Born and raised in South Carolina, Stephen Colbert began making a name for himself in Chicago as a member of the famed Second City improv troupe where he met Amy Sedaris and Paul Dinello. After several years at Second City, the threesome moved to New York City and, along with others, developed Exit 57, a half-hour sketch comedy series for HBO Downtown Productions that ran for two seasons during the mid-1990s on Comedy Central. Exit 57 received five CableACE nominations for best writing, performing, and comedy series.

Colbert reunited with Sedaris and Dinello to create Comedy Central's first live-action, narrative series, Strangers with Candy, a twisted take on the classic and typically moralistic after-school specials. Colbert also starred opposite Will Ferrell and Nicole Kidman in Bewitched; wrote and was a cast member on The Dana Carvey Show; appeared in commercials for GM Mr. Goodwrench; wrote for Saturday Night Live and was the voice of Ace on the animated SNL series The Ambiguously Gay Duo.

From 1997-2005, Stephen Colbert was The Daily Show's longest-running and most diverse correspondent. In addition to his role as Senior Political Correspondent he was one of the hosts of Even Stephven, a point-counterpoint assault featuring co-correspondent Steve Carell, and the host of This Week in God, in which he reported on all things theological with the assistance of the "God Machine." Stephen helped The Daily Show win numerous Emmy and Peabody Awards, and he contributed to America (the Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction, which topped The New York Times Best Seller List.

His personality, insight and overall rightness could only lead to The Colbert Report, a half-hour nightly platform for him to give his take on the issues of the day. The executive producer, and host of the show, Stephen has led The Report to eight Emmy nominations, two Television Critics Association Awards, and two Satellite Awards. 

Due to the sensational success of The Colbert Report, Stephen was asked to speak at the 2006 White House Corresspondent's Association Dinner. He delivered a biting roast of President George W. Bush, who was seated just several feet away throughout.

In October, 2007, Stephen, and the writers of The Colbert Report, released I Am America (And So Can You!), a work of satire that spent thirteen nonconsecutive weeks at the top of The New York Times Best Seller List.