Early Life and Education of Conan O'Brien: A Complete Timeline

An overview of the childhood and early education of Conan O'Brien, highlighting the experiences that shaped the journey.

Conan O'Brien is a prominent American television host, comedian, writer, and podcaster recognized for his career in late-night television. He gained fame hosting Late Night with Conan O'Brien, The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien, and Conan. Prior to hosting, O'Brien wrote for Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons. In recent years, he's expanded his career with the podcast Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend, and the travel show Conan O'Brien Must Go. O'Brien's comedic style and interviewing skills have made him a well-known figure in entertainment.

Sections (5)

Full Timeline Early Life & Education Career & Achievements Success & Recognition Challenges & Struggles

1929: Birth of Thomas Francis O'Brien

In 1929, Conan O'Brien's father, Thomas Francis O'Brien, was born.

1931: Birth of Ruth O'Brien

In 1931, Conan O'Brien's mother, Ruth O'Brien (née Reardon), was born.

April 18, 1963: Conan Christopher O'Brien Born

On April 18, 1963, Conan Christopher O'Brien was born in Brookline, Massachusetts.

1981: Entered Harvard University

In 1981, Conan O'Brien entered Harvard University as valedictorian of his high school class.

1984: First Presidential Vote

In 1984, Conan O'Brien cast his first vote for president for Walter Mondale and has been a registered Democrat ever since.

1985: Graduated from Harvard University

In 1985, Conan O'Brien graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree in history and literature from Harvard University.

1992: Ford Taurus SHO

As part of a long-running gag, Conan O'Brien brought his 1992 Ford Taurus SHO with him to California.

2000: Meeting Liza Powel

In 2000, Conan O'Brien met Elizabeth Ann "Liza" Powel, a copywriter for Foote, Cone & Belding, when she appeared in a Late Night with Conan O'Brien sketch.

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2001: Formation of Conaco & Hosting SNL

In 2001, Conan O'Brien formed his own television production company, Conaco. In the same year, he also hosted Saturday Night Live during its 26th season.

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2002: Marriage to Liza Powel

In 2002, Conan O'Brien married Elizabeth Ann "Liza" Powel in her hometown of Seattle after dating for nearly 18 months.

2003: Birth of Daughter

In 2003, Conan O'Brien and Liza Powel had a daughter.

2004: Contract to Take Over The Tonight Show

In 2004, Conan O'Brien negotiated a new contract with NBC to take over The Tonight Show from Jay Leno in 2009. Jay Leno moved to a prime time slot with The Jay Leno Show.

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2005: Birth of Son

In 2005, Conan O'Brien and Liza Powel had a son.

2006: Finnish Presidential Election Influence

In 2006, Conan O'Brien capitalized on his resemblance to Tarja Halonen, the president of Finland, and aired mock political ads during Late Night, influencing the Finnish presidential election. He later traveled to Helsinki and met with Halonen.

2006: Cor Unum Meal Center Opening

In 2006, Conan O'Brien helped open the Cor Unum meal center in Lawrence, Massachusetts.

2007: Purchase of Central Park West Penthouse

In 2007, Conan O'Brien purchased a Central Park West penthouse in New York for $10 million.

2007: Mock Feud Beginnings

In 2007, during the 2007-08 Writers Guild of America strike, Conan O'Brien staged a mock feud with Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert.

January 2008: Return to TV with Beard

In January 2008, Conan O'Brien returned to late-night TV after a two-month hiatus due to the Writers Guild of America strike, sporting a beard.

2008: Mock Feud During Writers' Strike

During the 2008 writers' strike, Conan O'Brien engaged in a mock feud with Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert over Mike Huckabee's campaign.

February 20, 2009: Last Episode of Late Night with Conan O'Brien

On February 20, 2009, NBC aired the final episode of Late Night with Conan O'Brien, featuring past clips, a surprise appearance by Andy Richter, and appearances by Will Ferrell, John Mayer, and the White Stripes. O'Brien ended the show by destroying the set and thanking Lorne Michaels, David Letterman, Jay Leno, his wife, and his children.

June 1, 2009: First Tonight Show Guest

On June 1, 2009, Will Ferrell was Conan O'Brien's first guest on The Tonight Show, and Pearl Jam was the first musical guest.

September 25, 2009: Concussion on The Tonight Show

During the taping of The Tonight Show on September 25, 2009, Conan O'Brien suffered a mild concussion after slipping and hitting his head during a comedy sketch with Teri Hatcher. He was examined at a hospital and released the same day.

2009: Brentwood Mansion Purchase

In 2009, Conan O'Brien purchased a $10.5-million mansion in Brentwood, Los Angeles, California, to prepare for his move there from New York City to host The Tonight Show.

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2009: Irish Catholic Heritage Discussion

On a 2009 episode of Inside the Actors Studio, Conan O'Brien discussed his Irish Catholic heritage, stating his ancestors moved from Ireland in the 1850s and only married other Irish Catholics.

January 7, 2010: NBC Discusses Moving Leno Back to Late Night

On January 7, 2010, NBC executive Jeff Zucker met with Jay Leno and Conan O'Brien to discuss moving Leno out of prime time and back into late night. The proposal involved O'Brien remaining as host of The Tonight Show at 12:05 am, with Leno hosting a 30-minute show at 11:35 pm.

