History of Stephen Colbert in Timeline

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Stephen Colbert

Stephen Colbert is an American comedian, writer, producer, political commentator, actor, and television host. He gained prominence as the host of The Colbert Report, a satirical news program on Comedy Central from 2005 to 2014, where he portrayed a conservative pundit. Since 2015, he has hosted The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on CBS, a late-night talk show that blends comedy with political commentary and interviews.

1945: No specific event mentioned for this date

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May 13, 1964: Stephen Colbert's Birth

On May 13, 1964, Stephen Tyrone Colbert was born. He is known as an American comedian, writer, producer, political commentator, actor, and television host.

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1969: Father's Role at Medical University of South Carolina

In 1969, James Colbert Jr., Stephen Colbert's father, became the first vice president of academic affairs at the Medical University of South Carolina in Charleston.

1972: Richard Nixon Campaign Poster

Stephen Colbert owns a 1972 Richard Nixon campaign poster highlighting Nixon's compromise towards progressive issues.

September 11, 1974: Family Tragedy

On September 11, 1974, Stephen Colbert's father and two of his brothers, Paul and Peter, passed away in the crash of Eastern Air Lines Flight 212 while attempting to land in Charlotte, North Carolina.

1982: Enrollment at Hampden-Sydney College

In 1982, Stephen Colbert enrolled at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia, majoring in philosophy and participating in plays.

1984: Transfer to Northwestern University

In 1984, Stephen Colbert transferred to Northwestern University as a theater major to study performance.

1986: Graduation from Northwestern University

In 1986, Stephen Colbert graduated from Northwestern University's School of Communication.

1986: Internship and Second City

In 1986, after graduating from Northwestern, Colbert rejected an unpaid internship at 'Late Night with David Letterman'. Instead, he worked at Second City, taking improvisation classes.

1990: McGee met Jon Stewart

In 1990, Evelyn McGee met Jon Stewart before she met Stephen Colbert.

1992: Saturday Night Live Audition

In 1992, Stephen Colbert auditioned for Saturday Night Live but was unsuccessful.

1993: Marriage to Evelyn McGee-Colbert

In 1993, Stephen Colbert married Evelyn "Evie" McGee-Colbert.

1995: Debut of Exit 57

In 1995, 'Exit 57', a sketch comedy show created by Amy Sedaris, Paul Dinello and Stephen Colbert, debuted on Comedy Central.

1996: End of Exit 57

In 1996, the sketch comedy show 'Exit 57', which debuted in 1995, ended after 12 episodes despite favorable reviews and CableACE Awards nominations.

1997: Joining The Daily Show

In 1997, Stephen Colbert joined the cast of Comedy Central's news-parody series, 'The Daily Show'.

1998: Development of Strangers with Candy

In 1998, Comedy Central picked up the new comedy series 'Strangers with Candy', while Colbert had already begun working on 'The Daily Show'.

1999: Airing of Strangers with Candy

In 1999, thirty episodes of 'Strangers with Candy' aired on Comedy Central.

2000: Coverage of the 2000 U.S. Presidential Elections

In 2000, Colbert filed reports from the floor of the Democratic and Republican National Conventions as part of The Daily Show's coverage of the U.S. presidential elections.

2000: Emmy Awards for The Daily Show

In 2000, Stephen Colbert and the other Daily Show writers received three Emmy Awards as writers for The Daily Show.

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2000: Strangers with Candy Aired

In 2000, more episodes of 'Strangers with Candy' aired on Comedy Central, finishing its run.

2000: Referenced Supreme Court Battle

In November 1, 2007, Stephen Colbert dropped out of the race for presidency referencing the 2000 election, wherein a tight recount in Florida was settled in a landmark Supreme Court decision.

March 3, 2002: Filling in as Anchor on The Daily Show

On March 3, 2002, Stephen Colbert filled in as anchor on The Daily Show for the full week while Jon Stewart hosted Saturday Night Live.

2002: Imitation of Colbert

In 2002, Rob Corddry and Ed Helms imitated Stephen Colbert when they first joined 'The Daily Show'.

