |last=Cohen |date=May 22, 2006 |access-date=May 22, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111111033821/http://www.nytimes.com/2006/05/22/business/media/22colbert.html |archive-date=November 11, 2011 }} while in the week following the speech, ratings for The Colbert Report rose by 37% to average just under 1.5 million total viewers per episode.{{cite news |url=http://www.nypost.com/business/65595.htm |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060613215239/http://www.nypost.com/business/65595.htm |archive-date=June 13, 2006 |title=Colbert Soars |first=Peter |last=Lauria |work=New York Post |date=May 7, 2006 |access-date=July 7, 2006}} In Time magazine, James Poniewozik called it "the political-cultural touchstone issue of 2006".{{cite news |url=https://entertainment.time.com/2006/05/03/stephen_colbert_and_the_death/ |title=Stephen Colbert and the Death of 'The Room' |first=James |last=Poniewozik |date=May 3, 2006 |access-date=May 8, 2006 |magazine=Time |archive-date=January 12, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090112081548/http://tunedin.blogs.time.com/2006/05/03/stephen_colbert_and_the_death/ |url-status=live }} Writing six months later, New York Times columnist Frank Rich referred to Colbert's speech as a "cultural primary" and called it the "defining moment" of the 2006 midterm elections.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2006/11/05/opinion/05rich.html |title=Throw the Truthiness Bums Out |first=Frank |last=Rich |author-link=Frank Rich |work=The New York Times |date=November 5, 2006 |access-date=November 22, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20061107004252/http://select.nytimes.com/2006/11/05/opinion/05rich.html |archive-date=November 7, 2006}}{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2006/11/07/BL2006110700726_5.html |newspaper=The Washington Post |title=Bubble Trouble|first=Dan |last=Froomkin |date=November 7, 2006 |access-date=November 22, 2006 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121025005549/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/blog/2006/11/07/BL2006110700726_5.html |archive-date=October 25, 2012 }}

{{Main|Stephen Colbert 2008 presidential campaign}}

Under his fictional persona in The Colbert Report, Colbert dropped hints of a potential presidential run throughout 2007, with speculation intensifying following the release of his book, I Am America (And So Can You!), which was rumored to be a sign that he was indeed testing the waters for a future bid for the White House. On October 16, 2007, he announced his candidacy on his show, stating his intention to run on both the Republican and Democratic platforms, but only as a "favorite son" in his native South Carolina.{{cite news|url = http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hFzxF7XLwi7Il2DVEE6la0NVo--gD8SB07VO0|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071019004644/http://ap.google.com/article/ALeqM5hFzxF7XLwi7Il2DVEE6la0NVo--gD8SB07VO0|archive-date = October 19, 2007|title = Colbert Announces Presidential Pursuit|agency = Associated Press|date = October 17, 2007|access-date =October 17, 2007}} He later abandoned plans to run as a Republican due to the $35,000 fee required to file for the South Carolina primary;Starr, Michael (October 18, 2007). [http://www.nypost.com/seven/10182007/tv/electile_dysfunction.htm Electile Dysfunction] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20071021025741/http://www.nypost.com/seven/10182007/tv/electile_dysfunction.htm |date=October 21, 2007 }}. New York Post. Retrieved 2007-20-10. however, he continued to seek a place on the Democratic ballot and on October 28, 2007, campaigned in the South Carolina state capital of Columbia, where he was presented with the key to the city by Mayor Bob Coble.{{Cite news|last = Smith|first = Gina|title = S.C.'s favorite son of a gun bringing the campaign home|newspaper = The State|date = October 27, 2007|url = http://www.thestate.com/news/story/212594.html |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20071030034523/http://www.thestate.com/news/story/212594.html |archive-date = October 30, 2007}}

After announcing his presidential ticket, he asked his viewers to cast their votes by donating to Donorschoose.org, an online charity connecting individuals to classrooms in need.{{cite news|url=http://gawker.com/313049/stephen-colbert-thanks-craig-newmark-for-killing-the-american-newspaper |title=Stephen Colbert thanks Craig Newmark for killing the American newspaper |publisher=Gawker |date=October 19, 2007 |access-date=January 29, 2015 |author=Faulkner, Tim |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160303220833/http://gawker.com/313049/stephen-colbert-thanks-craig-newmark-for-killing-the-american-newspaper |archive-date=March 3, 2016 }}

Colbert's promotion inspired $68,000 in donations to South Carolina classrooms, which benefited over 14,000 low-income students.{{cite web|title = Stephen Colbert for President|url = http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/viewChallenge.html?id=17036|access-date = February 27, 2009|archive-date = August 21, 2009|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090821000723/http://www.donorschoose.org/donors/viewChallenge.html?id=17036|url-status = live}}

Colbert teamed up with Donorschoose.org again in 2008 by asking supporters of Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton to do the same. As a lead-up to the Pennsylvania primary, he created a "straw poll that makes a difference" by which people could donate to Pennsylvania classroom projects in honor of their favorite candidate.{{cite web|title = Children's Drawings|date = April 8, 2008|url = http://www.cc.com/video-clips/g0ke6u/the-colbert-report-children-s-drawings|url-status=dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20170214183448/http://www.cc.com/video-clips/g0ke6u/the-colbert-report-children-s-drawings|archive-date = February 14, 2017}}

Colbert viewers donated $185,000 to projects reaching 43,000 students in Pennsylvania public schools.{{cite news|title = Stephen Colbert Joins DonorsChoose.org Board of Directors|url = https://www.reuters.com/article/pressRelease/idUS142637+12-Jan-2009+MW20090112|archive-url = https://wayback.archive-it.org/all/20100122032223/http://www.reuters.com/article/idUS142637+12-Jan-2009+MW20090112|url-status=dead|archive-date = January 22, 2010|work = Reuters|date = January 12, 2009|access-date = April 6, 2009}}

On November 1, 2007, the South Carolina Democratic Party executive council voted 13–3 to refuse Colbert's application onto the ballot. "The general sense of the council was that he wasn't a serious candidate and that was why he wasn't selected to be on the ballot", stated John Werner, the party's director.{{cite web|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1107/6674.html|title=S.C. Dems reject Colbert candidacy|website=Politico|date=November 2007 |access-date=April 6, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090713063854/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/1107/6674.html|archive-date=July 13, 2009}} Several days later he announced that he was dropping out of the race, saying he did not wish to put the country through an agonizing Supreme Court battle (referencing the 2000 election, wherein a tight recount in Florida was settled in a landmark Supreme Court decision).Associated Press (November 5, 2007). [http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=282528>1=7703&silentchk=1& Stephen Colbert Drops Presidential Bid] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080119060729/http://tv.msn.com/tv/article.aspx?news=282528>1=7703&silentchk=1& |date=January 19, 2008 }}. Retrieved November 13, 2007. CNN has reported that Obama supporters pressured the South Carolina Democratic Executive Council to keep Colbert off the ballot. One anonymous member of the council told CNN that former State Superintendent of Education Inez Tenenbaum had placed pressure on them to refuse Colbert's application despite his steady rise in polls.{{cite news|url=http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/11/06/obama-supporters-pressed-democratic-party-officials-to-keep-colbert-off-ballot/|title=Obama supporters pressed Dems to keep Colbert off ballot|publisher=CNN|access-date=April 6, 2009|date=November 6, 2007|archive-date=April 6, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090406002319/http://politicalticker.blogs.cnn.com/2007/11/06/obama-supporters-pressed-democratic-party-officials-to-keep-colbert-off-ballot/|url-status=dead}}

Though Colbert's real-life presidential campaign had ended, Marvel Comics editor-in-chief Joe Quesada established in an interview on The Colbert Report that Colbert's campaign was still going strong in the fictional Marvel Universe, citing the cover art of a then-recent issue of The Amazing Spider-Man which featured a Colbert campaign billboard in the background. Background appearances of Colbert campaign ads continued to appear in Marvel Comics publications, as late as August 2008's Secret Invasion No.{{nbsp}}5 (which also features a cameo of an alien Skrull posing as Colbert). In October 2008, Colbert made an extended 8-page appearance webslinging with Spider-Man in The Amazing Spider-Man issue No. 573.{{cite news|work=Los Angeles Times|title=Stephen Colbert is a swinger for Marvel|date=September 29, 2008|url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/herocomplex/2008/09/stephen-colbert.html|first=Geoff|last=Boucher|access-date=April 6, 2009|archive-date=April 17, 2009|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090417083857/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/herocomplex/2008/09/stephen-colbert.html|url-status=live}} Colbert voiced the president of the U.S. in the 2009 film Monsters vs. Aliens.{{cite news|work=Trailer Addict|title=Monsters vs. Aliens Interview - Stephen Colbert (2009)|date=March 19, 2009|url=https://www.traileraddict.com/monsters-vs-aliens/interview-stephen-colbert|access-date=November 15, 2024|archive-date=October 24, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201024203406/https://www.traileraddict.com/monsters-vs-aliens/interview-stephen-colbert|url-status=live}}{{cite news|last1=Giardina|first1=Carolyn|last2=Kilday|first2=Gregg|work=The Hollywood Reporter|title=ShoWest treated to 'Monsters'|date=March 12, 2008|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/business/business-news/showest-treated-monsters-106808/|access-date=November 15, 2024}}{{cite news|last=Wloszczyna|first=Susan|work=USA Today|title=First look: 'Monsters vs. Aliens' is the ultimate; a 3-D 'first'|date=March 11, 2008|url=http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2008-03-10-monsters-aliens_N.htm|access-date=November 15, 2024|archive-date=December 4, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131204202116/http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/movies/news/2008-03-10-monsters-aliens_N.htm|url-status=dead}}

File:Operation Iraqi Stephen DVIDS178745.jpg at Camp Victory in Baghdad, Iraq, June{{nbsp}}5, as part of his "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando" tour.]]

Colbert arrived in Baghdad, Iraq, on June 5, 2009, to film a week of shows called "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando" sponsored by the USO (United Service Organizations).{{cite news |title=Bob Hope's Spirit, but No Cheesecake |last=Stanley |first=Alessandra |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/12/arts/television/12watch.html |newspaper=The New York Times |date=June 11, 2009 |access-date=August 27, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170215094416/http://www.nytimes.com/2009/06/12/arts/television/12watch.html |archive-date=February 15, 2017 }} Colbert had a suit tailored for him in the Army Combat Uniform pattern.{{cite news |title=Colbert Goes Commando in Iraq |last=Farran |first=Lee |url=https://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=7781207&page=1 |work=ABC News |date=June 8, 2009 |access-date=August 27, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110618063149/http://abcnews.go.com/GMA/story?id=7781207&page=1 |archive-date=June 18, 2011 }} During the first episode (which featured a cameo appearance from U.S. president Barack Obama), Colbert had his hair cropped in a military style to show his solidarity with the troops. One Army major said that "shaving of the hair is an amazing show of support" that was "very touching." USO Senior Vice President John Hanson said the shows are an important diversion for the troops.{{cite web|last=Karadsheh|first=Jomana|title=In Iraq, Colbert gets military haircut to show his solidarity|url=http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/06/07/colbert.iraq/|publisher=Cable News Network|access-date=August 7, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140413145815/http://edition.cnn.com/2009/WORLD/meast/06/07/colbert.iraq/|archive-date=April 13, 2014}}

On September 24, 2010, Colbert testified in character before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Security. He was invited by committee chairwoman Zoe Lofgren to describe his experience participating in the United Farm Workers' "Take Our Jobs" program, where he spent a day working alongside migrant workers in upstate New York.{{Cite news | title = Colbert storms Capitol Hill for migrant workers | first = Alan | last = Silverleib | publisher = CNN | date = September 24, 2010 | url = http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/09/24/colbert.house.immigration/?hpt=T2 | access-date = September 25, 2010 | url-status=live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121108181522/http://www.cnn.com/2010/POLITICS/09/24/colbert.house.immigration/?hpt=T2 | archive-date = November 8, 2012}}{{Cite news | title = Stephen Colbert, in GOP pundit character, testifies on immigration in D.C. | first = Dan | last = Zak | newspaper = The Washington Post | date = September 25, 2010 | url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/24/AR2010092402734.html | access-date = September 25, 2010 | url-status=live | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100927221856/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2010/09/24/AR2010092402734.html | archive-date = September 27, 2010}}{{Cite news | title = Stephen Colbert testifies before Congress | work = The Spy Report | publisher = Media Spy | date = September 25, 2010 | url = http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2010/09/25/us-stephen-colbert-testifies-before-congress/ | access-date = September 25, 2010 | url-status=dead | archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20100928105431/http://www.mediaspy.org/report/2010/09/25/us-stephen-colbert-testifies-before-congress/ | archive-date = September 28, 2010}} At the end of his often-humorous testimony, Colbert broke character in responding to a question from Rep. Judy Chu, D-CA, and explained his purpose for being at the hearing:

{{blockquote|I like talking about people who don't have any power, and this seems like one of the least powerful people in the United States are migrant workers who come and do our work, but don't have any rights as a result. And yet we still invite them to come here and at the same time ask them to leave. And that's an interesting contradiction to me. And, you know, 'Whatsoever you do for the least of my brothers,' and these seem like the least of our brothers right now{{nbsp}}... Migrant workers suffer and have no rights.{{cite web| last = Schafer| first = Matt| title = Stephen Colbert Breaks Character in Congressional Testimony to Advocate for Migrant Workers| publisher = Lippmannwouldroll.com| date = September 24, 2010| url = http://lippmannwouldroll.com/2010/09/24/stephen-colbert-breaks-character-in-congressional-testimony-to-advocate-for-migrant-workers/| access-date = October 17, 2010| url-status=dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101019012049/http://lippmannwouldroll.com/2010/09/24/stephen-colbert-breaks-character-in-congressional-testimony-to-advocate-for-migrant-workers/| archive-date = October 19, 2010}}}}

Democratic committee member John Conyers questioned whether it was appropriate for the comedian to appear before Congress and asked him to leave the hearing.{{Cite news|url=https://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2010/09/colbert_asked_t.html|work=The Boston Globe|date=September 24, 2010|access-date=November 11, 2010|title=Stephen Colbert cracks jokes at Capitol Hill hearing|last=Stack|first=Donovan|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110811113436/http://www.boston.com/news/politics/politicalintelligence/2010/09/colbert_asked_t.html|archive-date=August 11, 2011}} Though Colbert offered to depart at the direction of the committee chairwoman, Lofgren requested that he stay at least until all opening testimony had been completed, whereupon Conyers withdrew his request.{{Cite news|url=http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2010/09/stephen-colbert-testifies-to-congress-today-on-immigration/1|work=USA Today on Deadline|date=September 24, 2010|access-date=May 4, 2011|title=Colbert seriously jokes to Congress about migrant agricultural work|last=Stanglin|first=Douglas|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100928120652/http://content.usatoday.com/communities/ondeadline/post/2010/09/stephen-colbert-testifies-to-congress-today-on-immigration/1|archive-date=September 28, 2010}}

Conservative pundits took aim at Colbert's Congress testimony not long afterwards.{{cite news| last = Knowles| first = David| title = Stephen Colbert's Congressional Testimony: Appropriate or Waste of Time?| publisher = AOL News| date = September 24, 2010| url = http://www.aolnews.com/2010/09/24/stephen-colberts-congressional-testimony-apporpriate-or-waste/| access-date = September 4, 2013| url-status=dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121125235407/http://www.aolnews.com/2010/09/24/stephen-colberts-congressional-testimony-apporpriate-or-waste/| archive-date = November 25, 2012}}

{{blockquote|'Painfully awkward and pointless, it made the committee's majority members look ridiculous. Colbert can be very funny, but his kind of sarcasm only works in some contexts, and a House committee hearing room does not appear to be one of them.' – Yuval Levin, The Corner{{cite web| last = Levin| first = Yuval| date = September 24, 2010| url = http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/247716/colbert-yuval-levin| website = National Review| title = Colbert| access-date = November 13, 2010| url-status=dead| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101207151429/http://www.nationalreview.com/corner/247716/colbert-yuval-levin| archive-date = December 7, 2010}}

'As John Conyers notes, the media and spectators turned out to see whether Colbert would address the panel seriously as an expert on immigration and make the panel a joke, or stay in character and make the panel a bigger joke,' – Ed Morrissey, Hot Air.{{cite web| url = http://hotair.com/archives/2010/09/24/conyers-to-colbert-we-love-you-but/| last = Morrissey| first = Ed| title = Conyers to Colbert: We love you, but ..| work = Hot Air| date = September 24, 2010| access-date = November 13, 2010| url-status=live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20101120210800/http://hotair.com/archives/2010/09/24/conyers-to-colbert-we-love-you-but/| archive-date = November 20, 2010}}}}

{{Main|Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear}}

File:Stephen Colbert at Rally.jpg in 2010]]

In September 2010, following Glenn Beck's Restoring Honor rally, a campaign developed that called for Colbert to hold his own rally at the Lincoln Memorial.{{cite web|last=McGlynn|first=Katla|url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/03/restoring-truthiness-colbert-rally-beck_n_704578.html|title=Internet Petitions Stephen Colbert To Hold 'Restoring Truthiness' Rally At Lincoln Memorial|date=September 3, 2010|website=The Huffington Post|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100906100308/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/09/03/restoring-truthiness-colbert-rally-beck_n_704578.html|archive-date=September 6, 2010}} On the September 10, 2010, episode of the Daily Show{{Cite episode |title=September 10, 2010|series=The Daily Show with Jon Stewart|credits=Executive Producers: Rory Albanese, Josh Lieb, Jon Stewart|network=Comedy Central|airdate=September 10, 2010}} and The Colbert Report, Stewart and Colbert made preannouncements of a future event. On September 16, 2010, Stewart and Colbert announced competing rallies on the Washington, D.C., Mall on October 30, 2010, Stewart's "Rally to Restore Sanity", and Colbert's "March to Keep Fear Alive". Both were eventually merged into the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear.{{cite web|last=Frucci|first=Adam|url=https://www.vulture.com/2010/10/jon-stewart-and-stephen-colbert-combine-rallies-i-guess.html|title=Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert Combine Rallies|date=October 15, 2010|website= Vulture|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230128142818/https://www.vulture.com/2010/10/jon-stewart-and-stephen-colbert-combine-rallies-i-guess.html|archive-date=January 28, 2023}}{{cite web|last1=Hohmann|first1=James|last2=Cogan|first2=Marin|url=https://www.politico.com/story/2010/10/stewart-points-finger-at-media-044413|title=Stewart points finger at media |date=October 31, 2010|website= Politico|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240118035235/https://www.politico.com/story/2010/10/stewart-points-finger-at-media-044413|archive-date=January 18, 2024}}

{{Main|Colbert Super PAC}}

{{See also|South Carolina Republican primary, 2012}}

In May 2011, Colbert filed a request with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) asking for a media exemption for coverage of his political action committee, ColbertPAC, on The Colbert Report.{{cite news|last=Knott|first=Alex|title=Stephen Colbert Files FEC Request for Colbert PAC|type=video|url=http://www.rollcall.com/news/Stephen-Colbert-PAC-FEC-video-205563-1.html|newspaper=Roll Call|date=May 12, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110514180956/http://www.rollcall.com/news/Stephen-Colbert-PAC-FEC-video-205563-1.html|archive-date=May 14, 2011}}{{cite news|last=Vogel|first=Kenneth P.|title=Stephen Colbert at the FEC? Really.|url=http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0511/54946.html|newspaper=Politico|date=May 13, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110808174714/http://www.politico.com/news/stories/0511/54946.html|archive-date=August 8, 2011}} In June 2011, during a public meeting, the FEC voted 5–1 to grant The Colbert Report a limited media exemption. The exemption allows unlimited donations of airtime and show resources to promote the Colbert Super PAC without requiring disclosure to the FEC, but only for ads appearing on The Colbert Report. Following the hearing, Colbert formally filed paperwork for the creation of his Super PAC with the FEC secretary.{{cite news| last = Shear| first = Michael| title = Colbert Gets Permission to Form Super-PAC| url = http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/30/colbert-gets-permission-to-form-super-pac/| work = The New York Times| date = June 30, 2011| url-status=live| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110701035828/http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2011/06/30/colbert-gets-permission-to-form-super-pac/| archive-date = July 1, 2011}}

After the 2012 New Hampshire primary, a poll for the subsequent South Carolina primary taken by Public Policy Polling (of 1,112 likely GOP voters, Jan 5–7, 2012) was reported to place Colbert at 5%, one point ahead of Jon Huntsman polling at 4%, in spite of the fact that Colbert was not on the ballot.{{cite web |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2012/01/lol-colbert-tops-huntsman-in-sc-071283 |title=Colbert tops Huntsman in S.C.|publisher=Politico|date=January 10, 2012 |access-date= April 20, 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150929030806/https://www.politico.com/story/2012/01/lol-colbert-tops-huntsman-in-sc-071283|archive-date= September 29, 2015}} This poll showed Colbert to be closely behind Rick Perry's 7% and Ron Paul's 8% (with Romney at 27%, Gingrich 23% and Santorum at 18%).{{cite web |url=https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/blog/2012/jan/10/stephen-colbert-polling-south-carolina |title=Colbert polling at 5% in South Carolina|work=The Guardian|date=January 11, 2012 |access-date= April 20, 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131207091621/https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/blog/2012/jan/10/stephen-colbert-polling-south-carolina|archive-date= December 7, 2013}} On the January 11 episode of The Colbert Report, Colbert asked his audience if he should run for president in South Carolina, to which he received strong applause. He then stated that he would be making a "Major Announcement" during the next day's show.{{cite web|url=https://www.cc.com/video/7t7ct3/the-colbert-report-south-carolina-s-fresh-face |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210616012618/https://www.cc.com/video/7t7ct3/the-colbert-report-south-carolina-s-fresh-face |url-status=dead |archive-date=June 16, 2021 |title=South Carolina's Fresh Face|publisher=The Colbert Report|date=January 11, 2012 |access-date= April 20, 2024 }} On January 12, Colbert started his show by discussing his role in the presidential campaign, then addressed the law preventing him from being a presidential candidate while running his Super PAC. With the help of his lawyer Trevor Potter, he then signed over control of his Super PAC to Jon Stewart, with the organization title then being referred to as "The Definitely Not Coordinating With Stephen Colbert Super PAC".{{cite web|url=https://www.cc.com/video/hrwtsb/the-colbert-report-colbert-super-pac-coordination-problem|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210625143034/https://www.cc.com/video/hrwtsb/the-colbert-report-colbert-super-pac-coordination-problem|url-status=dead|archive-date=June 25, 2021|title=Colbert Super PAC - Coordination Problem|publisher=The Colbert Report|date=January 12, 2012 |access-date= April 20, 2024 }}{{cite web|url=https://www.cc.com/video/av6bvx/the-colbert-report-colbert-super-pac-coordination-resolution-with-jon-stewart|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226004146/https://www.cc.com/video/av6bvx/the-colbert-report-colbert-super-pac-coordination-resolution-with-jon-stewart|url-status=dead|archive-date=February 26, 2021|title=Colbert Super PAC - Coordination Resolution with Jon Stewart|publisher=The Colbert Report|date=January 12, 2012 |access-date= April 20, 2024 }}{{cite web |url= http://www.colbertsuperpac.com/ |title= Under New Management! |publisher= Colbert Super PAC |access-date= May 2, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120430074528/http://www.colbertsuperpac.com/ |archive-date= April 30, 2012}} Immediately after this legal block was out of the way, Colbert announced, "I am forming an exploratory committee to lay the groundwork for my possible candidacy for the President of the United States of South Carolina. I'm doin' it!" He reiterated in the interview portion of that show that "I'm still in the exploratory phase" of his presidential campaign.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/tv-column/post/colberts-big-announcement-an-exploratory-committee-for-possible-presidential-run-and-jon-stewart-takes-over-his-super-pac/2012/01/13/gIQADPFDvP_blog.html|title=Colbert's big announcement: An exploratory committee for "possible" presidential run, and Jon Stewart takes over his Super PAC|newspaper=The Washington Post|date=January 13, 2012 |access-date= April 20, 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120113094343/https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/tv-column/post/colberts-big-announcement-an-exploratory-committee-for-possible-presidential-run-and-jon-stewart-takes-over-his-super-pac/2012/01/13/gIQADPFDvP_blog.html|archive-date=January 13, 2012 }}{{cite web |url=https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/stephen-colbert-runs-president-talks-george-stephanopoulos/story?id=15363182|title=Super PAC Satire: Colbert Explains (Faux) Presidential Run to ABC News|publisher=ABC News|date=January 15, 2012 |access-date= April 20, 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20121122184900/https://abcnews.go.com/Politics/OTUS/stephen-colbert-runs-president-talks-george-stephanopoulos/story?id=15363182#.UK5zp1rP32c|archive-date=November 22, 2012}}

