Stephen Colbert and Hillary Clinton
One spent decades making Americans laugh about politics, first as a fake news anchor and then as host of The Late Show. The other spent decades inside politics as First Lady, senator, Secretary of State, and presidential nominee. Stephen Colbert and Hillary Clinton have very different jobs, but their worlds have overlapped many times.
Clinton has been a guest on The Late Show, and Colbert has made her a regular subject of his comedy. Her best known visit came in September 2017, when she sat down on The Late Show to talk about her book What Happened, about the 2016 election. Colbert has also joked about her often in his monologues.
This profile covers the ages, education, career timelines, honors, and 2026 updates of Stephen Colbert and Hillary Clinton.
Stephen Colbert and Hillary Clinton at a Glance
| Stephen Colbert | Hillary Clinton | |
|---|---|---|
| Full name | Stephen Tyrone Colbert | Hillary Diane Rodham Clinton |
| Born | May 13, 1964 | October 26, 1947 |
| Age (October 2026) | 62 | 78, turning 79 on October 26 |
| Birthplace | Washington, D.C., USA | Chicago, Illinois, USA |
| Education | Northwestern University (BA, 1986) | Wellesley College (BA, 1969); Yale Law School (JD, 1973) |
| Known for | The Colbert Report, The Late Show | First Lady, senator, Secretary of State, 2016 nominee |
| Spouse | Evelyn McGee-Colbert | Bill Clinton |
| Children | Three | One |
Early Life and Education
Stephen Colbert and Hillary Clinton both grew up in families that valued education and faith.
Stephen Colbert
Stephen Colbert was born in Washington, D.C., in 1964 and grew up in Charleston, South Carolina. He was the youngest of 11 children. When he was 10, his father and two of his brothers died in a plane crash. He has spoken about how that loss shaped his faith and his outlook.
He studied at Hampden-Sydney College in Virginia before transferring to Northwestern University. He graduated in 1986 with a degree in theater. He then trained in improv with Chicago’s Second City.
Hillary Clinton
Hillary Rodham was born in Chicago in 1947 and grew up in Park Ridge, Illinois. Her father ran a small drapery business, and her mother encouraged her to work hard and stand up for herself.
She graduated from Wellesley College in 1969, where she gave a famous student commencement speech. She then earned a law degree from Yale Law School in 1973. There she met Bill Clinton.
Career Timeline
Stephen Colbert’s Career
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1986 | Graduates from Northwestern; joins Second City |
| 1997 | Becomes a correspondent on The Daily Show |
| 2005 | Launches The Colbert Report on Comedy Central |
| 2006 | Roasts President George W. Bush at the White House Correspondents’ Dinner |
| 2014 | The Colbert Report ends |
| 2015 | Takes over The Late Show on CBS from David Letterman |
| 2017 | Hosts the Emmy Awards; Clinton appears to discuss What Happened |
| 2025 | CBS announces The Late Show will end, calling it a financial decision |
| 2026 | Final episode of The Late Show airs on May 21 |
| 2026 | Co-writing a new Lord of the Rings film |
Hillary Clinton’s Career
| Year | Milestone |
|---|---|
| 1973 | Earns her law degree from Yale |
| 1975 | Marries Bill Clinton |
| 1979 | Becomes Arkansas First Lady and the first woman partner at the Rose Law Firm |
| 1993 | Becomes First Lady of the United States |
| 2001 | Sworn in as US senator from New York |
| 2008 | Runs for president and loses the Democratic nomination to Barack Obama |
| 2009 | Becomes Secretary of State |
| 2016 | Becomes the first woman nominated for president by a major party; wins the popular vote but loses the Electoral College |
| 2017 | Publishes What Happened |
| 2023 | Joins Columbia University as a professor |
| 2024 | Wins a Tony Award as a producer of the musical Suffs |
| 2025 | Receives the Presidential Medal of Freedom |
| 2026 | Testifies in a closed door House Oversight session tied to the Epstein probe |
Their Late Night Moments
Clinton’s sit down with Colbert was one of the most watched political interviews on late night TV that year.
- The Colbert Report years: Clinton was a frequent subject of Colbert’s satire, when he played an over the top conservative pundit.
- September 2017: Clinton appeared on The Late Show after the release of What Happened. She talked about the 2016 election, her mistakes, and her thoughts on the future.
- Monologues and sketches: Colbert has joked about Clinton for years, from her campaigns to her book tours.
Colbert has said he likes having political guests because late night can show a more human side of public figures.
Two Different Ways to Shape Public Life
Colbert uses comedy. He became famous for satire, playing a fictional cable news host for nine years on The Colbert Report. On The Late Show, he became a leading voice of political comedy and was often critical of President Trump.
Clinton uses policy and public service. She worked on children’s health, women’s rights, and foreign policy. As Secretary of State, she visited 112 countries. Her 2016 campaign made history, even though she lost.
| Trait | Stephen Colbert | Hillary Clinton |
|---|---|---|
| Main role | Comedian and TV host | Lawyer, politician, diplomat |
| Tool | Satire | Policy |
| Big stage | The Late Show | The White House, Senate, and State Department |
| Signature moment | The 2006 Correspondents’ Dinner roast | The 2016 nomination |
| Honors | Multiple Emmys | Presidential Medal of Freedom |
Honors and Achievements
Stephen Colbert has won many Emmy Awards for The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, and The Late Show. He has also won Grammy Awards, including one for his comedy album A Colbert Christmas. He became the top rated late night host for several years.
Hillary Clinton is the only First Lady to win elected office. She won a Grammy in 1997 for the audiobook of It Takes a Village. In 2024, she won a Tony Award as a producer of Suffs, a Broadway musical about women fighting for the vote. In January 2025, President Joe Biden gave her the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
Personal Lives
Stephen Colbert married Evelyn McGee in 1993. They have three children. He is a devoted Catholic and has taught Sunday school. He’s also a huge fan of The Lord of the Rings.
Hillary Clinton married Bill Clinton in 1975. Their daughter, Chelsea, was born in 1980. Chelsea has three children of her own. The Clintons live in Chappaqua, New York.
Where Are They Now in 2026?
Stephen Colbert said goodbye to The Late Show on May 21, 2026. CBS called the cancellation a financial decision, though many critics questioned that. His final weeks included guests like Jon Stewart and Bruce Springsteen. Now he is co-writing a new Lord of the Rings film with his son Peter McGee and Philippa Boyens, with Peter Jackson involved. He has firmly ruled out running for office. He is 62.
Hillary Clinton turns 79 on October 26, 2026. In February 2026, she gave closed door testimony to the House Oversight Committee in its Epstein investigation, after first resisting a subpoena. She said she and her husband “have nothing to hide.” She continues to teach at Columbia and speak on politics and women’s rights.
Frequently Asked Questions
Has Hillary Clinton been on Stephen Colbert’s show? Yes. She appeared on The Late Show, most famously in September 2017 to discuss her book What Happened.
When did The Late Show with Stephen Colbert end? The final episode aired on May 21, 2026.
How old is Hillary Clinton? She was born on October 26, 1947, so she turns 79 in October 2026.
What is Stephen Colbert doing now? He is co-writing a new Lord of the Rings film and has said he may create another TV show someday.
Fun Facts
- Stephen Colbert and Hillary Clinton have both won Grammy Awards for spoken word or comedy recordings.
- Colbert is such a big Tolkien fan that he made a cameo in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug.
- Clinton was the first First Lady to earn a postgraduate degree.
- Colbert’s last name was pronounced “COAL-burt” by his father, but he chose the French style “col-BEAR” as a young man.
- Clinton has written several bestselling books, including Living History, Hard Choices, and What Happened.
What’s Next
Stephen Colbert and Hillary Clinton are both in new chapters. Colbert has said he may create another TV show someday, but for now he is focused on writing his Lord of the Rings film. Clinton continues to teach, write, and speak, and she remains a major voice in Democratic politics.
Why People Compare Them
Stephen Colbert and Hillary Clinton both spent decades at the center of American political conversation, one from the comedy stage and one from the halls of power. Their late night conversations showed how comedy and politics often meet. Comparing Stephen Colbert and Hillary Clinton shows two different ways to influence public life.
Key Takeaways
- Stephen Colbert and Hillary Clinton are linked through her late night appearances, including a widely watched September 2017 interview about What Happened.
- Stephen Colbert was born May 13, 1964, and is 62. He graduated from Northwestern University in 1986.
- Hillary Clinton was born October 26, 1947, in Chicago, and turns 79 on October 26, 2026. She studied at Wellesley and Yale Law School.
- Colbert hosted The Colbert Report and The Late Show, which ended on May 21, 2026.
- Clinton served as First Lady, US senator, and Secretary of State, and was the 2016 Democratic nominee.
- In 2026, Colbert is co-writing a Lord of the Rings film, while Clinton testified in the House Epstein probe and continues teaching at Columbia.
