Stephen Colbert

Stephen Tyrone Colbert (English: Stephen Tyrone Colbert, /koʊlˈbɛər/, formerly /ˈkoʊlbərt/ (Colbert), May 13, 1964 -) is an American television host and comedian, and Emmy Award winner. Known in the United States for his satirical style of comedy, Colbert hosts the Comedy Central channel's satirical news show The Colbert Report, in which Colbert plays a conservative political commentator. On September 8, 2015, Colbert took over CBS's late-night show "The Late Show with Stephen Cobell", succeeding David Letterman. Colbert originally planned to study to become a theater actor, but he became interested in improvisational theater while attending Northwestern University, where he met Del Close, the director of the Second City comedy troupe. Colbert first performed at Second City as Steve Carell's stand-in, with fellow comedians including Paul Dinero and Amy Sedaris, the comedians with whom he developed the sketch comedy series Exit 57. Prior to filming the cult television series Strangers with Candy, Colbert created and starred in the short-lived Dana Carvey Show. He gained attention for his role as closeted gay history teacher Chuck Noblett in the latter. Colbert gained widespread recognition as a reporter on Comedy Central's news parody series "The Daily Show." In 2005, he left "The Daily Show" to host "The Colbert Report." Adhering to the news parody concept of "The Daily Show," "The Colbert Report" is a satirical take on "The O'Reilly Factor," a personality-driven political commentary show in which he plays a comical "conservative political pundit." The series became one of Comedy Central's highest-rated series, earning Colbert an invitation to perform as a featured artist at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in 2006. After wrapping up "The Colbert Report," he was hired in 2015 to replace the retiring David Letterman as host of the CBS Late Show. In September 2017, he hosted the 69th Emmy Awards. Colbert has won 9 Emmy Awards, 2 Grammy Awards and 2 Peabody Awards. Colbert was named one of Time's 100 most influential people in 2006 and 2012