On the January 16, 2012, episode, Colbert satirically encouraged his viewers to vote for Herman Cain in the South Carolina primary. As Cain was still on the ballot, despite having recently dropped out of the race, Colbert announced that he would consider any votes cast for Cain to be in direct support of his own possible candidacy.{{cite web|url=https://www.cc.com/video/uh4wcy/the-colbert-report-the-word-raise-cain|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210727065154/https://www.cc.com/video/uh4wcy/the-colbert-report-the-word-raise-cain|url-status=dead|archive-date=July 27, 2021|title=The Word - Raise Cain|publisher=The Colbert Report|date=January 16, 2012 |access-date= April 20, 2024 }}

Colbert is co-author of the satirical text-and-picture novel Wigfield: The Can Do Town That Just May Not, which was published in 2003 by Hyperion Books. The novel was a collaboration between Colbert, Amy Sedaris, and Paul Dinello, and tells the story of a small town threatened by the impending destruction of a massive dam. The narrative is presented as a series of fictional interviews with the town's residents, accompanied by photos. The three authors toured performing an adaptation of Wigfield on stage the same year the book was released.{{cite news|title = 'Daily Show' meets Second City in 'Wigfield' tour|first = Nina|last = Metz|work = Chicago Tribune|date = April 27, 2003}}{{Cite web|url=http://www.playbill.com/article/wigfield-stars-amy-sedaris-stephen-colbert-and-paul-dinello-at-nycs-jane-street-may-9-17-com-113082|title=Wigfield Stars Amy Sedaris, Stephen Colbert and Paul Dinello at NYC's Jane Street, May 9–17 {{!}} Playbill|website=Playbill|date=May 9, 2003|access-date=January 25, 2018|archive-date=January 26, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180126184950/http://www.playbill.com/article/wigfield-stars-amy-sedaris-stephen-colbert-and-paul-dinello-at-nycs-jane-street-may-9-17-com-113082|url-status=live}}

File:Stephen Colbert at FSU Pow Wow.jpg, November 2006]]

Colbert appeared in a small supporting role in the 2005 film adaptation of Bewitched. He has made guest appearances on the television series Curb Your Enthusiasm, Spin City, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent,{{cite web|url=http://www.nofactzone.net/2007/02/07/klassic-kolbert-law-order-criminal-intent/|title=Klassic Kolbert – Law & Order: Criminal Intent {{!}} No Fact Zone|author=DB|date=February 7, 2007|access-date=November 25, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314151842/http://www.nofactzone.net/2007/02/07/klassic-kolbert-law-order-criminal-intent/|archive-date=March 14, 2012}} and on the first season of the American improvisational comedy show Whose Line Is It Anyway?. He voiced the characters of Reducto and Phil Ken Sebben in the Adult Swim's Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law, but left the show in 2005 to work on The Colbert Report. His characters were both killed, though he returned to voice Phil for the series finale. Colbert also has provided voices for Cartoon Network's The Venture Bros., Comedy Central's Crank Yankers, and American Dad!, and for Canadian animated comedy series The Wrong Coast. He appeared as Homer Simpson's life coach, Colby Krause, in The Simpsons episode "He Loves to Fly and He D'ohs".{{cite web|url=http://www.tv.com/the-simpsons/he-loves-to-fly-and-he-dohs/episode/1059134/trivia.html|title=The Simpsons: He Loves to Fly and He D'ohs Trivia and Quotes on TV.com|publisher=CBS Interactive|date=September 24, 2007|access-date=November 25, 2010|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090318082104/http://www.tv.com/the-simpsons/he-loves-to-fly-and-he-dohs/episode/1059134/trivia.html|archive-date=March 18, 2009}}{{cite web|url=http://www.nofactzone.net/2007/09/24/did-you-see-stephen-colbert-colby-krause-on-the-simpsons-last-night/|title=Did you see Stephen Colbert ("Colby Krause") on 'The Simpsons' last night? |website=No Fact Zone|author=Ms Interpreted|date=September 24, 2007|access-date=November 25, 2010|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120314151824/http://www.nofactzone.net/2007/09/24/did-you-see-stephen-colbert-colby-krause-on-the-simpsons-last-night/|archive-date=March 14, 2012}}

File:Stephen Colbert 4 by David Shankbone.jpg, November 2007]]

Colbert filled in for Sam Seder on the second episode of The Majority Report on Air America Radio, and was a frequent guest.{{Cite web |last=D|first=Michael |title=Steven Colbert, Ed Helms and Kos on Air America!|url=https://www.dailykos.com/stories/2004/4/5/22579/-|date=April 6, 2004|access-date=April 19, 2024 |website=Daily Kos|language=en-US}}{{Cite web |title=Air America Rocks On|url=http://www.majorityreportradio.com/weblog/archives/000009.php|date=April 5, 2004|access-date=April 19, 2024 |website=Majority Report Radio|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060522192337/http://www.majorityreportradio.com/weblog/archives/000009.php#comments|archive-date=May 22, 2006}}{{Cite web |title=Show Thread|url=http://www.majorityreportradio.com/weblog/archives/000011.php|date=April 5, 2004|access-date=April 19, 2024 |website=Majority Report Radio|language=en-US|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060522192442/http://www.majorityreportradio.com/weblog/archives/000011.php#comments|archive-date=May 22, 2006}}

• {{cite web |title=post show post - Friday |url=http://www.majorityreportradio.com/weblog/archives/003353.php|access-date=April 19, 2024|work=Majority Report Radio |date=December 16, 2005|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060427055042/http://www.majorityreportradio.com/weblog/archives/003353.php#comments|archive-date=April 27, 2006}}
• {{cite web|title=post show post - Thursday|url=http://www.majorityreportradio.com/weblog/archives/2006_02.php|access-date=April 19, 2024 |work=Majority Report Radio |date=February 23, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060615131900/http://www.majorityreportradio.com/weblog/archives/2006_02.php|archive-date=June 15, 2006 }}
• {{cite web |title=post show post - Thursday|url=http://www.majorityreportradio.com/weblog/archives/003825.php|access-date=April 19, 2024 |work=Majority Report Radio |date=March 23, 2006|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060409080739/http://www.majorityreportradio.com/weblog/archives/003825.php#comments|archive-date=April 9, 2006}}

He has also done reports for The Al Franken Show. He appeared on a track on Wig in a Box, a tribute album for Hedwig and the Angry Inch. Colbert read the part of Leopold Bloom in Bloomsday on Broadway XXIV: Love Literature Language Lust: Leopold's Women Bloom on June 16, 2005, at Symphony Space in New York City.{{cite web|url=https://beta.prx.org/stories/5018|title=Bloomsday on Broadway XXIV – Leopold's Women Bloom|date=August 24, 2009|access-date=May 6, 2018|archive-date=May 7, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180507003622/https://beta.prx.org/stories/5018|url-status=live}} He appeared in a series of TV commercials for General Motors, as a not-too-bright investigator searching for the elusive (and non-existent in real life) "Mr. Goodwrench". He also portrayed the letter Z in Sesame Street: All-Star Alphabet, a 2005 video release.{{Cite web |last=Hinds |first=Julie |title=The ABCs of Stephen Colbert |url=https://www.freep.com/story/entertainment/2015/09/04/abcs-stephen-colbert-late-show-cbs-colbert-report/71540306/ |access-date=2023-03-05 |website=Detroit Free Press |language=en-US}}

Colbert released a book associated with The Colbert Report, I Am America (And So Can You!). It was released on October 7, 2007, by Grand Central Publishing. Grand Central Publishing is the successor to Warner Books, which published America (The Book), written by The Daily Show staff. The book contains similar political satire, but was written primarily by Colbert himself rather than as a collaboration with his Colbert Report writing staff.{{cite news|title = Colbert riffs put to paper|first = Steven|last = Zeitchik|work = Variety|date = March 20, 2006|url = https://variety.com/2006/scene/markets-festivals/colbert-riffs-put-to-paper-1117940055/ |access-date = July 11, 2007}} On November 23, 2008, his Christmas special, A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!, aired on Comedy Central. It was released on DVD in November 2008.{{cite web|url= http://ccinsider.comedycentral.com/2008/11/17/a-colbert-christmas-premieres-sunday/|title= A Colbert Christmas Premieres Sunday! Comedy Central Insider Blog|url-status=live|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20090221013904/http://ccinsider.comedycentral.com/2008/11/17/a-colbert-christmas-premieres-sunday/|archive-date= February 21, 2009}}

In January 2010, Colbert was named the assistant sports psychologist for the US Olympic speed skating team at the 2010 Winter Olympics.{{cite news | url=http://olympictalk.nbcsports.com/2014/12/18/stephen-colbert-olympics-nbc-bob-costas-moose-speed-skating-vancouver-2010/ | title=Stephen Colbert and the Olympics | publisher=NBC News | date=December 18, 2014 | access-date=January 29, 2015 | author=Zaccardi, Nick | url-status=live | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150227114333/http://olympictalk.nbcsports.com/2014/12/18/stephen-colbert-olympics-nbc-bob-costas-moose-speed-skating-vancouver-2010/ | archive-date=February 27, 2015 }} He was also invited to be part of NBC's 2010 Winter Olympics coverage team by Dick Ebersol, chairman of NBC Universal Sports.[https://www.cc.com/video/9qoq3s/the-colbert-report-dick-ebersol Interview with Dick Ebersol] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100124045429/http://www.colbertnation.com/the-colbert-report-videos/262388/january-20-2010/dick-ebersol |date=January 24, 2010 }}, on The Colbert Report "Wed, Jan 20, 2010" In April 2011, Colbert performed as Harry in the concert-style revival of Stephen Sondheim's musical Company, presented by the New York Philharmonic at the Lincoln Center.{{cite news

| url = https://entertainment.time.com/2011/06/15/company-the-movie-review/

| title = Company The Movie: Can Dr. Doogie and Stephen Colbert Sing Sondheim?

| first = Richard

| last = Corliss

| magazine = Time

| date = June 15, 2011

| access-date = December 6, 2021

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110618014041/http://www.time.com/time/arts/article/0%2C8599%2C2077918%2C00.html

| archive-date = June 18, 2011

}} The show, featuring Neil Patrick Harris in the starring role, ran for four nights and was filmed for later showings in movie theaters, which began June 15. In May 2011, Colbert joined the Charleston to Bermuda Race yachting race, as captain of the ship "the Spirit of Juno".{{cite web

| last = Smith

| first = Bruce

| title = TV's Colbert Joining Charleston to Bermuda Race

| publisher = ABC News

| date = May 21, 2011

| url = https://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=13651962

| url-status=live

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110524162250/http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/wireStory?id=13651962

| archive-date = May 24, 2011

}} He finished second, five miles behind leaders "Tucana".{{cite web

| title = Colbert in second – and reports 'smelling wonderful'

| website = The Royal Gazette

| location = Bermuda

| date = May 23, 2011

| url = http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20110523/NEWS/705239943/1001

| url-status=live

| archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20110526213320/http://www.royalgazette.com/article/20110523/NEWS/705239943/1001

| archive-date = May 26, 2011

}} Since 2012, he has collaborated with the Montclair Film Festival, of which his wife is a founder and current president of its board.{{cite web|url=http://montclairfilm.org/about/board-of-trustees-2/|title=Board of Trustees-Montclair Film|access-date=September 24, 2018|archive-date=September 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924190628/http://montclairfilm.org/about/board-of-trustees-2/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=https://www.montclair.edu/entrepreneur/womens-entrepreneurship-week/wew-at-montclair-state/speakers/evelyn-mcgee-colbert/|title=Evelyn McGee Colbert|access-date=September 24, 2018|archive-date=September 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924185721/https://www.montclair.edu/entrepreneur/womens-entrepreneurship-week/wew-at-montclair-state/speakers/evelyn-mcgee-colbert/|url-status=live}} Every year since its foundation, he has participated by hosting an annual fundraising event and leading Q&As and conversations with directors, writers, journalists, and actors such as Jon Stewart, Rob Reiner, Steve Carell, J. J. Abrams, David Itzkoff, Ethan Hawke, Rachel Weisz, and Meryl Streep.{{cite web|url=https://eu.northjersey.com/story/entertainment/movies/2017/04/27/montclair-film-festivals-guardian-angels/100933588/|title=Stephen and Evelyn Colbert are Montclair Film Festival's guardian angels|first=Jim|last=Beckerman|date=April 28, 2017|access-date=September 24, 2018|archive-date=March 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308045424/https://www.northjersey.com/story/entertainment/movies/2017/04/27/montclair-film-festivals-guardian-angels/100933588/|url-status=live}}{{cite web|url=http://montclairfilm.org/events/in-conversation/|title=In Conversation|access-date=September 24, 2018|archive-date=September 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924185938/http://montclairfilm.org/events/in-conversation/|url-status=live}} He is also part of the Montclair Film advisory board.{{cite web|url=http://montclairfilm.org/about/advisory-board/|title=Advisory Board-Montclair Film|access-date=September 24, 2018|archive-date=September 24, 2018|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180924185910/http://montclairfilm.org/about/advisory-board/|url-status=live}}

He has a cameo as a "Laketown Spy" in the film The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug, along with his wife and two sons, filmed on location in New Zealand.{{Cite web |last=Goldberg |first=Matt |date=2013-12-30 |title=THE HOBBIT: THE DESOLATION OF SMAUG Cameo Featuring Stephen Colbert |url=https://collider.com/hobbit-desolation-smaug-stephen-colbert-cameo/ |access-date=2025-01-21 |website=Collider |language=en}}{{Cite AV media |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=IEKinNoUMas&list=PLiZxWe0ejyv9eSXS-2ukBOoFuP0R65Afn |title=Stephen Colbert Is "Darrylgorn" In The Next Installment Of The "Lord Of The Rings" Saga |date=2019-11-22 |last=The Late Show with Stephen Colbert |access-date=2025-01-21 |via=YouTube}}

Aside from hosting his talk shows, Colbert has hosted other types of shows. Since 2014, he has hosted the Kennedy Center Honors for three consecutive years.McGlone, Peggy. [https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2014/11/19/stephen-colbert-will-host-37th-annual-kennedy-center-honors/ "Stephen Colbert will host 37th annual Kennedy Center Honors"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811150617/https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/arts-and-entertainment/wp/2014/11/19/stephen-colbert-will-host-37th-annual-kennedy-center-honors/ |date=August 11, 2017 }} Washington Post, November 19, 2014{{cite news|url=https://deadline.com/2015/11/stephen-colbert-hosts-kennedy-center-honors-cbs-1201635579/|work=Deadline|title=Stephen Colbert Back As Host Of CBS' 'Kennedy Center Honors' Broadcast|date=November 23, 2015|access-date=August 11, 2017|archive-date=August 11, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170811182537/https://deadline.com/2015/11/stephen-colbert-hosts-kennedy-center-honors-cbs-1201635579/|url-status=live}}{{cite news|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/stephen-colbert-host-2016-kennedy-center-honors-949572/|work=The Hollywood Reporter|title=Stephen Colbert Returns to Host 2016 Kennedy Center Honors|date=November 21, 2016|access-date=April 17, 2020|archive-date=August 8, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200808072009/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/stephen-colbert-host-2016-kennedy-center-honors-949572|url-status=live}} In 2017, he hosted the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards.{{Cite magazine |url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-news/stephen-colbert-to-host-2017-emmys-106056/ |title=Stephen Colbert to Host 2017 Emmys |last=Grant |first=Sarah |magazine=Rolling Stone |date=January 23, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170126142617/http://www.rollingstone.com/tv/news/stephen-colbert-to-host-2017-emmys-w462584 |archive-date=January 26, 2017 }} A year later, Colbert used a fake children's book Whose Boat Is This Boat?, incorporating unedited quotes from President Trump during his tour of North Carolina after Hurricane Florence, as a joke against Trump and raised over $1 million for relief funds.{{Cite journal |last1=Martinez |first1=Alexandra |last2=Atouba |first2=Yannick |date=October 20, 2021 |title=Political Satire TV Shows in the Trump's Era: Examining Their Impact on Latinx Viewers' Political Knowledge, Political Engagement, and Trust in Institutions |url=https://www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10.1080/1041794X.2021.1958913 |journal=Southern Communication Journal |language=en |volume=86 |issue=5 |pages=460–471 |doi=10.1080/1041794X.2021.1958913 |s2cid=238681555 |issn=1041-794X}} In 2014, Colbert alongside The Colbert Report writer and amateur coder Rob Dubbin, created Scripto, a collaborative script software which allows writer rooms to edit scripts in real time from different locations. Scripto was conceived at the end of 2010, when Colbert and Dubbin, first discussed making a bespoke drafting program for the staff.{{cite magazine|last=Kim|first=E. Tammy | url=https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/how-scripto-the-app-that-stephen-colbert-helped-build-became-a-fixture-of-late-night-comedy-news | title=How Scripto, the App That Stephen Colbert Helped Build, Became a Fixture of Late-Night Comedy News | magazine=The New Yorker | access-date=October 15, 2024|date=January 9, 2018|archive-date=January 31, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190131010102/https://www.newyorker.com/tech/annals-of-technology/how-scripto-the-app-that-stephen-colbert-helped-build-became-a-fixture-of-late-night-comedy-news}} The idea was further inspired by a mishap on the show involving a real life goat. Colbert's wife Evie McGee is also credited as a co-founder of the company.{{cite web | url=https://www.scripto.live/about | title=About Us: It All Started with a Goat... | website=Scripto | access-date=October 15, 2024 }} The program is used by several late-night talk shows, including Colbert's Late Show, The Daily Show, and Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.

In 2019, he hosted a conversation with the cast of the film Tolkien as part of an event for Montclair Film and Fathom Events.{{Cite web |title=5 nerdy takeaways from the 'Tolkien' premiere Q&A hosted by Stephen Colbert |url=https://ew.com/movies/2019/05/08/tolkien-premiere-event-stephen-colbert/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=EW.com |language=en}} In 2021 he moderated Lord of the Rings cast reunions screened at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema and made available on a Bluray collectors edition of the film series.{{Cite web |last=Summers |first=Brett |date=2021-09-16 |title=Preview- Middle-Earth: The Ultimate Collector's Edition (4K Ultra HD Bluray) |url=https://cultfaction.com/2021/09/16/preview-middle-earth-the-ultimate-collectors-edition-4k-ultra-hd-bluray/ |access-date=2025-02-25 |website=CULT FACTION |language=en-US}}

Through Spartina, Colbert and his wife served as executive producers for In & Of Itself, a film version of Derek DelGaudio's off-Broadway show of the same name.{{Cite web|last=Rubin|first=Rebecca|date=October 22, 2020|title=Hulu Buys Derek DelGaudio's 'In & Of Itself' Movie Directed by Frank Oz (EXCLUSIVE)|url=https://variety.com/2020/film/news/hulu-in-and-of-itself-derek-delgaudio-1234813108/|access-date=January 19, 2021|website=Variety|language=en-US|archive-date=January 17, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210117174246/https://variety.com/2020/film/news/hulu-in-and-of-itself-derek-delgaudio-1234813108/|url-status=live}} In 2024, Colbert and his wife co-authored, Does This Taste Funny?, a cookbook featuring recipes from their family, centered on Lowcountry cuisine.{{Cite news |url=https://apnews.com/article/stephen-colbert-cookbook-taste-funny-1fc3cfbec1b574f8281b59db6b6bc47d|title=Stephen and Evie McGee Colbert collaborate on cookbook "Does This Taste Funny"|magazine=AP News |date=February 15, 2024 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240215133329/https://apnews.com/article/stephen-colbert-cookbook-taste-funny-1fc3cfbec1b574f8281b59db6b6bc47d|archive-date=February 15, 2024 }}{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/15/style/stephen-colbert-does-this-taste-funny-cookbook.html|title=A Couple That (Eventually) Cooked Together|first=Mattie|last=Kahn| work=The New York Times|date=September 15, 2024|access-date=September 20, 2024|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20240919220710/https://www.nytimes.com/2024/09/15/style/stephen-colbert-does-this-taste-funny-cookbook.html|archive-date=September 19, 2024}}

Colbert has said his comedy influences include Don Novello;{{cite web|url=https://baristanet.com/2012/12/jon-stewart-stephen-colbert-wellmont-montclair-film-festival/|title=Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert Find a Human Moment for Montclair Film Festival Fundraiser|website=Baristanet|author=Wald, Kristin|date=December 10, 2012|access-date=September 30, 2017|archive-date=September 30, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170930175408/https://baristanet.com/2012/12/jon-stewart-stephen-colbert-wellmont-montclair-film-festival/|url-status=live}} Phil Silvers;{{cite magazine|url=https://time.com/4011585/stephen-colbert-interview-transcripts/|title=What Didn't Make It Into TIME's Cover Story on Stephen Colbert|magazine=Time|access-date=May 11, 2019|archive-date=August 31, 2015|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150831141624/http://time.com/4011585/stephen-colbert-interview-transcripts/|url-status=live}} Alec Guinness;{{cite web|url=https://jerriblank.com/transcript.html#mytop|title=Transcript from the 6/12/00 online chat with Amy, Stephen, and Paul|date=June 12, 2000|access-date=October 19, 2017|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110810121809/http://www.jerriblank.com/transcript.html#mytop|archive-date=August 10, 2011}} Bill Cosby; George Carlin;{{cite web|url=https://www.avclub.com/stephen-colbert-1798208958|title=Stephen Colbert|website=The A.V. Club|last=Rabin|first=Nathan|author-link=Nathan Rabin|date=January 25, 2006|access-date=December 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20060202094518/http://www.avclub.com/content/node/44705|archive-date=February 2, 2006}} Dean Martin; Jon Stewart; Monty Python,{{cite magazine|url=https://ew.com/article/2005/03/21/stars-describe-monty-pythons-influence/|title=Stars describe Monty Python's influence|magazine=Entertainment Weekly|author=Katz, Paul|author2=Zak, Dan|date=March 21, 2005|access-date=July 16, 2017|archive-date=July 26, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170726041335/http://ew.com/article/2005/03/21/stars-describe-monty-pythons-influence/|url-status=live}} Steve Martin;King, Larry. "Interview with Stephen Colbert". Larry King Live. October 11, 2007. and David Letterman.{{cite web |url=http://www.eonline.com/news/530569/stephen-colbert-to-replace-david-letterman-on-the-late-show-celebs-react-on-twitter |title=Stephen Colbert to Replace David Letterman on The Late Show: Celebs React on Twitter |publisher=E! |date=April 10, 2014 |access-date=June 8, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140618165626/http://www.eonline.com/news/530569/stephen-colbert-to-replace-david-letterman-on-the-late-show-celebs-react-on-twitter |archive-date=June 18, 2014 }} In 2017, Colbert said due to the sexual assault allegations made against Cosby, he can no longer listen to his comedy.{{cite web|url=https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jerry-seinfeld-stephen-colbert-bill-cosby_n_59cfce15e4b05f005d348917|title=Stephen Colbert Finally Changes Jerry Seinfeld's Mind On Bill Cosby|first=Sara|last=Boboltz|date=September 30, 2017|website=HuffPost|access-date=May 11, 2019|archive-date=May 11, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190511205817/https://www.huffpost.com/entry/jerry-seinfeld-stephen-colbert-bill-cosby_n_59cfce15e4b05f005d348917|url-status=live}}