2003: Publication of Wigfield: The Can Do Town That Just May Not

In 2003, Colbert co-authored the satirical novel Wigfield: The Can Do Town That Just May Not with Amy Sedaris and Paul Dinello. The authors also toured performing an adaptation of the book on stage the same year.

Wigfield: The Can-Do Town That Just May Not
Wigfield: The Can-Do Town That Just May Not

2004: Coverage of the 2004 U.S. Presidential Elections and Emmy Win

In 2004, Stephen Colbert reported from the Republican and Democratic National Conventions for the Daily Show, and some of those reports were included in The Daily Show: Indecision 2004 DVD. Additionally, Colbert won an Emmy as a writer for The Daily Show.

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2004: Describing himself as a Democrat

In a 2004 interview, Colbert described himself as a Democrat, despite not being particularly political before joining The Daily Show.

June 16, 2005: Bloomsday on Broadway Reading

On June 16, 2005, Colbert read the part of Leopold Bloom in Bloomsday on Broadway XXIV: Love Literature Language Lust: Leopold's Women Bloom at Symphony Space in New York City.

October 17, 2005: Premiere of The Colbert Report

On October 17, 2005, Stephen Colbert began hosting his own television show, The Colbert Report, a spin-off of The Daily Show that parodied cable news shows.

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2005: Departure from Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law

In 2005, Colbert left his voice acting roles as Reducto and Phil Ken Sebben on Adult Swim's Harvey Birdman, Attorney at Law to work on The Colbert Report. Prior to this, Colbert appeared in a supporting role in the 2005 film adaptation of Bewitched and made guest appearances on television series like Curb Your Enthusiasm, Spin City, and Law & Order: Criminal Intent.

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2005: Emmy Win

In 2005, Colbert won an Emmy as a writer for The Daily Show.

2005: Emmy Awards for The Daily Show and Satellite Award Nomination

In 2005, Stephen Colbert and the other Daily Show writers received an Emmy Awards as writers for The Daily Show and he was nominated for a Satellite Award for his performance on The Colbert Report.

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2005: Hosting The Colbert Report

In 2005, Stephen Colbert began hosting 'The Colbert Report' on Comedy Central.

2005: "Truthiness" coined.

In 2005, Stephen Colbert coined the word "truthiness" on the premiere episode of The Colbert Report.

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2005: Discovery of Neutral Milk Hotel

In 2005, Stephen Colbert discovered the psychedelic folk group Neutral Milk Hotel while filming a field piece for The Daily Show.

January 2006: "Truthiness" Named American Dialect Society's Word of the Year

In January 2006, the American Dialect Society named "truthiness," a word which Colbert coined, as its 2005 Word of the Year.

April 29, 2006: Featured Entertainer at White House Correspondents' Association Dinner

On April 29, 2006, Stephen Colbert was the featured entertainer at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner. Standing near President George W. Bush, Colbert delivered a satirical routine targeting the president and the media in his character from The Colbert Report.

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May 2006: Top Influential Persons in Media

In May 2006, New York magazine listed Stephen Colbert (and Jon Stewart) as one of its top dozen influential persons in media.

June 2006: Honorary Doctorate from Knox College

In June 2006, Stephen Colbert received an honorary Doctorate of Fine Arts degree from Knox College after speaking at the school's commencement ceremony.

September 2006: 2nd Sexiest TV News Anchor

In September 2006, Stephen Colbert was named the 2nd Sexiest TV News Anchor by Maxim.

October 30, 2006: Custody Agreement for Emmy Award

On October 30, 2006, Barry Manilow and Stephen Colbert jokingly signed and notarized a revolving biannual custody agreement for the Emmy on The Colbert Report episode.

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November 2006: "Sexy Surprise" by People

In November 2006, Stephen Colbert was named a "sexy surprise" by People in the Sexiest Man Alive honors.

December 9, 2006: "Truthiness" Named Merriam-Webster's Word of the Year

On December 9, 2006, Merriam-Webster announced that it selected "truthiness," a word coined by Colbert, as its Word of the Year for 2006.

December 2006: "Men of the Year" by GQ

In the December 2006 issue of GQ, Stephen Colbert was named one of GQ's "Men of the Year".

2006: Emmy Win

In 2006, Colbert won an Emmy as a writer for The Daily Show.

