Rise to Success: Career Highlights of John Oliver
Discover the career path of John Oliver, from the first major opportunity to industry-changing achievements.
John Oliver is a British-American comedian best known as the host of HBO's *Last Week Tonight*. He rose to prominence as a correspondent on *The Daily Show with Jon Stewart* from 2006 to 2013, winning three Primetime Emmy Awards for writing. He also guest-hosted *The Daily Show* for eight weeks in 2013. Additionally, Oliver co-hosted the comedy podcast *The Bugle* and hosted *John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show*. His acting credits include roles on the sitcom *Community* and voice work in films such as *The Smurfs* and *The Lion King* remake.
1985: First On-Screen Appearance in Bleak House
In 1985, John Oliver made his first on-screen appearance, playing Felix Pardiggle in the BBC drama Bleak House.
2001: Appeared in People Like Us
In 2001, John Oliver appeared as a bank manager in series two of People Like Us.
2001: My Hero
In 2001, John Oliver guest-starred in several TV shows, including My Hero as a man from the BBC
2001: First Major Stand-Up Appearance
In 2001, John Oliver had his first major stand-up appearance at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe as part of The Comedy Zone.
2002: Worked on The State We're In
From 2002 to 2003, John Oliver worked on the BBC Three comedy series The State We're In.
2002: Debut Solo Show at Edinburgh Festival Fringe
In 2002, John Oliver had his debut solo show at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe.
2003: Manned "results desk" on Gash
In 2003, John Oliver manned the "results desk" on an election night episode of Armando Iannucci's satirical show Gash on Channel 4.
2004: Green Wing
In 2004, John Oliver guest-starred in several TV shows, including Green Wing as a car salesman
2004: Performed in a Double Act and Co-Hosted Political Animal
In 2004, John Oliver performed in a double act and co-hosted the political radio show Political Animal with Andy Zaltzman.
2004: Wrote and Performed in The Department
In 2004, John Oliver wrote and performed in the satirical radio programme The Department on BBC Radio 4 with Andy Zaltzman and Chris Addison.
June 2005: Panelist on Mock the Week
Starting in June 2005, John Oliver appeared on British television as a panellist on the satirical news show Mock the Week.
2005: Co-hosted Political Animal
In 2005, John Oliver co-hosted the political radio show Political Animal with Andy Zaltzman.
July 2006: Joined The Daily Show as Senior British Correspondent
In July 2006, John Oliver joined The Daily Show with Jon Stewart as its Senior British Correspondent.
2006: Joining The Daily Show
In 2006, John Oliver joined 'The Daily Show', which placed certain constraints on what he could do in the United States due to his immigration status at the time.
October 2007: Co-hosted The Bugle
From October 2007 to May 2015, John Oliver co-hosted The Bugle, a weekly comedy podcast, with Andy Zaltzman.
2007: Participation in Writers Guild of America Strike
During the 2007–08 Writers Guild of America strike, John Oliver participated in picketing protests, which temporarily stopped production of The Daily Show.
2007: BBC America Closed Caption Campaign
In 2007, John Oliver wrote and presented a BBC America campaign to have viewers use closed captions.
January 2008: Return to The Daily Show After Strike
In January 2008, John Oliver appeared on 'The Daily Show' upon its resuming production after the 2007-08 Writers Guild of America strike, noting the constraints of his visitor visa.
2008: Played Dick Pants in The Love Guru
In 2008, John Oliver played Dick Pants in The Love Guru, his first film role.
2008: John Oliver: Terrifying Times Premieres
In 2008, John Oliver: Terrifying Times, John Oliver's first stand-up special, premiered on Comedy Central.
November 2009: Approval of US Green Card
In November 2009, John Oliver announced that he was approved for his US green card, noting he can now "get arrested filming bits for 'The Daily Show'".
2009: John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show Ordered
In 2009, Comedy Central ordered six episodes of John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show, a series that featured sets from himself and other comedians.
2009: Performed in Important Things with Demetri Martin
In 2009, John Oliver performed several roles in the Comedy Central series Important Things with Demetri Martin and made a cameo in the music video for The Fiery Furnaces' single "Even in the Rain".
2010: Hosted John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show
From 2010 to 2013, John Oliver hosted the stand-up series John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show on Comedy Central.
2010: Produced Seasons of New York Stand-Up Show
From 2010 to 2013, four seasons of John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show were produced.
2010: Casting in Absolutely Anything
In 2010, John Oliver was originally cast to star in the Terry Jones film Absolutely Anything as Neil Clarke
2011: Voiced Vanity Smurf in "The Smurfs"
In 2011, John Oliver provided voice work for the animated film The Smurfs.