Among comedians who say they were influenced by Colbert are Nathan Fielder;{{cite tweet |author=|user=nathanfielder|number=545786569727021056|date=December 19, 2014 |title= I'm endlessly floored and inspired by Colbert. What an amazing run.|access-date=May 10, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220906190218/https://twitter.com/nathanfielder/status/545786569727021056|archive-date=September 6, 2022}} James Corden;{{cite web |url=https://deadline.com/2014/12/stephen-colbert-scares-james-corden-1201317705/ |title=Stephen Colbert scares James Corden |website=Deadline Hollywood |date=December 10, 2014 |access-date=June 9, 2015 |archive-date=June 13, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150613111156/http://deadline.com/2014/12/stephen-colbert-scares-james-corden-1201317705/ |url-status=live }} Mindy Kaling;{{YouTube|id=wZG1u0a_a3U|title=Mindy Kaling Drops Hints About The 'Oceans 8' Movie}} Hasan Minhaj;{{YouTube|id=KtviwbqkotY&t=3269s|title=TimesTalks: Hasan Minhaj}} Jordan Klepper;{{cite web|url=http://uproxx.com/tv/jordan-klepper-okay-with-stephen-colbert-comparisons/2/|title=Jordan Klepper Is Okay With The Stephen Colbert Comparisons|website=Uproxx|author=Husband, Andrew|date=September 25, 2017|access-date=February 17, 2018|archive-date=March 8, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20230308045456/https://uproxx.com/tv/jordan-klepper-okay-with-stephen-colbert-comparisons/|url-status=live}} Ziwe Fumudoh;{{Cite web|date=October 30, 2019|title=Ziwe And The Skincare You Buy After The Derm Reads You 'For Filth'|url=https://intothegloss.com/2019/10/ziwe-fumudoh-beauty-routine/|access-date=July 5, 2020|website=Into The Gloss|archive-date=July 5, 2020|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200705180424/https://intothegloss.com/2019/10/ziwe-fumudoh-beauty-routine/|url-status=live}} Sara Benincasa;{{cite web|date=March 8, 2016|url=https://sarajbenincasa.medium.com/ten-years-in-comedy-isn-t-that-long-b501f820bd81|title=Ten Years In Comedy Isn't That Long|work=Medium|access-date=April 27, 2023}} John Mulaney;{{cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TxlwLr4b4E0| archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211029/TxlwLr4b4E0| archive-date=October 29, 2021|title=John Mulaney Bonds With Stephen Over Their Time As Altar Boys|website=Youtube|date=December 9, 2016|access-date=January 24, 2021}}{{cbignore}} Derrick Beckles;{{cite web|url=https://www.instagram.com/p/Bkl9xWiFM2v/ |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/iarchive/s/instagram/Bkl9xWiFM2v |archive-date=December 23, 2021 |url-access=subscription|title=TONIGHT! With my lover @ericfuckingandre and my defining hero @colbertlateshow. |website=Intagram|date=June 28, 2016|access-date=January 29, 2018}}{{cbignore}} Julie Klausner;{{Cite web|date=September 1, 2019|title=The Delightfully Difficult Julie Klausner|url=https://www.sfweekly.com/culture/the-delightfully-difficult-julie-klausner/|access-date=March 31, 2021|website=SF Weekly|archive-date=September 16, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210916115130/https://www.sfweekly.com/culture/the-delightfully-difficult-julie-klausner/|url-status=live}}{{Cite magazine|date=July 14, 2016|title='Difficult People': How Julie Klausner Graduated from TV Superfan to TV Queen|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-news/difficult-people-how-julie-klausner-graduated-from-tv-superfan-to-tv-queen-66159/|access-date=March 31, 2021|magazine=Rolling Stone|archive-date=March 8, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210308125147/https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-news/difficult-people-how-julie-klausner-graduated-from-tv-superfan-to-tv-queen-66159/|url-status=live}} and Billy Eichner.{{cite tweet |last=Eichner |first=Billy|user=billyeichner|number=824047893959114752 |date= January 25, 2017 |title= When I pitched Billy on the St 6 yrs ago I talked a lot about Colbert Report as an influence. Means the world to have him on the show tonite |access-date=May 10, 2017}}

File:Stephen Colbert and sons by David Shankbone.jpg in 2008]]

Colbert is a practicing Roman Catholic who has taught Sunday school at church. He is an ordained minister with the Universal Life Church Monastery.{{cite web|url=http://www.themonastery.org/blog/2013/10/stephen-colbert-gets-ordained-online/|title=Stephen Colbert Gets Ordained Online|website=Universal Life Church Monastery Blog|date=October 7, 2013 |url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150109091104/http://www.themonastery.org/blog/2013/10/stephen-colbert-gets-ordained-online|archive-date=January 9, 2015}}Interview with Stephen Colbert on Late Night with Conan O'Brien. NBC (June 14, 2006).{{cite web|url = http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/03/colbert_seeks_r.php|title = Colbert Seeks Rapport With GOPers|first = Marc|last = Ambinder|publisher = The Hotline|date = March 3, 2006|access-date = August 13, 2006|url-status=dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20090821122711/http://hotlineoncall.nationaljournal.com/archives/2006/03/colbert_seeks_r.php|archive-date = August 21, 2009}}{{cite web| url=http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2007/edition_09-23-2007/AStephen_Colbert|title=If you are laughing, you can't be afraid|first=James|last=Kaplan|website=Parade Magazine|date=October 23, 2007|access-date=February 12, 2008|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100107022032/http://www.parade.com/articles/editions/2007/edition_09-23-2007/AStephen_Colbert|archive-date=January 7, 2010}} He is an avid reader and his favorite authors include J. R. R. Tolkien, J. D. Salinger, Robertson Davies, George Saunders, Larry Niven, Henry Kuttner, and Isaac Asimov.{{cite magazine|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/video/watch/stephen-colbert-answers-the-proust-questionnaire|title=Stephen Colbert Answers the Proust Questionnaire|magazine=Vanity Fair|date=December 16, 2020|access-date=December 16, 2020|archive-date=October 22, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211022082203/https://www.vanityfair.com/video/watch/stephen-colbert-answers-the-proust-questionnaire|url-status=dead}}

Colbert has been married to Evelyn "Evie" McGee-Colbert since 1993.{{cite news|last1=Friedman|first1=Megan|title=Stephen Colbert's Story About Meeting His Wife Makes Every Other Man on Earth Look Terrible|url=http://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/news/a46438/stephen-colbert-met-wife-evelyn-story/|access-date=June 1, 2017|work=Esquire|date=July 5, 2016|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161108151340/http://www.esquire.com/entertainment/tv/news/a46438/stephen-colbert-met-wife-evelyn-story/|archive-date=November 8, 2016}} She is the daughter of prominent Charleston civil litigator Joseph McGee, of the firm Buist Moore Smythe McGee. His wife appeared with him in an episode of Strangers with Candy as his mother.{{cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/11/business/media/stephen-colbert-to-succeed-letterman-on-late-show.html |title=Colbert Will Host 'Late Show,' Playing Himself for a Change |work=The New York Times |date=April 10, 2014 |access-date=April 11, 2014 |first=Bill |last=Carter |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140410230635/http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/11/business/media/stephen-colbert-to-succeed-letterman-on-late-show.html |archive-date=April 10, 2014 }} She also had an uncredited cameo as a nurse in the series pilot and a credited one (as his wife Clair) in the film. McGee met Jon Stewart before she met her future husband in 1990. They met at the world premiere of Hydrogen Jukebox at the Spoleto Festival USA in Charleston. Colbert later described the first moment he met Evie as being a love at first sight encounter. Moments after they met though, they realized they had grown up together in Charleston and had many mutual friends.{{cite news |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-stephen-colbert-story-how-he-met-his-wife-20160705-snap-story.html |title=The beautiful story of how Stephen Colbert met his wife |work=Los Angeles Times |date=July 5, 2016 |access-date=March 19, 2017 |first=Jessica |last=Row |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170320053136/http://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/la-et-st-stephen-colbert-story-how-he-met-his-wife-20160705-snap-story.html |archive-date=March 20, 2017 }}{{cite news|url=https://www.facebook.com/colbertlateshow/videos/888362121308540/|title=The story of how Colbert met his wife|work=facebook|access-date=March 19, 2017|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170523152310/https://www.facebook.com/colbertlateshow/videos/888362121308540/|archive-date=May 23, 2017}} The couple lives in Montclair, New Jersey, and have three children.{{cite web|url =https://www.parents.com/parenting/celebrity-parents/celebrity-parents-stephen-colbert/|title = The King of Comedy|first = Marisa|last = Milanese|website = Child|date = March 2004|access-date = December 6, 2021|url-status=live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080605005225/http://www.parents.com/family-life/celebrity-parents/moms-dads/celebrity-parents-stephen-colbert/|archive-date = June 5, 2008}}

During his college and Second City years, Colbert suffered from bouts of depression and anxiety, for which he had to be medicated.{{YouTube|id=oDtC_X-id-Q|title=Emma Stone Has a Hard Time Maintaining Her Chill Meeting Hillary Clinton Backstage}}{{YouTube|id=Ai8kW0-oe2Y|title=Uma Thurman Risks Stephen's Ire for Turning Down 'Lord of The Rings'}} In a 2018 interview, Colbert told Rolling Stone:

{{blockquote|I needed to be medicated when I was younger to deal with my anxiety that I had thrown my life away by attempting to do something that so few people actually get away with, or succeed at ... Xanax was just lovely. Y'know, for a while. And then I realized that the gears were still smoking. I just couldn't hear them anymore. But I could feel them, I could feel the gearbox heating up and smoke pouring out of me ... I stopped the Xanax after, like, nine days. I went, 'This isn't helping.' So I just suffered through it. I'd sometimes hold the bottle, to go like, 'I could stop this feeling if I wanted, but I'm not going to. Because I know if I stop the feeling, somehow I'm not working through it, like I have got to go through the tunnel with the spiders in it.'

And then one morning I woke up and my skin wasn't on fire, and it took me a while to figure out what it was. I wake up the next morning, I'm perfectly fine, to the point where my body's still humming. I'm a bell that's been rung so hard that I can still feel myself vibrating. But the actual sound was gone [because] I was starting rehearsal that day to create a new show. And then I went, 'Oh, my God, I can never stop performing.' Creating something is what helped me from just spinning apart like an unweighted flywheel. And I haven't stopped since.Brian Hiatt, [https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-features/stephen-colbert-late-show-rolling-stone-interview-716439/ "The Triumph of Stephen Colbert", Rolling Stone, Aug. 29, 2018.] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180830021920/https://www.rollingstone.com/tv/tv-features/stephen-colbert-late-show-rolling-stone-interview-716439/ |date=August 30, 2018 }}}}

In 2020, Colbert revealed he developed benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, a type of balance disorder. Of the diagnosis he said, "It's almost entertaining, until I forget, and then I go to stand up, and then I just fall down."{{cite web|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/11/stephen-colbert-on-trump-trauma-leadership-and-loss|title="Look At What We Love. It's on Fire": Stephen Colbert on Trump Trauma, Leadership, and Loss|work=Vanity Fair|date=December 1, 2020|access-date=November 28, 2023|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201201120115/https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2020/11/stephen-colbert-on-trump-trauma-leadership-and-loss|archive-date=December 1, 2020}}

In April 2022, he tested positive for COVID-19, a few weeks later he experienced recurring symptoms, which led to The Late Show production being halted out of caution.{{cite web|url=https://variety.com/2022/tv/news/stephen-colbert-covid-1235238302/|title=Stephen Colbert Tests Positive for COVID-19, Cancels Upcoming 'Late Show' Episode|work=Variety|date=April 21, 2022|access-date=November 28, 2023}}{{cite web|url=https://chicago.suntimes.com/entertainment-and-culture/2022/5/9/23064371/late-show-pauses-production-stephen-colbert-possible-covid-recurrence-symptoms|title='The Late Show' pauses production after Stephen Colbert reveals possible 'COVID recurrence' symptoms|work=Chicago Sun-Times|date=May 10, 2022|access-date=November 28, 2023}} In October 2023, Colbert tested positive for COVID for a second time.{{cite web|url=https://deadline.com/2023/10/the-late-show-stephen-colbert-covid-1235577195/|title='The Late Show' Pulled Until Next Week As Stephen Colbert Continues To Recover From Covid|work=Deadline|date=October 18, 2023|access-date=November 28, 2023}}

In November 2023, Colbert suffered from a ruptured appendix during a taping of an episode of The Late Show, putting the show on hiatus for a few weeks as he recovered from surgery.{{cite web|url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/cbs-late-show-off-air-stephen-colbert-ruptured-appendix-surgery-1235680109/|title=CBS' 'Late Show' Off Air This Week After Stephen Colbert Suffers Ruptured Appendix|website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=November 27, 2023|access-date=November 28, 2023|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231127191111/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/cbs-late-show-off-air-stephen-colbert-ruptured-appendix-surgery-1235680109/|archive-date=November 27, 2023}}{{Cite web |last=Knolle |first=Sharon |date=2023-12-05 |title=Stephen Colbert Postpones 'Late Show' Return One More Week |url=https://www.thewrap.com/stephen-colbert-late-show-canceled-week-2-appendix/ |access-date=2023-12-05 |website=TheWrap |language=en-US}} Colbert later said the pain he was attempting to conceal during the taping was greatly exacerbated when celebrity chef José Andrés grabbed him for an impromptu dance during a cooking segment.{{cite news |last1=Romero |first1=Dennis |title=Stephen Colbert returns to late night after ruptured appendix caused 'heap of trouble' |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/pop-culture/tv/stephen-colbert-returns-late-night-ruptured-appendix-caused-heap-troub-rcna129399 |access-date=7 May 2024 |work=NBC News |date=12 December 2023}} Colbert returned on December 11, 2023.{{Cite web |date=2023-12-11 |title=Stephen Colbert Returns to 'Late Show' This Week Following Ruptured Appendix |url=https://www.yahoo.com/entertainment/stephen-colbert-returns-show-week-184411653.html |access-date=2023-12-16 |website=Yahoo Entertainment |language=en-US}}{{Citation |title=The Story of Stephen Colbert's Ruptured Appendix | date=December 12, 2023 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=e9HbtGj8tcA |access-date=2023-12-16 |language=en}}

{{Further|List of awards and nominations received by Stephen Colbert}}

In 2000, Colbert and the other Daily Show writers were the recipients of three Emmy Awards as writers for The Daily Show and again in 2005 and 2006. In 2005 he was nominated for a Satellite Award for his performance on The Colbert Report and again in 2006. He was nominated for three Emmys for The Colbert Report in 2006, including Best Performance in a Variety, Musical Program or Special, which he lost to Barry Manilow.{{cite web |url=http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2008/08/colbert-report.html |title=PODCAST: Stephen Colbert gives Jon Stewart the big kiss-off in their Emmy smackdown | Gold Derby |website=Los Angeles Times |date=August 7, 2008 |access-date=June 8, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715043938/http://goldderby.latimes.com/awards_goldderby/2008/08/colbert-report.html |archive-date=July 15, 2014 }} Manilow and Colbert jokingly signed and notarized a revolving biannual custody agreement for the Emmy on The Colbert Report episode aired on October 30, 2006. He lost in the same category to Tony Bennett in 2007 and to Don Rickles in 2008.