2006: Response to White House Correspondents' Association Dinner Performance

In 2006, Colbert's performance at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner received a chilly reception initially, but the video became an internet sensation, leading to a rise in ratings for The Colbert Report. James Poniewozik called it "the political-cultural touchstone issue of 2006" and Frank Rich called it the "defining moment" of the 2006 midterm elections.

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2006: White House Correspondents' Association Dinner

In 2006, Stephen Colbert performed as the featured entertainer at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, in character as his conservative pundit persona.

2006: Performance at White House Correspondents' Association Dinner

In 2006, Stephen Colbert performed at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner.

2006: Time's 100 Most Influential People

In 2006, Stephen Colbert was named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People.

February 2007: Stephen Colbert's AmeriCone Dream Ice Cream

In February 2007, Ben & Jerry's unveiled a new ice cream flavor in honor of Stephen Colbert, named Stephen Colbert's AmeriCone Dream, with Colbert donating all proceeds to charity.

March 3, 2007: Person of the Year by the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival

On March 3, 2007, Stephen Colbert was named Person of the Year by the U.S. Comedy Arts Festival in Aspen, Colorado.

March 20, 2007: Stephen Colbert Day in Oshawa

On March 20, 2007, Oshawa Mayor John Gray declared March 20, 2007 (the mayor's own birthday), Stephen Colbert Day, honoring a previous bet with Stephen.

March 24, 2007: Speaker of the Year Award

On March 24, 2007, Stephen Colbert was given the Speaker of the Year Award by The Cross Examination Debate Association (CEDA) for his "drive to expose the rhetorical shortcomings of contemporary political discourse".

June 13, 2007: Gutsiest Move Award

On June 13, 2007, Stephen Colbert was honored for the Gutsiest Move on the Spike TV Guys' Choice Awards for his performance at the 2006 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner.

August 2007: "Air Colbert" Named by Virgin America

In August 2007, Virgin America named an airplane, "Air Colbert", in Stephen Colbert's honor.

October 7, 2007: Release of I Am America (And So Can You!)

On October 7, 2007, Colbert's book, I Am America (And So Can You!), was released by Grand Central Publishing. The book contains similar political satire to America (The Book) but was primarily written by Colbert.

I Am America (And So Can You!)
I Am America (And So Can You!)

October 16, 2007: Presidential Candidacy Announcement

On October 16, 2007, Stephen Colbert announced his intention to run for president on both the Republican and Democratic platforms, but only as a "favorite son" in his native South Carolina.

October 28, 2007: Campaigning in South Carolina

On October 28, 2007, Stephen Colbert campaigned in Columbia, South Carolina, and received the key to the city from Mayor Bob Coble during his faux campaign for president.

November 1, 2007: South Carolina Democratic Party Rejection

On November 1, 2007, the South Carolina Democratic Party executive council voted 13–3 to refuse Colbert's application onto the ballot, citing that he wasn't a serious candidate. He later dropped out of the race to avoid a Supreme Court battle, referencing the 2000 election.

December 20, 2007: Celebrity of the Year

On December 20, 2007, Stephen Colbert was named Celebrity of the Year by The Associated Press.

2007: Emmy Nomination

In 2007, Colbert was nominated for an Emmy for The Colbert Report.

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2007: Peabody Award

In 2007, Stephen Colbert received a Peabody Award.

2007: "I Am America (And So Can You!)" Bestseller

In 2007, Stephen Colbert's book 'I Am America (And So Can You!)' reached No. 1 on The New York Times Best Seller list.

I Am America (And So Can You!)
I Am America (And So Can You!)

April 2, 2008: Peabody Award for The Colbert Report

On April 2, 2008, Stephen Colbert received a Peabody Award for The Colbert Report.

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June 2, 2008: Princeton University Class Day Address

On June 2, 2008, Stephen Colbert delivered the Class Day address to the graduating class of Princeton University and accepted the Class of 2008 Understandable Vanity Award.

August 2008: Marvel Comics Appearance

In August 2008, Colbert's campaign ads appeared in Marvel Comics publications, including a cameo of an alien Skrull posing as Colbert in Secret Invasion No. 5.

