O’Brien, Conan << KOH nuhn >> (1963-…), is a popular American comedian, writer, and television personality. He is known for his off-beat and self-mocking sense of humor. O’Brien hosted the late-night variety show “Conan” on the cable network TBS from November 2010 until June 2021. He has won two Emmy Awards for his comedy writing.
Conan Christopher O’Brien was born on April 18, 1963, in Brookline, Massachusetts. He attended Harvard University, where he became president of the prestigious humor magazine The Harvard Lampoon. O’Brien graduated magna cum laude (with great honor) from Harvard in 1985 with bachelor’s degrees in history and literature. After graduating, he performed with improvisational groups and began writing for television. O’Brien wrote for the late-night comedy variety show “Saturday Night Live” from 1988 to 1991 and the popular animated situation comedy “The Simpsons” from 1991 to 1993.
In 1993, after the comedian David Letterman left his show “Late Night with David Letterman,” O’Brien took over the time slot as host, and the show was renamed “Late Night with Conan O’Brien.” O’Brien hosted the popular variety show, which followed “The Tonight Show with Jay Leno” on the NBC television network, until 2009. In June 2009, O’Brien succeeded Jay Leno as host of the show. O’Brien left “The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien” in January 2010, after a highly publicized dispute with NBC. NBC wanted to change its late-night schedule to air “The Tonight Show” a half hour later. O’Brien did not want to host the show at that time and was released from his contract. Leno returned as host of “The Tonight Show” in March 2010.
In 2001, O’Brien formed his own television production company, Conaco. He appeared in Conan O’Brien Can’t Stop (2011), a documentary about his comedy tour of the United States and Canada after leaving “The Tonight Show.”
