Colbert originally studied to be a dramatic actor, but became interested in improvisational theater while attending Northwestern University , where he met Second City director Del Close. Paul Dinello and Amy Sedaris , comedians with whom he developed the sketch comedy series Exit 57 , were in his troupe.
Colbert performed on The Dana Carvey Show and wrote for the show, before collaborating again with Sedaris and Dinello on the sitcom Strangers with Candy β Colbert's work as a correspondent on Comedy Central's news-parody series The Daily Show gained him wide recognition.
Following The Daily Show ' s news-parody concept, The Colbert Report was a parody of personality-driven political opinion shows including The O'Reilly Factor , in which he portrayed a caricatured version of conservative political pundits , earning Colbert an invitation to perform as featured entertainer at the White House Correspondents' Association Dinner in , which he did in character.
This event led to the series becoming one of Comedy Central's highest-rated series. Colbert hosted the 69th Primetime Emmy Awards in September Colbert was named one of Time ' s Most Influential People in and Colbert was born in Washington, D. Stephen's father, James William Colbert Jr. From , James Colbert Jr.
In interviews, Stephen Colbert has described his parents as devout people who nevertheless strongly valued intellectualism, and taught their children it was possible to question the Church and still be Catholic. Kennedy , exactly once in her life. Colbert sometimes jokingly claims that his surname is French. He offered his children the option to pronounce the name whichever way they preferred.