In January 2006, the American Dialect Society named truthiness, a word which Colbert coined on the premiere episode of The Colbert Report, as its 2005 Word of the Year. He devoted time on five successive episodes to bemoaning the failure of the Associated Press to mention his role in popularizing the word truthiness in its news coverage of the Word of the Year.{{cite web|url = http://www.americandialect.org/Words_of_the_Year_2005.pdf|title = Truthiness Voted 2005 Word of the Year|publisher = American Dialect Society|date = January 6, 2006|access-date = September 4, 2013|url-status=live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20130730033736/http://www.americandialect.org/Words_of_the_Year_2005.pdf|archive-date = July 30, 2013}}{{cite web|url = http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11182033/site/newsweek/|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20060425101629/http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/11182033/site/newsweek/|archive-date=April 25, 2006|title = The Truthiness Teller|first = Marc|last = Peyser|website = Newsweek|publisher=MSNBC|date = February 16, 2006|url-status = dead|access-date = February 18, 2006}} On December 9, 2006, Merriam-Webster also announced that it selected truthiness as its Word of the Year for 2006. Votes were accepted on their website, and according to poll results, "truthiness" won by a five-to-one margin.{{cite news|url = https://www.foxnews.com/story/truthiness-pronounced-2006-word-of-the-year|title = 'Truthiness' Pronounced 2006 Word of the Year|date = December 8, 2006|agency = Associated Press|publisher = Fox News Channel|access-date = May 10, 2007|url-status=live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070127125418/http://www.foxnews.com/story/0%2C2933%2C235621%2C00.html|archive-date = January 27, 2007}}

File:Stephen Colbert.jpg in Galesburg, Illinois, June 2006]]

In June 2006, after speaking at the school's commencement ceremony, Colbert received an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts degree from Knox College.{{cite speech|url = http://departments.knox.edu/newsarchive/news_events/2006/x16625.html|title = Stephen Colbert Honorary Degree|date = June 3, 2006|first = Francis|last = McAndrew|location = Knox College|access-date = May 20, 2014|url-status=live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20140809070113/http://departments.knox.edu/newsarchive/news_events/2006/x16625.html|archive-date = August 9, 2014}} Time named Stephen Colbert as one of the 100 most influential people in 2006 and 2012 and in May 2006, New York magazine listed Colbert (and Jon Stewart) as one of its top dozen influential persons in media.{{cite web|url = https://nymag.com/news/features/influentials/16926/|title = The Influentials: Media|website = New York|date = May 15, 2006|access-date = April 15, 2007|url-status=live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070226124036/http://nymag.com/news/features/influentials/16926/|archive-date = February 26, 2007}} Colbert was named Person of the Year by the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colorado on March 3, 2007,{{cite news|last = Osberger|first = Madeleine|title = Comedy Fest Names Colbert Person of Year|newspaper = The Washington Post|date = March 4, 2007|url = https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/04/AR2007030400054.html?nav=rss_artsandliving/entertainmentnews|access-date = March 4, 2007|url-status=live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20121113053558/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2007/03/04/AR2007030400054.html?nav=rss_artsandliving%2Fentertainmentnews|archive-date = November 13, 2012}} and was also given the Speaker of the Year Award by The Cross Examination Debate Association (CEDA) on March 24, 2007, for his "drive to expose the rhetorical shortcomings of contemporary political discourse".{{cite web|url = http://www.prfree.com/index.php?cur=index&action=preview&id=61007|title = Stephen Colbert To Be Presented With Speaker of the Year Award by the Cross Examination Debate Association|publisher = prfree.com|date = March 20, 2007|access-date = March 27, 2007|url-status = dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070927200225/http://www.prfree.com/index.php?cur=index&action=preview&id=61007|archive-date = September 27, 2007}}

Colbert was named the 2nd Sexiest TV News Anchor in September 2006 by Maxim, next to Mélissa Theuriau of France and was the only man featured on the list.{{cite web|url = http://www.maximonline.com/slideshows/index.aspx?slideId=2514&imgCollectId=121|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20080212000636/http://www.maximonline.com/slideshows/index.aspx?slideId=2514&imgCollectId=121|archive-date=February 12, 2008|title = TV's Sexiest News Anchors|website = Maxim|date=September 2006|access-date = November 22, 2006}} In November 2006, he was named a "sexy surprise" by People in the Sexiest Man Alive honors{{cite news|url = https://www.cbsnews.com/news/george-clooney-named-sexiest-man-alive/|title = George Clooney Named 'Sexiest Man Alive'|publisher = CBS News|date = November 15, 2006|access-date = November 16, 2006|url-status=live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070427134825/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/11/15/earlyshow/leisure/celebspot/main2183165.shtml|archive-date = April 27, 2007}} and in the December 2006 issue of GQ he was named one of GQ's "Men of the Year".{{cite web|url = http://men.style.com/gq/features/landing?id=content_5188|title = Men of the Year 2006|website = GQ|publisher = Style.com|date = November 13, 2006|access-date = November 15, 2006 |archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070930210957/http://men.style.com/gq/features/landing?id=content_5188 |archive-date = September 30, 2007}}

In 2012, he was listed as No. 69 on Maxim Magazine's Hot 100, becoming the first man to be included on the list.{{cite web |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/22/stephen-colbert-maxim-hot-100_n_1536642.html |title=Stephen Colbert Makes Maxim's Hot 100 List of Most Beautiful Women |website=The Huffington Post |date=May 22, 2012 |access-date=June 8, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140220102145/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2012/05/22/stephen-colbert-maxim-hot-100_n_1536642.html |archive-date=February 20, 2014 }} He has received three Peabody Awards, in 2007, 2011, and 2020.{{cite news|url=https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2021/06/24/peabody-awards-2021-stephen-colbert-ted-lasso-more-winners/7773084002/|title=Stephen Colbert, 'Ted Lasso,' 'Small Axe' and 'I May Destroy You' are Peabody Award winners|last=Ali|first=Rasha|date=June 24, 2021|work=USA Today|access-date=June 27, 2021|archive-date=June 27, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210627145802/https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/celebrities/2021/06/24/peabody-awards-2021-stephen-colbert-ted-lasso-more-winners/7773084002/|url-status=live}} He was nominated for five TCA Awards for The Colbert Report by the Television Critics Association.{{Citation needed|date=January 2018}}

After the Saginaw Spirit defeated the Oshawa Generals in Ontario Junior League Hockey, Oshawa Mayor John Gray declared March 20, 2007 (the mayor's own birthday), Stephen Colbert Day, honoring a previous bet with Stephen. At the event, Gray referred to the publicity the bet brought the city, remarking, "This is the way to lose a bet".{{cite web|url = http://www.oshawa.ca/colbert/|title = Oshawa Pays Its Debt To Tv Host Stephen Colbert|publisher = oshawa.ca|date = March 20, 2007|access-date = April 15, 2007|url-status=dead|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070427122146/http://www.oshawa.ca/Colbert/|archive-date = April 27, 2007}} Colbert was honored for the Gutsiest Move on the Spike TV Guys' Choice Awards on June 13, 2007, for his performance at the 2006 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner.{{cite web|last=Jordan |first=Casey |title=Spike TV Holds First Annual Guys Choice Awards Show |publisher=All Headline News |date=June 11, 2007 |url=http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7007610757 |access-date=June 15, 2007 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080213183347/http://www.allheadlinenews.com/articles/7007610757 |archive-date=February 13, 2008 }} In August 2007, Virgin America named an airplane, "Air Colbert", in his honor.{{cite news|author=Bay City News Service|title=Virgin America's first flights set to land in San Francisco today|work=San Jose Mercury News|date=August 8, 2007}} On October 28, 2007, Colbert received the key to the city of Columbia, South Carolina, from Mayor Bob Coble.{{cite web |last=Cummins |first=Sydney |date=October 28, 2007 |title=Stephen Colbert Receives Key To City of Columbia |url=https://www.wltx.com/article/news/local/fyi/stephen-colbert-receives-key-to-city-of-columbia/101-381760661 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://archive.today/20130209112039/http://www.wltx.com/news/story.aspx?storyid=55024 |archive-date=February 9, 2013 |access-date=October 28, 2007 |publisher=WLTX}}File:Stephen Colbert 2012 (cropped).jpg, May 2012]]

On December 20, 2007, Colbert was named Celebrity of the Year by The Associated Press.[https://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20071220/ye-celebrity-of-the-year/ Colbert Chosen AP Celebrity of the Year] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090210035036/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/huff-wires/20071220/ye-celebrity-of-the-year/ |date=February 10, 2009 }}, December 20, 2007, Jake Coyle, The Huffington Post. On April 2, 2008, he received a Peabody Award for The Colbert Report, saying, "I proudly accept this award and begrudgingly forgive the Peabody Committee for taking three years to recognize greatness".{{cite news|first=John|last=Eggerton|url=http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/113111-Peabody_Awards_Winners_Announced.php|title=Peabody Awards Winners Announced|date=April 2, 2008|work=Broadcasting & Cable|access-date=August 10, 2009|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100608143231/http://www.broadcastingcable.com/article/113111-Peabody_Awards_Winners_Announced.php|archive-date=June 8, 2010}} In 2008, Colbert won the Emmy Award for writing again, this time as a writer for The Colbert Report. Colbert delivered the Class Day address to the graduating class of Princeton University on June 2, 2008, and accepted the Class of 2008 Understandable Vanity Award, consisting of a sketch of Colbert and a mirror.{{cite web|last=Lack|first=Kelly|title=Colbert to Class of 2008: Don't change the world|website=The Daily Princetonian|date=June 2, 2008|url=http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2008/06/02/21265/|access-date=June 2, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080606005455/http://www.dailyprincetonian.com/2008/06/02/21265/|archive-date=June 6, 2008}} He also has been announced as the Person of the Year for the 12th annual Webby Awards.{{cite web|url= http://www.webbyawards.com/webbys/specialachievement.php|title= Welcome to the Webby Awards|url-status=dead|archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080509084335/http://www.webbyawards.com/webbys/specialachievement.php|archive-date= May 9, 2008}}

