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Late-night talk show host and comedian
He became famous as the longest-serving host of Late Night, hosting the NBC show for 16 years from 1993 to 2009.
Conan O'Brien was born on April 18, 1963, in Brookline, Massachusetts. Standing at 6 feet 4 inches tall, this Aries comedian became one of television's most influential late-night hosts through a career spanning nearly 30 years. He wrote for Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons before hosting Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993-2009), The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien (2009-2010), and Conan on TBS (2010-2021). After leaving traditional television, he launched the successful podcast Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend in 2018 and the HBO Max travel series Conan O'Brien Must Go in 2024. He received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2025 and was inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame the same year.
He grew up in Brookline, Massachusetts, in an Irish Catholic family as the third of six children. His father, Thomas Francis O'Brien, was a physician and professor at Harvard Medical School, while his mother, Ruth O'Brien, was an attorney at Ropes & Gray. He graduated as valedictorian from Brookline High School in 1981, then attended Harvard University where he served as president of the Harvard Lampoon and graduated magna cum laude with a degree in history and literature in 1985. After graduation, he moved to Los Angeles and worked as a writer for HBO's Not Necessarily the News before joining Saturday Night Live's writing staff in 1988.
He married Liza Powel O'Brien in 2002 after meeting her on his show in 2000 when she appeared in an audience skit. The couple has two children together, daughter Neve and son Beckett. He maintains strong ties to his Irish heritage and has visited County Kerry, Ireland, where his ancestors originated. Outside of comedy, he plays guitar and maintains a collection of vintage cars.
He stands at 6 feet 4 inches tall, making him one of the tallest late-night hosts in television history.
He wrote the classic Simpsons episode 'Marge vs. the Monorail' during his time as a writer and producer on the show from 1991 to 1993.
His distinctive pompadour hairstyle and pale complexion became comedy trademarks that he frequently references in self-deprecating jokes.
He won an Emmy Award in 1989 as part of the Saturday Night Live writing team and again in 2007 for Late Night with Conan O'Brien.
His friendship with sidekick Andy Richter spans over three decades, beginning when they first worked together on Late Night in 1993.
Work hard, be kind, and amazing things will happen.
Nobody in life gets exactly what they thought they were going to get. But if you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen.
If you work really hard and you're kind, amazing things will happen. I'm telling you, amazing things will happen.
Born on April 18 in Brookline, Massachusetts
Graduated as valedictorian from Brookline High School
Graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University with a degree in history and literature
Joined the writing staff of Saturday Night Live
Won Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series with SNL writing team
Began writing and producing for The Simpsons
Began hosting Late Night with Conan O'Brien on NBC on September 13
Met Liza Powel on his show
Married Liza Powel O'Brien
Won Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program for Late Night
Began hosting The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien on June 1
Final episode of The Tonight Show aired on January 22; launched Conan on TBS on November 8
Launched podcast Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend
Final episode of Conan on TBS aired on June 24, ending nearly 30 years of late-night hosting
Premiered travel series Conan O'Brien Must Go on HBO Max
Inducted into the Television Academy Hall of Fame and received the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor