MAIN Art &... Pop Culture TV Stars Stephen Colbert

Born Stephen Tyrone Colbert in Washington, D.C. on May 13, 1964, the former correspondent on Comedy Central's Daily Show — and currently sending up American politics each night on "The Colbert Report" — most recently announced his bid for the U.S. presidency.

Growing up in South Carolina, the youngest of 11 children within a devout Irish Cathollic family, Colbert first set out to study serious drama at Northwestern University in Illinois.

However, he later fell in with performers at the Second City Chicago comedy troupe, from which he would launch his fledgling acting and writing career.

Early projects included work on Comedy Central's highly acclaimed comedy series, Exit 57, and writing and performing on the The Dana Carvey Show.

More notice came with his role as a closeted gay history teacher on Strangers with Candy, starring Second City alumnus Amy Sedaris.

During this same time in the late 90's, he also joined the cast as a "correspondent" in the hit news-parody, The Daily Show.

Throughout his eight-year stint, Colbert's regular Daily Show skits included "Even Stephven debates" (with another Second City alumnus, comic actor Steve Carell), as well as "This Week in God" coverage skewering current religious controversies.

He also filed deadpan reports from the Democratic and Republican conventions in 2000 and 2004, and went on to win three Emmys for his work on the show in 2004, 2005 and 2006.

While both he and host Jon Stewart became closely associated with The Daily Show's success, the former correspondent launched his own spin-off news parody in 2005. "The Colbert Report" concept of satirizing conservative TV commentators became an immediate hit with a large following.

Soon, national headlines were being made when his most-watched spot, The WØrd, would forever coin a satirical term for a "fact-free argument." Truthiness immediately entered the lexicon - and was later named by the American Dialect Society as 2005's Word of the Year.

In 2006, Colbert enjoyed weeks-long worldwide Internet buzz when he acidly roasted top Republican leaders, (including honored guest President George W. Bush), at the White House Correspondents' Association dinner in April.

Since then, The Colbert Report has been the recipient of three Emmy nods, and its fearless host named Time Magazine's 100 Most Influential People.

The comedian already had an ice cream named after him earlier in the year - "Stephen Colbert's Americone Dream" (issued by U.S. brand Ben & Jerry's) - when, in 2007, he announced his tongue-in-cheek bid for the White House. In his run for president Colbert filed in his home state of South Carolina as a "favorite son candidate." However, his candidacy hit a dead end when in he was denied a place on the ballot in early November. The state's Democratic party cited that the comedian was not "an acknowledged viable candidate."

Off screen, Colbert currently lives in Montclair, New Jersey with his wife Evelyn McGee-Colbert and their three children - Madeline, Peter and John.

The Colbert Report - If you missed it, check out last night's video highlights plus a complete photo gallery, daily blog, Stephen Colbert profile, busy message board, newsletter sign-up.

Colbert Nation - More Colbert mania with online shop, repository of Colbert Report archives, active community forum.

Stephen Colbert - Wikipedia biography including details on his early career, movie and TV appearances, Daily Show appearances, related controversies, list of awards received, with related links and references.

Stephen Colbert - America's Truthiness Teller - Newsweek profile covering the show's phenomenal success with related feature stories and video clip highlights.

Rolling Stone Cover Story - America's Anchors - Profiles on Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert.

Stephen Colbert Online - Unofficial fan site with the latest news headlines, blogs, bio, photos, wallpapers.

Crooks and Liars - Colbert Report - Media and political watchdog blogger with an extensive library of video clips and commentary.