Conan O'Brien

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Conan O'Brien
O'Brien in 2019
Birth nameConan Christopher O'Brien
Born (1963-04-18) April 18, 1963 (age 60)
Brookline, Massachusetts,
United States[1]
MediumTelevision
NationalityAmerican
EducationHarvard University
Years active1985–present
GenresImprovisational comedy, sketch comedy, physical comedy, surreal humor, self-deprecation
InfluencesJohnny Carson, David Letterman, Robert Smigel, Pee-Wee Herman, Ernie Kovacs, Carl Reiner
InfluencedJack McBrayer, Amy Poehler, Pierre Bernard, Pete Holmes
SpouseElizabeth Ann Powel (since 2002; 2 children)
Notable works and rolesThe Simpsons
(writer, producer, 1991–1993)
Late Night with Conan O'Brien
(host, 1993–2009)
The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien
(host, 2009–2010)
Conan (host, 2010–2021)
Signature
Emmy Awards
Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program
1989 Saturday Night Live
2007 Late Night with Conan O'Brien[2]

Conan Christopher O'Brien (born April 18, 1963) is an American television host, comedian, writer, producer, musician, and voice actor. He is best known for hosting several late-night talk shows, the most recent of which, is Conan, premiered on American cable television station TBS in 2010, and ended in 2021.

Early life[change | change source]

O'Brien was born in Brookline, Massachusetts. His father, Thomas Francis O'Brien, is a physician, epidemiologist, and professor of medicine at Harvard.[3][4][5] His mother, Ruth O'Brien (née Reardon), is an attorney and partner at the Boston firm Ropes & Gray.[6] He is the third of six children. O'Brien's family is Irish Catholic; some of his Irish ancestors immigrated before the American Civil War.[5] In a Late Night episode, O'Brien paid a visit to County Kerry, Ireland, where his ancestors originated.

Comedian career[change | change source]

Conan got his first start in comedy as a writer for Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons. Conan hosted Late Night from 1993 to 2009. In 2009, he replaced Jay Leno as host of The Tonight Show. In 2010, NBC decided to give The Tonight Show back to Leno, which led to Conan leaving NBC. Many people were upset that Conan had to leave. After leaving The Tonight Show, Conan grew a beard and went on a comedy tour. On November 8, 2010, he hosted a late-night talk show on TBS called Conan, which ended in 2021.

Awards and nominations[change | change source]

Year Award Work Category Result
1989 Emmy Award Saturday Night Live Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program Won[7][8]
1990 Emmy Award Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program Nominated[7]
1991 Emmy Award Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program Nominated[7]
1996 Emmy Award Late Night with Conan O'Brien Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing for a Variety or Music Program Nominated[7]
1997 Emmy Award Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing for a Variety or Music Program Nominated[7]
Writers Guild of America Award Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) – Series Won[7]
1998 Emmy Award Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing for a Variety or Music Program Nominated[7]
1999 Emmy Award Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing for a Variety or Music Program Nominated[7]
Writers Guild of America Award Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) – Series Nominated[7]
2000 Emmy Award Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing for a Variety or Music Program Nominated[7]
Writers Guild of America Award Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) – Series Won[7]
2001 Emmy Award Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing for a Variety or Music Program Nominated[7]
Writers Guild of America Award Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) – Series Nominated[7]
2002 Emmy Award Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing for a Variety or Music Program Nominated[7]
Writers Guild of America Award Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) – Series Won[7][8]
2003 Emmy Award Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing for a Variety or Music Program Nominated[7][8]
Writers Guild of America Award Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) – Series Won[7][8]
2004 Emmy Award Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing for a Variety or Music Program Nominated[7][8]
Writers Guild of America Award Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) – Series Nominated[7]
2005 Emmy Award Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing for a Variety or Music Program Nominated[7][8]
People's Choice Award Favorite Late Night Talk Show Host Nominated[7]
Telvis Award For the color spot of the year Special Telvis Won[7]
Writers Guild of America Award Late Night with Conan O'Brien Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) – Series Won[7]
2006 Emmy Award Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing for a Variety or Music Program Nominated[7][8]
People's Choice Award Favorite Late Night Talk Show Host Nominated[7]
Writers Guild of America Award Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) – Series Won[7]
2007 Emmy Award Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing for a Variety or Music Program Won[7][8]
Writers Guild of America Award Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) – Series Nominated[7]
2008 Emmy Award Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing for a Variety or Music Program Nominated[7][8]
2009 Emmy Award Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing for a Variety or Music Program Nominated[7][8]
Writers Guild of America Award Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) – Series Nominated[7]
2010 Emmy Award The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien Outstanding Comedy, Music or Variety Series Nominated[9]
Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series Nominated[9]
Writers Guild of America Award Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) – Series Nominated[7]
2011 People's Choice Award Conan Favorite TV Talk Show Host Won
Emmy Award Outstanding Comedy, Music or Variety Series Nominated[10]
Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series Nominated[10]
Outstanding Lighting Design/Lighting Direction for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series Nominated[10]
American Express Outstanding Commercial Nominated[10]
2012 People's Choice Award Conan Favorite TV Talk Show Host Nominated

References[change | change source]

  1. "Conan O'Brien Biography". The New York Times. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  2. "Outstanding Comedy Series". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved May 9, 2008.
  3. "Conan O'Brien Biography (1963–)". Film Reference. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  4. "Conan Christopher O'Brien". Ancestry. Archived from the original on May 16, 2008. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  5. 5.0 5.1 Stated on Inside the Actors Studio, 2009
  6. "Ruth Reardon O'Brien 1931–" (PDF). Stanford.edu. Retrieved January 12, 2014.[permanent dead link]
  7. 7.00 7.01 7.02 7.03 7.04 7.05 7.06 7.07 7.08 7.09 7.10 7.11 7.12 7.13 7.14 7.15 7.16 7.17 7.18 7.19 7.20 7.21 7.22 7.23 7.24 7.25 7.26 7.27 7.28 7.29 7.30 7.31 Internet Movie Database staff (2010). "Awards for Conan O'Brien". Internet Movie Database. IMDb.com, Inc. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  8. 8.00 8.01 8.02 8.03 8.04 8.05 8.06 8.07 8.08 8.09 "Conan O'Brien". NBC.com — The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien. www.tonightshowwithconanobrien.com. 2010. Archived from the original on June 13, 2009. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  9. 9.0 9.1 "62nd Primetime Emmy Award Nominations" (PDF). Academy of Television Arts and Sciences. July 8, 2010. Retrieved January 12, 2014.
  10. 10.0 10.1 10.2 10.3 "Conan is a cable guy now, but Emmy still likes him while neglecting Jay". Associated Press. 2011-07-14. Archived from the original on 2014-02-22. Retrieved Jan 12, 2014.

Other websites[change | change source]

Media offices
Preceded by
Jay Leno
Host of The Tonight Show
June 1, 2009 – January 22, 2010
Succeeded by
Jay Leno
Preceded by
David Letterman
Host of Late Night
September 13, 1993 – February 20, 2009
Succeeded by
Jimmy Fallon
Preceded by
Ellen DeGeneres
Host of Christmas in Washington
2011, 2012
Succeeded by
Incumbent