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January 21, 2010: Agreement to Exit The Tonight Show

On January 21, 2010, it was announced that Conan O'Brien had reached a deal with NBC to exit The Tonight Show the next day. The agreement included a $45 million payment, with $12 million allocated for distribution to his staff.

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January 22, 2010: Final Tonight Show with O'Brien

On January 22, 2010, the final Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien aired, featuring guests Tom Hanks, Steve Carell, Neil Young, and Will Ferrell. Will Ferrell sang "Free Bird" and reprised his SNL cowbell. Neil Young sang "Long May You Run".

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February 8, 2010: Attempt to Sell Central Park West Penthouse

On February 8, 2010, Conan O'Brien was reported to be selling his Central Park West penthouse in New York for $35 million. He had purchased the apartment in 2007 for $10 million.

March 11, 2010: Announcement of Live Tour

On March 11, 2010, Conan O'Brien announced on Twitter that he would embark on a 30-city live tour beginning April 12, 2010, entitled "The Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour".

April 12, 2010: Beginning of Live Tour

On April 12, 2010, Conan O'Brien began his "The Legally Prohibited from Being Funny on Television Tour" in Eugene, Oregon, with a crowd of 2,500. It was Conan's first live performance since his departure from The Tonight Show.

May 2, 2010: 60 Minutes Interview

After being prohibited from television appearances, Conan O'Brien spoke about the Tonight Show conflict on 60 Minutes on May 2, 2010. He discussed the sudden and violent end to his tenure and his feelings about NBC's decision.

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September 2010: Allowed to Work for Another Network

In September 2010, as part of the $45 million deal with NBC, Conan O'Brien was permitted to begin working for another network, leading to speculation about potential destinations, including Fox, Comedy Central, TNT, HBO, FX, Showtime, Revision3, and USA Network.

November 8, 2010: Debut of Conan on TBS

On November 8, 2010, Conan O'Brien's new show, Conan, debuted on TBS, airing Monday through Thursday at 11:00 pm ET/10:00 pm CT.

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2010: Post-Tonight Show Beard Growth

After leaving The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien in 2010, Conan O'Brien grew a beard.

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March 2011: Premiere of Conan O'Brien Can't Stop

In March 2011, the documentary film Conan O'Brien Can't Stop, which followed O'Brien throughout his comedy tour, premiered at the South by Southwest media festival to positive reviews.

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May 2011: Beard Shaving on Conan

In May 2011, Conan O'Brien's beard, grown after leaving The Tonight Show, was partially shaved on the set of Conan by Will Ferrell.

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June 12, 2011: Honorary Degree from Dartmouth College

On June 12, 2011, Conan O'Brien was awarded an honorary Doctor of Arts degree from Dartmouth College and delivered the commencement speech.

October 21, 2011: Ordained as a Minister

On October 21, 2011, Conan O'Brien was ordained as a minister by the Universal Life Church Monastery.

November 3, 2011: Same-Sex Marriage on Conan

On November 3, 2011, Conan O'Brien performed a same-sex marriage on the stage of the Beacon Theatre during an episode of Conan, the first to be broadcast on American late night television.

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2014: TBS Extends Show Through 2018

In 2014, TBS extended Conan O'Brien's show through 2018.

February 2015: Filming in Cuba

In February 2015, following the Cuban thaw, Conan O'Brien became the first American television personality to film in Cuba for more than half a century.

2015: Visit to Armenian Genocide Memorial

In 2015, Conan O'Brien visited the Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan with his assistant Sona as part of his Conan Without Borders visit to Armenia to raise awareness about the genocide.

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April 2016: Visit to South Korea and North Korea

In April 2016, Conan O'Brien visited South Korea and, through a technicality, stepped into North Korea at the Korean Demilitarized Zone with Steven Yeun.

2016: Carpinteria House Purchase

In 2016, Conan O'Brien purchased an ocean-front house in Carpinteria, California.

2017: TBS Extends Show Through 2022

In 2017, TBS extended Conan O'Brien's show through 2022.

2018: Comedy Tour Hiatus

In late 2018, Conan O'Brien took a three-month hiatus from his show to launch another national comedy tour.

January 22, 2019: Return of Conan in a New Format

On January 22, 2019, Conan returned to TBS in a new half-hour format without a live band.

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March 30, 2020: Remote Production Due to COVID-19

In response to the COVID-19 pandemic, Conan O'Brien's show switched to a remotely-produced format from his home beginning March 30, 2020.

July 2020: Return to Filming at Largo

In July 2020, it was announced that Conan would continue with the remotely-produced format but would be filmed with limited on-site staff from the Largo at the Coronet in Los Angeles and no studio audience.

November 2020: Announcement of Conan's End on TBS

In November 2020, TBS announced that Conan would end in June 2021.

June 2021: Final Show & Move to HBO Max

In June 2021, Conan O'Brien's final show aired, marking the end of his TBS show and his 28-year run as a late-night host. He announced his move to a weekly untitled variety show on HBO Max.

June 24, 2021: Final Show on TBS

On June 24, 2021, Conan O'Brien's final show on TBS aired, featuring a live audience and marking the end of his twenty-eight year run as a late-night host.

May 2022: Team Coco Sale to SiriusXM

In May 2022, Conan O'Brien's podcast and the entire Team Coco digital media business were sold to SiriusXM for $150 million. The sale included other Team Coco podcasts and the development of a comedy channel.