In January 2010, Colbert received the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album for his album A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!. He also announced the nominees for Song of the Year while toting a pre-released Apple iPad.{{cite news |url=https://www.zdnet.com/blog/apple/colbert-rocks-an-ipad-at-the-grammys/5917 |title=Colbert rocks an iPad at the Grammys |author=Jason D. O'Grady |date=February 1, 2010 |work=ZDNet |access-date=September 14, 2010 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100820125118/http://www.zdnet.com/blog/apple/colbert-rocks-an-ipad-at-the-grammys/5917 |archive-date=August 20, 2010}} Colbert was the 2011 commencement speaker for Northwestern University, and received an honorary degree.{{cite web |url=http://www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2011/06/colbert-addresses-nu-commencement.html |title=Stephen Colbert, receives honorary degrees |publisher=Northwestern University NEWSCENTER |date=June 17, 2011 |access-date=January 21, 2012 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120601003623/http://www.northwestern.edu/newscenter/stories/2011/06/colbert-addresses-nu-commencement.html |archive-date=June 1, 2012 }} In 2013, Colbert again won the Emmy award for writing for The Colbert Report.{{cite web |last=Blake |first=Meredith |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/tv/showtracker/la-et-st-stephen-colbert-jon-stewart-emmy-win-20130925-story.html |title=Stephen Colbert celebrates Emmy win by picking fight with Jon Stewart |website=Los Angeles Times |date=September 25, 2013 |access-date=June 8, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140715042156/http://articles.latimes.com/2013/sep/25/entertainment/la-et-st-stephen-colbert-jon-stewart-emmy-win-20130925 |archive-date=July 15, 2014 }}{{cite web |last=Zeitchik |first=Steven |url=https://www.latimes.com/entertainment/envelope/tv/la-et-st-emmys-2013-stephen-colbert-report-20130923-story.html |title=Emmys 2013: Stephen Colbert provides some variety |website=Los Angeles Times |date=September 23, 2013 |access-date=June 8, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140505092857/http://articles.latimes.com/2013/sep/23/entertainment/la-et-st-emmys-2013-stephen-colbert-report-20130923 |archive-date=May 5, 2014 }}{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/emmys-2013-colbert-report-ends-634227 |title=Emmys 2013: 'The Colbert Report' Ends 'The Daily Show's' 10-Year Winning Streak |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=September 22, 2013 |access-date=June 8, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140714012503/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/live-feed/emmys-2013-colbert-report-ends-634227 |archive-date=July 14, 2014 }} In 2014, Colbert won the 2014 Best Spoken Word Album for his audiobook America Again: Re-becoming The Greatness We Never Weren't.{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/video-stephen-colbert-congratulates-himself-674763 |title=Stephen Colbert Congratulates Himself on His Grammy Award |website=The Hollywood Reporter |date=January 27, 2014 |access-date=June 8, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140405010322/http://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/video-stephen-colbert-congratulates-himself-674763 |archive-date=April 5, 2014 }}{{cite web |url=http://arts.nationalpost.com/2014/04/10/stephen-colbert-to-replace-david-letterman-on-the-late-show/ |archive-date=April 11, 2015 |archive-url=http://webarchive.loc.gov/all/20150411202511/http://news.nationalpost.com/arts/television/stephen%2Dcolbert%2Dto%2Dreplace%2Ddavid%2Dletterman%2Don%2Dthe%2Dlate%2Dshow |url-status=dead|title=Stephen Colbert to replace David Letterman on The Late Show |website=National Post |date=April 10, 2014 |access-date=June 8, 2014 }} In January 2013, Rolling Stone named him number 2 in their "The 50 Funniest People Now" list.{{cite news|url=https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-lists/the-50-funniest-people-now-145880/stephen-colbert-10-170528/|title=The 50 Funniest People Now|magazine=Rolling Stone|date=January 24, 2013|access-date=December 6, 2021|archive-date=December 6, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211206154450/https://www.rollingstone.com/culture/culture-lists/the-50-funniest-people-now-145880/stephen-colbert-10-170528/|url-status=live}} In December 2014, Paste named his Twitter one of "The 75 Best Twitter Accounts of 2014" ranking it at number 7.{{cite news|first1=Hudson|last1=Hongo|url=https://www.pastemagazine.com/comedy/twitter/the-75-best-twitter-accounts-of-2014/|title=The 75 Best Twitter Accounts of 2014 :: Comedy :: Lists :: Paste|work=Paste|date=December 15, 2014|access-date=December 6, 2021|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20141226192011/http://www.pastemagazine.com/blogs/lists/2014/12/the-75-best-twitter-accounts-of-2014.html|archive-date=December 26, 2014}} Colbert received an honorary degree from Wake Forest University as the 2015 commencement speaker.{{cite web |url=http://commencement.news.wfu.edu/2015-honorary-degrees/ |title=2015: Honorary degrees |publisher=Wake Forest University Commencement News |date=May 18, 2014 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160131064639/http://commencement.news.wfu.edu/2015-honorary-degrees/ |archive-date=January 31, 2016 }}

In 2015, Colbert was awarded the third highest honor within the Department of the Army Civilian Awards, the Outstanding Civilian Service Award, for substantial contributions to the U.S. Army community.{{cite news|url=http://wjla.com/news/local/stephen-colbert-getting-army-award-for-civilian-service-113157|title=Stephen Colbert getting Army award for civilian service|work=WJLA|date=April 14, 2015|access-date=December 6, 2017|archive-date=December 6, 2017|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206212259/http://wjla.com/news/local/stephen-colbert-getting-army-award-for-civilian-service-113157|url-status=live}} In 2017 and 2018, Colbert was named one of "The 35 Most Powerful People in New York Media" by The Hollywood Reporter.{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/35-powerful-people-new-york-media-993285/item/stephen-colbert-ny-power-2017-993456 |title=The 35 Most Powerful People in New York Media |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=April 13, 2017 |access-date=December 6, 2017 |archive-date=December 6, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20171206222945/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/35-powerful-people-new-york-media-993285/item/stephen-colbert-ny-power-2017-993456 |url-status=live}}{{cite news |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/35-powerful-nyc-media-figures-2018-hosts-anchors-more-1100942/item/stephen-colbert-chris-licht-35-powerful-people-media-2018-1100896 |title=The 35 Most Powerful People in New York Media |work=The Hollywood Reporter |date=April 12, 2018 |access-date=September 20, 2018 |archive-date=September 20, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180920161039/https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/lists/35-powerful-nyc-media-figures-2018-hosts-anchors-more-1100942/item/stephen-colbert-chris-licht-35-powerful-people-media-2018-1100896 |url-status=live}} He was chosen as one of GQ's "Men of the Year" for its December 2017 issue.{{cite news |url=https://www.gq.com/story/men-of-the-year-covers-2017 |title=Colin Kaepernick, Stephen Colbert, Gal Gadot, and Kevin Durant Are GQ's 2017 December Covers |work=GQ |date=November 14, 2017 |access-date=December 6, 2017 |archive-date=October 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191020182502/https://www.gq.com/story/men-of-the-year-covers-2017 |url-status=live}} Colbert was placed at number 32 in Vanity Fair{{'s}} "2018 New Establishment List".{{cite news|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/new-establishment-list|title=The 2018 New Establishment List|work=Vanity Fair|date=October 3, 2018|access-date=October 3, 2018|archive-date=September 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927161446/https://www.vanityfair.com/new-establishment-list|url-status=live}} Other placements in earlier lists include number 40 in 2017{{cite news|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/new-establishment-list|title=The 2017 New Establishment List|work=Vanity Fair|date=October 1, 2017|access-date=October 3, 2018|archive-date=September 27, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190927161446/https://www.vanityfair.com/new-establishment-list|url-status=live}} and number 28 in 2011.{{cite news|url=https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2011/09/the-2011-new-establishment-list--and-the-top-spot-goes-to---|title=The 2011 New Establishment List: And the Top Spot Goes to{{nbsp}}...|work=Vanity Fair|date=September 1, 2011|access-date=October 3, 2018|archive-date=September 23, 2019|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190923065208/https://www.vanityfair.com/news/2011/09/the-2011-new-establishment-list--and-the-top-spot-goes-to---|url-status=live}}

In May 2021, Colbert received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Yale University.{{cite web|url=https://yale2021.yale.edu/honorary-degrees/stephen-colbert|title=Stephen Colbert|website=Yale University|date=May 24, 2021|access-date=May 25, 2021|archive-date=May 24, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210524204506/https://yale2021.yale.edu/honorary-degrees/stephen-colbert|url-status=live}}

In February 2007, Ben & Jerry's unveiled a new ice cream flavor in honor of Colbert, named Stephen Colbert's AmeriCone Dream. Colbert waited until Easter to sample the ice cream because he "gave up sweets for Lent".{{cite news|author = Freydkin, Donna|url=https://usatoday30.usatoday.com/life/people/2007-03-06-colbert-ice-cream_N.htm|title = As AmeriCone as Ice Cream|newspaper = USA Today|date = March 6, 2007|access-date = December 6, 2021|url-status=live|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20070308093824/http://www.usatoday.com/life/people/2007-03-06-colbert-ice-cream_N.htm|archive-date = March 8, 2007}} Colbert donated all proceeds to charity through the new Stephen Colbert AmeriCone Dream Fund, which distributes the money to various causes.{{cite web |agency=Associated Press |title=Ben & Jerry's Names New Flavor for Colbert |work=Today.com |date=February 15, 2007 |url=http://www.today.com/id/17152896 |access-date=March 4, 2007 |archive-date=November 20, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20191120025151/http://www.today.com/id/17152896 |url-status=dead }}{{cite web |url=http://www.benjerry.com/flavors/americone-dream-ice-cream |title=Stephen Colbert's AmeriCone Dream Ice Cream |publisher=Ben & Jerry's |date=January 27, 2017 |access-date=January 27, 2017 |url-status=live |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170202040440/http://www.benjerry.com/flavors/americone-dream-ice-cream |archive-date=February 2, 2017 }}

File:Aleiodes colberti.jpg

At least five species have been given scientific names honoring Colbert. In 2008 a species of California trapdoor spider was named Aptostichus stephencolberti.{{cite web|last=Bond |first=Jason |url=http://www.ecu.edu/cs-cas/biology/name_a_spider.cfm |title=How to Name a Species – Taxonomy and Why it is Important |publisher=East Carolina University |access-date=August 3, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080917130357/http://www.ecu.edu/cs-cas/biology/name_a_spider.cfm |archive-date=September 17, 2008 |url-status=dead }}{{cite journal|last1=Bond|first1=Jason|last2=Stockman|first2=Amy|title=An Integrative Method for Delimiting Cohesion Species: Finding the Population-Species Interface in a Group of Californian Trapdoor Spiders with Extreme Genetic Divergence and Geographic Structuring|journal=Systematic Biology|year=2008|volume=57|issue=4|pages=628–646|quote=The specific epithet is a patronym, named in honor of Mr. Stephen Colbert. Mr. Colbert is a fellow citizen who truly has the courage of his convictions and is willing to undertake the very difficult and sometimes unpopular work of speaking out against those who have done irreparable harm to our country and the world through both action and inaction. He will be especially remembered by many of Jason Bond's generation for his speech at the 2006 White House Correspondents Dinner|doi=10.1080/10635150802302443|pmid=18686196|doi-access=free |issn=1063-5157 }}{{cite news|last=Melago|first=Carrie|url=http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2008/08/01/2008-08-01_california_spider_named_for_stephen_colb.html|title=California spider named for Stephen Colbert|newspaper=The New York Daily News|date=August 1, 2008|access-date=August 3, 2008| archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20080807042456/http://www.nydailynews.com/gossip/2008/08/01/2008-08-01_california_spider_named_for_stephen_colb.html| archive-date= August 7, 2008 | url-status=live}} The spider was named for Colbert after he reported on his television series that Jason Bond, a professor of biology at East Carolina University, had named a different species of spider Myrmekiaphila neilyoungi after the Canadian rock star Neil Young, and began to appeal for a species of animal to be named after him.{{cite episode|title=May 14, 2008: Who's NOT Honoring Me Now|episode-link=List of The Colbert Report episodes (2008)|series=The Colbert Report|series-link=The Colbert Report|airdate=May 14, 2008|season=4|number=66}} On a later edition of The Colbert Report, Colbert revealed that Bond would name a spider after him, with Colbert claiming, "And all I had to do was shamelessly beg on national television."{{cite episode|title=July 29, 2008|episode-link=List of The Colbert Report episodes (2008)|series=The Colbert Report|series-link=The Colbert Report|airdate=July 29, 2008|season=4|number=97}} Other species named for Colbert include a species of Venezuelan diving beetle named Agaporomorphus colberti and a Chilean stonefly named Diamphipnoa colberti, both formally described in 2008.{{cite journal|last1=Miller|first1=Kelly B.|last2=Wheeler|first2=Quentin D.|year=2008|title=A new species of Agaporomorphus Zimmermann from Venezuela, and a review of the A. knischi species group (Coleoptera: Dytiscidae: Copelatinae)|journal=Zootaxa|volume=1859|pages=63–68|doi=10.11646/zootaxa.1859.1.4|url=http://kellymillerlab.com/pdf/41_Agaporomorphus.pdf|quote=This species is named to honor comedian and author, Stephen T. Colbert.|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160304030253/http://kellymillerlab.com/pdf/41_Agaporomorphus.pdf|archive-date=March 4, 2016}}{{cite journal|last=Stark|first=B.P.|year=2008|title=Diamphipnoa colberti, a new stonefly species from Chile, and the possible female of Diamphipnopsis beschi Illies (Plecoptera: Diamphipnoidae)|journal=Illiesia|volume=4|issue=4|pages=55–58|url=http://www.landesmuseum.at/pdf_frei_remote/Illiesia_04_0055-0058.pdf|quote=I am pleased to honor an entertaining, provocative, former American presidential candidate, Stephen Colbert, of The Colbert Report with this patronym.|access-date=August 20, 2014|archive-date=August 21, 2014|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140821055254/http://www.landesmuseum.at/pdf_frei_remote/Illiesia_04_0055-0058.pdf|url-status=live}} On his 45th birthday, Colbert was sent a framed print of his eponymous beetle by the biologists who named it.{{cite news|first=Jennifer|last=Harper|title=Colbert namesake for Venezuelan beetle|work=The Washington Times|date=May 8, 2009|url=http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/may/08/happy-birthday-colbert-heres-your-new-bug/?page=all|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140826165547/http://www.washingtontimes.com/news/2009/may/08/happy-birthday-colbert-heres-your-new-bug/?page=all|archive-date=August 26, 2014}} In 2014, a species of parasitic wasp from Ecuador, Aleiodes colberti, was named for Colbert, along with newly described species named for celebrities Jon Stewart, Jimmy Fallon, Ellen DeGeneres, and Shakira,{{cite journal|title=Twenty-four new species of Aleiodes Wesmael from the eastern Andes of Ecuador with associated biological information (Hymenoptera, Braconidae, Rogadinae)|journal=ZooKeys|issue=405|year=2014|pages=1–81|first1=Eduardo Mitio|last1=Shimbori|first2=Scott Richard|last2=Shaw|doi=10.3897/zookeys.405.7402|url=https://www.pensoft.net/journals/zookeys/article/7402/abstract/twenty-four-new-species-of-aleiodes-wesmael-from-the-eastern-andes-of-ecuador-with-associated-biological-information-hym|quote=This species is named after Stephen Tyrone Colbert, an American comedian, political satirist, writer, actor, and host of The Colbert Report.|pmid=24843275|pmc=4023268|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140919113209/http://www.pensoft.net/journals/zookeys/article/7402/abstract/twenty-four-new-species-of-aleiodes-wesmael-from-the-eastern-andes-of-ecuador-with-associated-biological-information-hym|archive-date=September 19, 2014|doi-access=free|bibcode=2014ZooK..405....1S }}{{cite web|last1=Arnold|first1=Carrie|title=24 New Wasp Species Mummify Their Prey|url=http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2014/05/12/24-new-wasp-species-mummify-their-prey/|website=National Geographic|access-date=August 20, 2014|date=May 12, 2014|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140723180437/http://newswatch.nationalgeographic.com/2014/05/12/24-new-wasp-species-mummify-their-prey/|archive-date=July 23, 2014}} and in 2016 a rove beetle, Sonoma colberti, was named after Colbert's on-screen persona.{{cite journal|last=Ferro|first=Michael L.|title=Fourteen new species of Sonoma Casey (Coleoptera: Staphylinidae: Pselaphinae) with a key to species from western North America|year=2016|journal=Insecta Mundi|number=472|pages=1–57|url=http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1980&context=insectamundi|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20161002083208/http://digitalcommons.unl.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1980&context=insectamundi|archive-date=October 2, 2016}}

