He was born into a large family, being the youngest of ten siblings. However, at the tender age of 10, his world was turned upside down by a tragic event.
In 1974, a devastating plane crash claimed the lives of his father — a doctor and academic — along with his brothers Paul and Peter.
This tragedy marked the start of a prolonged period of hardship, but it also paved the way for what would evolve into a remarkably successful career in front of the camera.
Described as “rambunctious”
When we think about Hollywood stars, it’s easy to be mesmerized by the wealth, fame, and talent that seem to characterize their lives. We often overlook the fact that many of them hail from very modest backgrounds, facing dreams, family tragedies, and daily challenges just like everyone else.
Consider the TV star and actor we’re highlighting today — his journey has been influenced by everything from a tragic plane crash to a life-altering health struggle.
Born in 1964, he spent his childhood in Maryland and South Carolina. His father was a well-respected doctor, and the TV personality has described his parents as devout yet deeply engaged in intellectual pursuits. They instilled in their children the belief that it was acceptable to question the Church while still being Catholic.
He recalls having a “pretty conservative upbringing,” mentioning that his mother voted for a Democrat — John F. Kennedy — only once in her lifetime. In interviews, she has referred to him as “rambunctious.” As a child, he observed that Southerners were often portrayed as less intelligent on television, so to counter that stereotype, he taught himself to imitate the speech patterns of American news anchors.
The plane crash
On September 11, 1974, at the tender age of ten, he lost his father and two brothers, who were closest in age to him, in the tragic accident of Eastern Air Lines Flight 212 while it was attempting to land in Charlotte, North Carolina.
The brothers were on their way to enroll at Canterbury School in New Milford, Connecticut. Unfortunately, the brief flight from Charleston never made it to its destination, crashing into a hillside covered in cornfields just three miles away from the runway.
Foggy weather played a role in this disaster, but a report from the National Transportation Safety Board stated: “The flight crew’s lack of altitude awareness at critical points during the approach was due to poor cockpit discipline, as the crew failed to adhere to the prescribed procedures.
Only 13 out of the 82 individuals on board managed to survive.
Reflecting on the tragedy, the actor once shared with Anderson Cooper: “I was deeply shattered, and then you rebuild yourself in this quiet, grieving environment that was formed in the house.”
“My mother had me to care for, which I believe was somewhat of a gift for her, providing a sense of purpose at that time. But I also had her to look after. The house became very quiet, very dark, and the usual childhood worries seemed to vanish.”
Being the youngest, his older siblings had already left home, which meant he spent several years alone with his mother.
He turned to the realms of science fiction.
Following the tragedy, the star displayed minimal interest in academics or studying.
“Nothing made sense after my father and brothers passed away. I essentially just shut down,” he remembered.
Instead, he immersed himself in the realms of science fiction and fantasy, especially the writings of J.R.R. Tolkien, which he continues to cherish today. He also found comfort in his Catholic faith, seeking to understand the profound loss.
In addition to his love for sci-fi and fantasy, he uncovered a passion for improvisation and theater, which ignited a new sense of purpose. This prompted him to transfer from Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia to Northwestern University in Chicago, where he focused on performing arts.
However, it was only in college that the full impact of his grief struck him. He lost 50 pounds during his freshman year. In a 2012 interview with Oprah Winfrey, he confessed he was in “bad shape” following the events that had influenced his early years.
“I was just so inexperienced. I was just overwhelmingly sad about it. I had time to, I guess, be alone with that thought.”
Aspired to be an actor
While attending Northwestern University, the future television star aspired to be a serious actor. At that time, comedy wasn’t really on his mind — although it would eventually shape his career.
This trajectory began to change when he was recruited to join Second City’s touring company, initially serving as an understudy for Steve Carell. It was during this time that he built significant creative relationships with Amy Sedaris and Paul Dinello, partners who would play a crucial role throughout his career.
Now that we’ve hinted at his career a bit, you might be able to figure out who we’re referring to. That’s right — Stephen Colbert.
The writer and performer from South Carolina didn’t secure his first major dream job, but he ultimately forged his own way to late-night fame. His ascent started on The Daily Show, which later evolved into The Colbert Report, and eventually brought him to the most prestigious position in late night: The Late Show, where he took over for the iconic David Letterman.
CBS launched The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on September 8, 2015, right after Letterman’s retirement. Letterman had been the host for over 20 years and had a late-night career that spanned three decades.
When Colbert was selected as Letterman’s successor, CBS granted him significant creative freedom to transform the show. The network assured viewers they would finally witness “the real Stephen Colbert,” indicating a departure from the satirical persona he had famously portrayed on Comedy Central’s The Colbert Report.
Wealthy man
Colbert quickly distinguished his version of The Late Show by focusing heavily on political commentary, making current events a central theme of the program from the very beginning. Simultaneously, he maintained the traditional late-night atmosphere, featuring musical acts, celebrity interviews, and discussions with newsmakers and cultural icons.
This combination of incisive monologues, engaging interviews, and live music contributed to his rise to the top of the late-night ratings.
His success on screen has also made Colbert quite affluent, with a net worth of $75 million. In addition to his financial achievements, he leads a fulfilling family life. Colbert has been married to Evelyn “Evie” McGee-Colbert since 1993, and they have three children: Madeleine (born 1995), Peter (born 1998), and John (born 2002). The family lives in Montclair, New Jersey.
In 2025, CBS announced that it would conclude The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, officially retiring the entire franchise in May 2026 after an impressive 33-year run.
The network recognized that the show had dominated late-night ratings for nine straight seasons, stating: “Our admiration, affection, and respect for the talents of Stephen Colbert and his incredible team made this agonizing decision even more difficult.”
Health battles
However, the tough choice to end The Late Show may be overshadowed by the personal struggles Colbert has endured. He once dealt with a burst appendix while filming several episodes of his show, enduring significant pain. Following surgery, he depended on strong painkillers and even humorously recounted the strange experiences and hallucinations that accompanied them.
Additionally, he was diagnosed with benign paroxysmal positional vertigo (BPPV), a condition that leads to dizziness and balance issues. To cope with it, Colbert must engage in a series of regular exercises.
Colbert has also faced deep personal loss. In 2013, he lost his mother, Lorna Elizabeth Colbert (née Tuck), at the age of 92. While on The Colbert Report, he shared:
“She knew more than her share of tragedy, losing her brother and her husband and three of her sons.
“But her love for her family and her faith in God somehow gave her the strength not only to go on but to love life without bitterness and instil in all of us a gratitude for every day we have together.
“And I know it may sound greedy to want more days with a person who lived so long, but the fact that my mother was 92 does not diminish, it only magnifies, the enormity of the room whose door has now quietly shut.”
He also reflected on grief, describing it as its “own thing” and emphasized the need to come to terms with its “presence.”
“If you choose to overlook it, it will feel like a wolf at your doorstep,” he mentioned, as noted by Psychology Today.
Even though The Late Show is scheduled to conclude in 2026, Colbert’s impact at CBS is far from over. In 2023, he was appointed as the executive producer of After Midnight, a new late-night show hosted by comedian Taylor Tomlinson.
As Colbert expressed regarding the initiative, it’s a chance to uplift new voices in late-night television while he continues his creative endeavors behind the scenes.
So let’s hope we haven’t seen or heard the last of Stephen Colbert just yet. Were you aware of his heartbreaking backstory? Feel free to share your opinions in the comments—and remember to share the article!
