Conan O'Brien

Early Years

Conan Christopher O’Brien was born April 18, 1963 in Brookline, Massachusetts, to Thomas, a doctor, and Ruth, an attorney. His early interests included writing, and he served as managing editor for his school newspaper. Ever the class-clown in school, O’Brien would later be well-suited as a comedic writer.

After graduating from Brookline High School, O’Brien attended Harvard University, where he was the president of the Harvard Lampoon humor magazine. He graduated magna cum laude in 1985 with a degree in American History and Literature.

Life After Harvard

After graduating from Harvard, O’Brien moved to Los Angeles, California, where his first job was as a writer for HBO’s Not Necessarily the News. During his two years with the show, he performed with the improvisational group, The Groundlings, and acted in infomercials. He, along with Harvard classmate Greg Daniels (now executive producer for King of the Hill and The Office), wrote for a show called Wilton North Report, but it only lasted four weeks.

O’Brien moved to New York and began writing for Saturday Night Live in 1988, where a year later, he won an Emmy for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy or Variety Series. His recurring sketches included “The Girl Watchers” (with Tom Hanks and Jon Lovitz) and “Mr. Short-Term Memory.”

Following his three years there, he worked for three more years as a writer and producer for the animated series The Simpsons.

Late Night Talk Show

Originally, SNL Executive Producer Lorne Michaels offered O’Brien a producing job for a late-night talk show on NBC. The slot was left vacant when David Letterman moved to CBS. When no host could be found for the show, O’Brien auditioned, and the rest is history. He started hosting Late Night with Conan O’Brien in 1993, and while the show was not well-received initially, it is now enjoying its 14th season.

Originally, actor Andy Richter served as O’Brien’s sidekick, but he left in 2000 to pursue other acting opportunities. Since then, band leader Max Weinberg has filled the role.

The following is just a sampling of O’Brien’s quirky recurring sketches:

• "In the Year 2000" – humorous predictions about the future
• "If They Mated" – photos of famous people morphed to show what their children would look like
• "Moving Lips" – someone’s moving lips are superimposed over pictures of celebrities and politicians
• "Triumph the Insult Comic Dog" – a dog puppet that conducts rude interviews
• "Desk Driving" – an audience member joins Conan at his desk in front of a green screen

Life After Late Night

Conan O'Brien and his wife, Liza Powel, arriving at the Primetime Emmy Awards in 2004.

O’Brien’s contract for Late Night with Conan O’Brien has been extended through 2009. Following that, he will take over hosting duties for Jay Leno on NBC’s The Tonight Show.

Awards

Since 2003, Late Night with Conan O’Brien has received numerous Emmy nominations. In 2006, the show marked the 10th consecutive year of receiving the nomination for Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series. The writing staff has won six Writers Guild Awards for Best Writing for a Comedy/Variety Series.

Award Show Host

O’Brien has taken his hosting skills beyond the late night format, hosting the 54th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards, which earned him The Los Angeles Times’ praise as "one of the funniest opening monologues in Emmy history." He also hosted the 58th Annual Emmy Awards in 2006.

Personal Life

Conan O’Brien met his wife, advertising copywriter Liza Powel, when she appeared as a guest on Late Night. The couple was married in January 2002, and has two children, Neve, born October 14, 2003, and Beckett, born November 9, 2005.

Conan O’Brien Facts

• O’Brien took tap dancing lessons when he was a child.
• He appeared in a number of Saturday Night Live sketches when he was a writer for the show, including a parody of Twin Peaks, a commercial parody for “Irish Drinking Songs,” and a sketch for Tom Hanks’ entrance into the "Five Timers Club."
• Actor Denis Leary is O’Brien’s cousin.
• He was one of People magazine’s “25 Most Intriguing People.”
• Entertainment Weekly dubbed him “Late Night’s King of Cool.”
• O’Brien appeared in a music video for the band The White Stripes.
• He is 6 feet, 4 inches tall.