2012: Gravity Falls
In 2012, John Oliver guest-starred in several TV shows, including Gravity Falls as the voice of Sherlock Holmes
2012: Miss America Organization Spending
In 2012, John Oliver reported that the Miss America Organization and Miss America Foundation together spent only $482,000 in cash scholarships at the national level.
2012: The Bugle Becomes Independent
In 2012, The Bugle, a weekly comedy podcast co-hosted by John Oliver, became an independent project.
June 2013: Guest-Hosted The Daily Show
Starting in June 2013, John Oliver guest-hosted The Daily Show for eight weeks while Stewart directed his film Rosewater.
2013: Guest Hosted The Daily Show
In 2013, John Oliver guest-hosted The Daily Show for an eight-week period and also acted in The Smurfs 2.
2013: Rick and Morty
In 2013, John Oliver guest-starred in several TV shows, including Rick and Morty as an amoeba named Dr Xenon Bloom
2013: USO Tour to Afghanistan
In 2013, John Oliver went to Afghanistan on a USO tour to perform for the troops.
2014: Started Hosting Last Week Tonight
In 2014, John Oliver began hosting his late-night news satire show Last Week Tonight with John Oliver.
2014: Scheduling Conflicts with Absolutely Anything
In 2014, John Oliver had scheduling conflicts due to the debut of Last Week Tonight, leading to the role of Neil Clarke in the Terry Jones film Absolutely Anything being recast for Simon Pegg.
May 2015: End of The Bugle
From October 2007 to May 2015, John Oliver co-hosted The Bugle, a weekly comedy podcast, with Andy Zaltzman. The show ended in May 2015.
February 2016: Donald Trump Segment Success
In February 2016, John Oliver's segment on Donald Trump received 62 million views on Facebook and 23 million on YouTube within a month, becoming the "most watched piece of HBO content ever" at the time.
June 2016: Medical Debt Forgiveness
In June 2016, John Oliver forgave over $15 million of medical debt owed by over 9,000 people after purchasing the debt for $60,000 on his show.
September 2017: Contract Extended Through to 2020
In September 2017, John Oliver's initial contract was extended through to 2020.
2017: Bob's Burgers
In 2017, John Oliver guest-starred in several TV shows, including Bob's Burgers as a cat agent
2018: Viewers Familiarity With Net Neutrality
A study conducted in 2018 found that viewers of Last Week Tonight and The Colbert Report were generally more familiar with net neutrality than non-viewers.
2018: Executive producer
From 2018 to 2019, John Oliver worked as an executive producer for Wyatt Cenac's Problem Areas.
2018: Publication of A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo
In 2018, John Oliver presented the children's book 'A Day in the Life of Marlon Bundo', a parody featuring Mike Pence's pet rabbit in a gay relationship.
December 2019: Naturalization as US Citizen
On December 13, 2019, John Oliver was naturalized as a US citizen.
2019: Voiced Zazu in The Lion King remake
In 2019, John Oliver provided voice work in The Lion King remake.
2019: Voice acting roles
In 2019, John Oliver voiced the porcupine Steve in the CGI animated film Wonder Park and hornbill Zazu in the remake of Disney's The Lion King.
September 2020: Contract Extended Through to 2023
In September 2020, John Oliver's initial contract was extended through to 2023.
October 2020: Oliver Attends Sewer Plant Unveiling
In October 2020, John Oliver visited Danbury to attend the unveiling ceremony of the "John Oliver Memorial Sewer Plant", wearing a hazmat suit and fulfilling a condition set by Mayor Boughton for the renaming after Oliver promised to donate $55,000 to Danbury charities.
2020: Big Mouth
In 2020, John Oliver guest-starred in several TV shows, including Big Mouth as the camp counsellor Harry
2022: Study on the Impact of Last Week Tonight
In 2022, a study found that John Oliver's "calls for action" on 'Last Week Tonight' during seasons seven and eight resulted in over $5 million being raised for charities and other causes.
August 2023: Strike Force Five
On 30 August 2023, Oliver began hosting the comedy podcast Strike Force Five with Jimmy Fallon, Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert and Seth Meyers, to support their staff members out of work due to the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike.
December 2023: Contract Extended Through to 2026
In December 2023, John Oliver's initial contract was extended through to 2026.
2026: Last Week Tonight Airs Until 2026
In December 2023, John Oliver's initial contract was extended through to 2026, indicating the potential continuation of Last Week Tonight until at least 2026.
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