{{Main|Treadmill with Vibration Isolation Stabilization}}

In 2009, NASA engineered a new treadmill for the International Space Station. It was taken to the ISS by the Space Shuttle Discovery during the STS-128 mission in August 2009. The complex machine is now used eight hours daily by astronauts and cosmonauts aboard the space station in order to maintain their muscle mass and bone density while spending long periods of time in a zero-gravity environment. While engineers at NASA were constructing this treadmill, it was simply called T-2 for more than two years. However, on April 14, 2009, NASA renamed it the "Combined Operational Load-Bearing External Resistance Treadmill", or COLBERT.{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/behindscenes/colberttreadmill.html|title=NASA – COLBERT Ready for Serious Exercise|publisher=Nasa.gov|date=October 23, 2010|access-date=July 16, 2011|url-status=live|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604060728/http://www.nasa.gov/mission_pages/station/behindscenes/colberttreadmill.html|archive-date=June 4, 2011}} NASA named the treadmill after Colbert,{{cite web|url=https://www.nbcnews.com/id/wbna29841715|title=Oops: Colbert wins space station name contest – Technology & science – Space – Human spaceflight|publisher=NBC News|date=March 23, 2009|access-date=July 16, 2011|archive-date=December 21, 2013|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131221224123/http://www.nbcnews.com/id/29841715/|url-status=live}} who took an interest during the Node{{nbsp}}3 naming census for the ISS module, Tranquility.

Colbert urged his followers to post the name "Colbert", which upon completion of the census received the most entries totaling 230,539, some 40,000 votes more than the second-place choice, Serenity.{{cite web|url=http://www.cc.com/video-clips/l9p0ah/the-colbert-report-space-module--colbert---name-nasa-s-node-3-after-stephen|title=Name the NASA Module After Stephen|publisher=Comedy Central|date=March 3, 2008|access-date=March 4, 2008|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170214181941/http://www.cc.com/video-clips/l9p0ah/the-colbert-report-space-module--colbert---name-nasa-s-node-3-after-stephen|archive-date=February 14, 2017}} The COLBERT is expected to last the life of the ISS and will have seen about 38,000 miles of running when the Space Station is retired in 2024 or later,{{Cite web|last=Clark|first=Stephen|title=NASA chief warns of gap after retirement of International Space Station – Spaceflight Now|url=https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/11/11/nasa-chief-warns-of-gap-after-retirement-of-international-space-station/|access-date=February 19, 2021|language=en-US|archive-date=April 23, 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20210423180448/https://spaceflightnow.com/2020/11/11/nasa-chief-warns-of-gap-after-retirement-of-international-space-station/|url-status=live}} but it was also built with a 150,000-mile lifespan (if needed until 2028 or beyond). Colbert realized he was the recipient of an extremely rare honor—the COLBERT (a backronym) is the only piece of NASA-engineered equipment in space that is named after a living human being—when astronaut Sunita Williams came on The Colbert Report to announce that NASA had named the treadmill after him.{{cite web|url=http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/name_ISS/index.html|title=Help NASA Name Node 3!|publisher=Nasa.gov|date=January 30, 2009|access-date=July 16, 2011|url-status=dead|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110703150517/http://www.nasa.gov/externalflash/name_ISS/index.html|archive-date=July 3, 2011}}

File:C.O.L.B.E.R.T. decal placement.jpg|C.O.L.B.E.R.T. logo being applied to the Combined Operational Load-Bearing External Resistance Treadmill at NASA before Launch

File:STS-128 launch clouds.jpg|Launch of Discovery Mission STS-128, which delivered the COLBERT to the ISS

File:STS-131 ISS-23 Alexander Skvortsov uses COLBERT.jpg|Cosmonaut Alexander Skvortsov exercises on COLBERT in the Harmony Node of the International Space Station.

File:STS-128 crew members alongside the Astrovan.jpg| The crew who delivered Stephen Colbert's honorary space treadmill

{{refimprove-BLP|section|date=November 2024}}

• Colbert, Dinello, Sedaris. Wigfield: The Can-Do Town That Just May Not (Hyperion; May 19, 2004) {{ISBN|0-7868-8696-X}}
• America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction (Warner Books; September 2004) {{ISBN|0-446-53268-1}}
• I Am America (And So Can You!) (Grand Central Publishing; October 9, 2007) {{ISBN|0-446-58050-3}}
• America Again: Re-becoming the Greatness We Never Weren't (Grand Central Publishing; October 2, 2012) {{ISBN|0-446-58397-9}}
• I Am a Pole (And So Can You!) (Grand Central Publishing; May 8, 2012) {{ISBN|1-455-52342-9}}
• Stephen Colbert's Midnight Confessions (Simon & Schuster; September 5, 2017) {{ISBN|978-1501169007}}{{Cite book|isbn = 978-1-5011-6900-7|title = Stephen Colbert's Midnight Confessions|last1 = Colbert|first1 = Stephen|last2 = Colbert|first2 = The Staff of the Late Show With Stephen|date = September 5, 2017| publisher=Simon and Schuster }}
• Colbert, McGee-Colbert. Does This Taste Funny?: Recipes Our Family Loves (Celadon Books; September 17, 2024) {{ISBN|978-1250859990}}

• New Yorkers in journalism
• Political satire

{{reflist}}

• {{cite book

|last=Rogak

|first=Lisa

|title=And Nothing but the Truthiness: The Rise (and Further Rise) of Stephen Colbert

|publisher=Thomas Dunne Books

|date=October 11, 2011

|isbn=978-0-312-61610-6

|lccn=2011024856

|ol=25162157M

|oclc=707969298

|url=https://books.google.com/books?id=g8tEU0S3-_cC}}

• {{cite book

|last=Watson

|first=Bruce

|title=Stephen Colbert: Beyond Truthiness

|publisher=New Word City

|date=May 29, 2014

|isbn=978-1-61230-757-2

|oclc=870136575

}}

• {{IMDb name|0170306}}
• {{New York Times topic | people/c/stephen_colbert}}
• {{National Public Radio|4583007}}
• {{Charlie Rose view|127}}
• {{C-SPAN|1009628}}
• [https://web.archive.org/web/20060504024841/http://www.cbsnews.com/stories/2006/04/27/60minutes/main1553506.shtml Colbert interview transcript], 60 Minutes. (April 30, 2006)
• {{Twitter | id = StephenAtHome}}

{{Stephen Colbert}}

{{Navboxes

| title = Awards for Stephen Colbert

| list =

{{EmmyAward ComedyVarietyMusicWriting 2000s}}

{{EmmyAward ComedyVarietyMusicWriting 2010s}}

{{Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album}}

{{Grammy Award for Best Spoken Word Album 2010s}}

{{Satellite Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy}}

}}

{{The Colbert Report}}

{{The Late Show with Stephen Colbert}}

{{Subject bar |portal1=Biography |portal2=Comedy |portal3=Politics |portal4=Television |portal5=United States |commons=yes |commons-search=Category:Stephen Colbert |q=yes |d=yes |d-search=Q212886}}

{{Authority control}}

{{Good article}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Colbert, Stephen}}

Category:1964 births

Category:Living people

Category:20th-century American comedians

Category:20th-century American male actors

Category:20th-century American male writers

Category:20th-century American non-fiction writers

Category:20th-century American screenwriters

Category:20th-century Roman Catholics

Category:21st-century American comedians

Category:21st-century American male actors

Category:21st-century American male writers

Category:21st-century American non-fiction writers

Category:21st-century American novelists

Category:21st-century American screenwriters

Category:21st-century Roman Catholics

Category:American comedy writers

Category:American male comedians

Category:American male feminists

Category:American feminists

Category:American male film actors

Category:American male non-fiction writers

Category:American male novelists

Category:American male screenwriters

Category:American male stage actors

Category:American male television actors

Category:American male television writers

Category:American male voice actors

Category:American media critics

Category:American parodists

Category:American people of English descent

Category:American people of German descent

Category:American people of Irish descent

Category:American political commentators

Category:American Roman Catholic writers

Category:American satirists

Category:American sketch comedians

Category:American television talk show hosts

Category:American television writers

Category:Audiobook narrators

Category:Candidates in the 2008 United States presidential election

Category:Catholics from Maryland

Category:Catholics from New Jersey

Category:Catholics from South Carolina

Stephen Colbert

Category:Comedians from Maryland

Category:Comedians from New Jersey

Category:Comedians from South Carolina

Category:Comedians from Washington, D.C.

Category:Entertainers from Bethesda, Maryland

Category:Entertainers from Montclair, New Jersey

Category:Grammy Award winners

Category:Hampden–Sydney College alumni

Category:Late night television talk show hosts

Category:Male actors from Charleston, South Carolina

Category:Male actors from Washington, D.C.

Category:New Jersey Democrats

Category:Northwestern University School of Communication alumni

Category:Novelists from South Carolina

Category:Peabody Award winners

Category:People from Sullivan's Island, South Carolina

Category:Primetime Emmy Award winners

Category:Screenwriters from Maryland

Category:Screenwriters from New Jersey

Category:Screenwriters from South Carolina

Category:Screenwriters from Washington, D.C.

Category:The Second City Training Center alumni

Category:South Carolina Democrats

Category:Television producers from New Jersey

Category:Webby Award winners

Category:Writers from Charleston, South Carolina

Category:Writers Guild of America Award winners