October 2008: The Amazing Spider-Man

In October 2008, Stephen Colbert made an extended 8-page appearance webslinging with Spider-Man in The Amazing Spider-Man issue No. 573.

November 2008: DVD Release of A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!

In November 2008, Stephen Colbert's Christmas special, A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!, which aired on November 23, 2008, was released on DVD.

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November 23, 2008: A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!

On November 23, 2008, Colbert's Christmas special, A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!, aired on Comedy Central. It was later released on DVD in November 2008.

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2008: Emmy Nomination

In 2008, Colbert was nominated for an Emmy for The Colbert Report.

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2008: Donorschoose.org partnership

In 2008, Stephen Colbert partnered with Donorschoose.org again, encouraging Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton supporters to donate to Pennsylvania classroom projects in honor of their preferred candidate. This initiative, framed as a "straw poll that makes a difference," resulted in Colbert viewers donating $185,000 to projects benefiting 43,000 students in Pennsylvania public schools.

2008: Species Named After Colbert

In 2008, a species of California trapdoor spider (Aptostichus stephencolberti), a Venezuelan diving beetle (Agaporomorphus colberti), and a Chilean stonefly (Diamphipnoa colberti) were named in honor of Stephen Colbert.

February 12, 2009: Brother's Appearance on The Colbert Report

On February 12, 2009, Stephen Colbert's brother Edward appeared on The Colbert Report.

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April 14, 2009: NASA Treadmill Renamed COLBERT

On April 14, 2009, NASA renamed the International Space Station treadmill the "Combined Operational Load-Bearing External Resistance Treadmill", or COLBERT, after Stephen Colbert.

June 5, 2009: "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando"

On June 5, 2009, Colbert arrived in Baghdad, Iraq, to film "Operation Iraqi Stephen: Going Commando" sponsored by the USO. He had a suit tailored in Army Combat Uniform pattern and cropped his hair in a military style to show solidarity with the troops.

August 2009: ISS Treadmill Sent to Space

In August 2009, the COLBERT treadmill was taken to the International Space Station by the Space Shuttle Discovery during the STS-128 mission.

2009: Monsters vs. Aliens

In 2009, Colbert voiced the president of the U.S. in the film Monsters vs. Aliens.

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January 2010: Assistant Sports Psychologist

In January 2010, Colbert was named the assistant sports psychologist for the US Olympic speed skating team at the 2010 Winter Olympics and joined NBC's coverage team.

January 2010: Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album

In January 2010, Stephen Colbert received the Grammy Award for Best Comedy Album for his album A Colbert Christmas: The Greatest Gift of All!

Apple iPad (10th Generation): with A14 Bionic chip, 10.9-inch Liquid Retina Display, 64GB, Wi-Fi 6, 12MP front/12MP Back Camera, Touch ID, All-Day Battery Life – Silver
Apple iPad (10th Generation): with A14 Bionic chip, 10.9-inch Liquid Retina Display, 64GB, Wi-Fi 6, 12MP front/12MP Back Camera, Touch ID, All-Day Battery Life – Silver

September 10, 2010: Rally Preannouncements

On the September 10, 2010, episode of the Daily Show and The Colbert Report, Stewart and Colbert made preannouncements of a future event.

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September 2010: Rally Campaign Development

In September 2010, a campaign developed that called for Colbert to hold his own rally at the Lincoln Memorial, following Glenn Beck's Restoring Honor rally.

September 16, 2010: Competing Rallies Announced

On September 16, 2010, Stewart and Colbert announced competing rallies on the Washington, D.C., Mall for October 30, 2010. Stewart's rally was named "Rally to Restore Sanity", and Colbert's was named "March to Keep Fear Alive".

September 24, 2010: House Judiciary Subcommittee Testimony

On September 24, 2010, Stephen Colbert testified before the House Judiciary Subcommittee on Immigration, Citizenship, and Border Security, in character, about his experience in the United Farm Workers' "Take Our Jobs" program. He later broke character to explain his purpose for being at the hearing.

October 30, 2010: Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear

On October 30, 2010, the "Rally to Restore Sanity" and the "March to Keep Fear Alive" were both eventually merged into the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear.

2010: Scripto Conceived

At the end of 2010, Colbert and Dubbin first discussed making Scripto, a bespoke drafting program for the staff. The idea was further inspired by a mishap on the show involving a real life goat.

April 2011: Performance in Company

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. The show, featuring Neil Patrick Harris in the starring role, ran for four nights and was filmed for later showings in movie theaters.

May 2011: Charleston to Bermuda Race

In May 2011, Colbert captained the ship "the Spirit of Juno" in the Charleston to Bermuda Race yachting race, finishing second, five miles behind the leaders.

May 2011: FEC Request for Media Exemption

In May 2011, Colbert filed a request with the Federal Election Commission (FEC) seeking a media exemption for coverage of his political action committee, ColbertPAC, on The Colbert Report.

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June 2011: FEC Grants Limited Media Exemption

In June 2011, the FEC voted 5–1 to grant The Colbert Report a limited media exemption, allowing unlimited donations of airtime and show resources to promote Colbert Super PAC without disclosure, but only for ads on The Colbert Report. Colbert then filed paperwork for his Super PAC's creation.

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2011: Peabody Award

In 2011, Stephen Colbert received a Peabody Award.

2011: Vanity Fair's "New Establishment List"

In 2011, Stephen Colbert was placed at number 28 in Vanity Fair's "New Establishment List".

2011: Commencement Speaker at Northwestern University

Stephen Colbert was the 2011 commencement speaker for Northwestern University, and received an honorary degree.

January 16, 2012: Support for Herman Cain

On January 16, 2012, Colbert satirically encouraged his viewers to vote for Herman Cain in the South Carolina primary, considering votes for Cain as direct support for his own possible candidacy.

July 2012: Contract Extension for The Colbert Report

In July 2012, Colbert extended his contract with Comedy Central for two more years, ensuring The Colbert Report would continue until the end of 2014.

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2012: Time's 100 Most Influential People

In 2012, Stephen Colbert was again named one of Time's 100 Most Influential People.

2012: Maxim's Hot 100 List

In 2012, Stephen Colbert was listed as No. 69 on Maxim Magazine's Hot 100, becoming the first man to be included on the list.

2012: Named One of Time's 100 Most Influential People

In 2012, Time named Stephen Colbert as one of the 100 most influential people.

2012: South Carolina Presidential Candidacy

In 2012, after the New Hampshire primary, a poll placed Colbert at 5% in the South Carolina primary, ahead of Jon Huntsman. Colbert then announced he was forming an exploratory committee for a possible presidential candidacy in South Carolina after signing over control of his Super PAC to Jon Stewart.

2012: Montclair Film Festival Collaboration

Since 2012, Colbert has collaborated with the Montclair Film Festival in Montclair, New Jersey, hosting fundraising events and leading Q&As with various artists and figures. He is also on the advisory board.

January 2013: Rolling Stone's "The 50 Funniest People Now"

In January 2013, Rolling Stone named Stephen Colbert number 2 in their "The 50 Funniest People Now" list.

2013: Criticism of Nixon's Vietnam War policies

In 2013, Stephen Colbert criticized Richard Nixon's prolongation of the Vietnam War for political gain, stating it led to the deaths of thousands and shattered trust in the American government.

April 10, 2014: Announcement as Host of The Late Show

On April 10, 2014, CBS announced that Stephen Colbert would succeed David Letterman as the host of The Late Show.

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December 2014: Paste's Best Twitter Accounts

In December 2014, Paste named Stephen Colbert's Twitter one of "The 75 Best Twitter Accounts of 2014" ranking it at number 7.

December 18, 2014: Final Episode of The Colbert Report

On December 18, 2014, Colbert hosted the final episode of The Colbert Report.

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2014: Kennedy Center Honors and Scripto Creation

In 2014, Colbert hosted the Kennedy Center Honors and, alongside Rob Dubbin, created Scripto, a collaborative script software used by several late-night talk shows. Scripto was conceived at the end of 2010 and Colbert's wife Evie McGee is also credited as a co-founder of the company.

2014: End of The Colbert Report

In 2014, Stephen Colbert concluded hosting 'The Colbert Report' on Comedy Central.

