Why Stephen Colbert’s Final Bow Feels So Personal

Colbert’s empathy stems from profound personal loss. The 1974 plane crash that claimed his father and two brothers, and the death of his mother in 2013, shaped his understanding of grief. Guests have felt that depth—actor Andrew Garfield, speaking about his late mother, said Colbert “gives us permission to feel.” Viewers agree, calling The Late Show “a light in dark times.”

His longtime bandleader Jon Batiste underscored that sentiment, noting how seriously Colbert carries this responsibility: “Stephen feels the burden of being a light bearer.” Off-camera, those moments of reflection are as profound as the laughter on stage.

With only months left, The Late Show feels less like a comedy program and more like a love letter—to humor, to resilience, to the human spirit. Colbert himself quoted E.E. Cummings to describe the journey: “Love is the every only god / who spoke this earth so glad and big.”

When the final curtain falls in May 2026, Colbert will leave not just as a comedian, but as a cultural voice who redefined late-night television.

A legend’s bow is coming—and it promises to be unforgettable.