As Stephen Colbert counts down the final days of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, fans have naturally wondered how the longtime host plans to mark the end of one of television’s most successful late-night runs and what's next. According to Colbert, he already has a big plans for the day after it all ends.
May 21 is the end of a 20-year stretch in late-night that transformed Colbert from a beloved cable satirist into a pop culture icon. Between The Colbert Report and The Late Show, Colbert spent two decades shaping political comedy, interviewing everyon from presidents to movie stars. Along the way, he became a go-to voice for audiences navigating through elections, pandemics, and more, becoming one of the medium’s most recognizable voices.
But according to Colbert himself, the day after his final CBS broadcast won’t be spent reflecting on his place in cultural or television history. Instead, he’ll be boarding a train with his family to attend his brother’s wedding.
In an interview with The Hollywood Reporter, Colbert explained that major family milestones happen to be surrounding the exact week his late-night career comes to a close. It's a coincidence he views as a welcome reminder about what truly matters.
“My brother is getting married, so my whole family is going to be here on the 21st, and then we’re all going to get on the train and go to D.C. for the wedding,” Colbert said. “So, immediately after the show’s over, there’s something much more important going on.”
He also revealed that another major family event will take place just before the finale. “And there’s something much more important going on the Monday before, too," Colbert shared. "My son is graduating from college. Then there’s a little blip in the middle where my 20-year late night career comes to an end. The universe has conspired to give me the proper perspective.”
The comments feel especially fitting coming from Colbert, whose public persona has long been shaped as much by his family life and personal history as by politics or comedy. Long before he took over The Late Show in 2015, Colbert often spoke openly about the formative experiences that shaped him. One of the most significant was the devastating 1974 plane crash that killed his father and two of his brothers when Colbert was just 10 years old.
Over the years, Colbert has reflected on that tragedy, discussing how grief, faith, and his close-knit family helped define his outlook on life. That emphasis on family carried into adulthood and throughout his entertainment career. So, it's fitting that he'll bookend the Late Show finale with family celebrations.
Colbert has also managed to intertwine his family life with his creative endeavors. He and his wife, Evelyn “Evie” McGee-Colbert, have been married for more than three decades and share three children together. Evie quickly became a fan favorite for her Late Show appearances. And Colbert recently announced he co-wrote a Lord of the Rings movie with his son.
For many hosts, leaving late-night after two decades would likely become an all-consuming emotional event. But Colbert seems determined to keep the finale in perspective.
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