2014: Species of Parasitic Wasp Named After Colbert

In 2014, a species of parasitic wasp from Ecuador, Aleiodes colberti, was named for Stephen Colbert.

January 12, 2015: Premiere Date Announced for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

On January 12, 2015, CBS announced that Stephen Colbert would premiere as the host of The Late Show on Tuesday, September 8, 2015.

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September 8, 2015: Premiere of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

On September 8, 2015, Stephen Colbert premiered as the host of The Late Show on CBS, with George Clooney as his first guest. The show adopted a more political focus compared to David Letterman's version.

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2015: Outstanding Civilian Service Award

In 2015, Stephen 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.

2015: Becoming Host of The Late Show

In 2015, Stephen Colbert was hired to succeed David Letterman as host of the Late Show on CBS.

2015: Honorary Degree from Wake Forest University

Stephen Colbert received an honorary degree from Wake Forest University as the 2015 commencement speaker.

2016: Kennedy Center Honors Hosting

In 2016, Colbert hosted the Kennedy Center Honors for the third consecutive year.

2016: Critique of Hillary Clinton

In 2016, Stephen Colbert described Hillary Clinton as representing the systemic corruption of Washington, D.C., and suggested that Donald Trump might be the only person she could beat in the presidential election.

2016: Rove Beetle Named After Colbert's On-Screen Persona

In 2016, a rove beetle, Sonoma colberti, was named after Stephen Colbert's on-screen persona.

September 2017: Hosting the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards

In September 2017, Stephen Colbert hosted the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards.

September 17, 2017: Hosting the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards

On September 17, 2017, Colbert hosted the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards, which was broadcast on CBS.

December 2017: GQ's "Men of the Year"

Stephen Colbert was chosen as one of GQ's "Men of the Year" for its December 2017 issue.

2017: 69th Primetime Emmy Awards Hosting

In 2017, Stephen Colbert hosted the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards. He also used a satirical children's book Whose Boat Is This Boat?, based on Trump's quotes after Hurricane Florence, to raise over $1 million for relief funds.

2017: Colbert Disavows Bill Cosby's Comedy

In 2017, Stephen Colbert stated that he could no longer listen to Bill Cosby's comedy due to the sexual assault allegations made against Cosby.

2018: Vanity Fair's "New Establishment List"

In 2018, Stephen Colbert was placed at number 32 in Vanity Fair's "2018 New Establishment List".

2018: Interview with Rolling Stone

In a 2018 interview with Rolling Stone, Stephen Colbert discussed his past struggles with depression and anxiety during college and his time at Second City, for which he had to be medicated.

2019: Conversation with Tolkien Cast

In 2019, Colbert hosted a conversation with the cast of the film Tolkien as part of an event for Montclair Film and Fathom Events.

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2019: "The 35 Most Powerful People in New York Media"

In 2019, Stephen Colbert was named one of "The 35 Most Powerful People in New York Media" by The Hollywood Reporter.

2020: Peabody Award

In 2020, Stephen Colbert received a Peabody Award.

2020: Diagnosis of Benign Paroxysmal Positional Vertigo

In 2020, Stephen Colbert revealed that he developed benign paroxysmal positional vertigo, a type of balance disorder.

May 2021: Honorary Degree from Yale University

In May 2021, Stephen Colbert received an honorary Doctor of Humane Letters degree from Yale University.

2021: Lord of the Rings Cast Reunion

In 2021, Colbert moderated Lord of the Rings cast reunions screened at Alamo Drafthouse Cinema and made available on a Blu-ray collectors edition of the film series.

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2021: Deal with CBS Studios

In 2021, Stephen Colbert and his Spartina Productions company signed a deal with CBS Studios, through which programs such as Tooning Out the News and Fairview were produced.

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April 2022: Positive COVID-19 Test

In April 2022, Stephen Colbert tested positive for COVID-19, leading to recurring symptoms and a halt in the production of The Late Show.

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2022: "The 35 Most Powerful People in New York Media"

In 2022, Stephen Colbert was named one of "The 35 Most Powerful People in New York Media" by The Hollywood Reporter.

