Back when working in New York City a patient came into our psychiatric unit from Iowa stating she had a job with Stephen Colbert. Well, she didn’t but had a psychiatric break in Grand Central Station. Unaware of her bogus future employer I inquired of my fellow nurses, “Who is Stephen Colbert?” They looked at me in awe. That was 2010 and since I have become a follower.

So…let’s start there…… “Who is Stephen Colbert?”

Stephen was born May 13, 1964 in Washington D.C.. He was one of 11 children born to Dr. James William Colbert, an immunologist and infectious disease specialist, and Lorna Elizabeth Tuck, his childhood sweetheart.

Post D.C. the family moved to South Carolina where Dr. Colbert was 1st Vice President of Academic Affairs at the Medical University of South Carolina. Sadly, he died in a plane crash along with two of his sons in 1974. Stephen was 10 years old and the youngest of the children.

The family is of Irish descent though Stephen pronounces Colbert with an French twist. His ancestors came to America during the Great Famine in Ireland. They are Catholics.

He began his college education with little desire studying philosophy at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia. There his interest in acting began and he transferred to Northwestern University in Chicago to study theater.

Stephen is a lover of sci-fi and fantasy, Dungeons and Dragons. This may be what led him to improvisation. After college graduation and needing employment he worked the Second City Improv Group box office. Taking the free coursework offered to employees he found an interest. Later he joined their touring company as Steve Carell’s understudy.

After several other jobs he landed at the ill fated Dana Carvey Show which he wrote and produced. The Daily Show noted his work and picked him up for their venue. In 2005 came The Colbert Report and in 2015 the Late Show with Stephen Colbert replacing the slot once held by the retiring David Letterman.

Along the way he married Evelyn, “Evie,” McGee and had 3 children, 2 boys and 1 girl.

Whew! What a rise for such an extraordinary talent. Thanks for all the laughs.