May 2023: Banned from Russia

In May 2023, Stephen Colbert was permanently banned from entering Russia, along with 500 other Americans, for allegedly spreading Russophobic attitudes and fakes, in response to U.S. imposed sanctions.

August 30, 2023: Launch of Strike Force Five Podcast

On August 30, 2023, Stephen Colbert, along with other talk show hosts, launched the comedy podcast Strike Force Five to support staff members during the 2023 Writers Guild of America strike.

October 2023: Second Positive COVID-19 Test

In October 2023, Stephen Colbert tested positive for COVID for a second time.

November 2023: Ruptured Appendix

In November 2023, Stephen Colbert had a ruptured appendix during a taping of an episode of The Late Show, resulting in a hiatus for the show as he recovered from surgery.

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December 11, 2023: Return to The Late Show

Stephen Colbert returned to 'The Late Show' on December 11, 2023, after recovering from a ruptured appendix.

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2023: Producing The Chronicles of Amber TV adaptation

In 2023, it was reported that Stephen Colbert would help produce a television adaptation of the fantasy series The Chronicles of Amber.

March 2024: Moderating a Fundraiser for Joe Biden

In March 2024, Stephen Colbert moderated a fundraiser for the Joe Biden 2024 presidential campaign featuring Joe Biden, Bill Clinton, and Barack Obama, which raised $25 million.

June 2024: Meeting with Pope Francis

In June 2024, Stephen Colbert met Pope Francis at the Vatican, showing his appreciation for the Pope's focus on the poor.

December 2024: Lawsuit against CBS for editing of 60 Minutes broadcast

In December 2024, Donald Trump filed a lawsuit against CBS (parent company Paramount Global) alleging deceptive editing of a 60 Minutes broadcast featuring then-Democratic presidential nominee Kamala Harris.

2024: Producer on After Midnight

From 2024 to 2025, Colbert was a producer on the CBS late-night comedy panel game show, After Midnight, alongside his wife Evie.

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2024: Co-authored cookbook

In 2024, Colbert and Evelyn Colbert co-authored, Does This Taste Funny?, a cookbook featuring recipes from their family, centered on Lowcountry cuisine.

2024: Criticism of Israel's treatment of Palestinians

In 2024, Colbert criticized Israel's treatment of Palestinians. He called for a ceasefire in Gaza after the World Central Kitchen aid convoy attack and defended the pro-Palestine college protests, citing First Amendment rights.

2024: Expected Retirement of ISS

The COLBERT treadmill is expected to have seen about 38,000 miles of running when the International Space Station is retired in 2024 or later.

March 2025: Honorary Patron of the University Philosophical Society

In March 2025, Stephen Colbert was named Honorary Patron of the University Philosophical Society at Trinity College Dublin in Ireland.

July 17, 2025: CBS Announces End of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

On July 17, 2025, CBS announced it would end The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and retire The Late Show franchise altogether in May 2026 after 33 years, despite the show being No. 1 in late night for nine straight seasons.

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August 2025: Guest Appearance on Elsbeth

In August 2025, it was reported that Stephen Colbert will make a guest appearance as a late-night host on the CBS show Elsbeth, reuniting with Amy Sedaris.

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November 2025: Endorsement of Mikie Sherrill

In November 2025, Stephen Colbert endorsed Democratic candidate Mikie Sherrill for the 2025 New Jersey gubernatorial election.

November 2025: Honored at New York Public Radio Fundraising Gala

In November 2025, Stephen Colbert was honored as a guest at a New York Public Radio fundraising gala for his commitment to free speech, where he expressed support for public broadcasting.

December 2025: Ripple of Hope Award

In December 2025, Stephen Colbert will receive the Ripple of Hope Award granted by the Robert F. Kennedy Human Rights organization.

2025: Producer on After Midnight

From 2024 to 2025, Colbert was a producer on the CBS late-night comedy panel game show, After Midnight, alongside his wife Evie. The show ended after two seasons.

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May 2026: Planned End of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

CBS announced that in May 2026, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will come to an end, retiring The Late Show franchise after 33 years.

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2028: Lifespan Extension of COLBERT Treadmill

The COLBERT treadmill was built with a 150,000-mile lifespan, if needed until 2028 or beyond.