Stephen Colbert says 'The Late Show' cancellation 'saved' his life
What's the story
Stephen Colbert, the host of CBS's The Late Show, recently revealed that the show's cancellation might have "saved my life." In an interview with People for their latest cover story, he said, "It takes a lot of bone marrow to do the show every day, and now I'll be stepping down with enough time, enough energy to do other things that I want to do." The last episode will air on Thursday.
Family focus
Colbert's plans after the show ends
Colbert, who has three adult children with his wife Evelyn McGee Colbert, said he is looking forward to this new phase of life. He plans to spend more time on his passion projects, including writing a new Lord of the Rings movie with his son Peter. He described this stage of fatherhood as "the best," saying, "To lose an argument with an adult child over something you thought you knew about." "I mean, if you can take it...it's pretty great."
Career path
Looking back at his career
Colbert, who took over The Late Show from David Letterman in 2015, reflected on his early career when he wasn't sure if he could make a living as a comedian. He recalled thinking about having children and whether he would be able to afford a house or a family. Despite this uncertainty, he is now reportedly worth $75 million and earned $15 million annually for the talk show.
Show's end
More on the show's cancellation
Colbert announced the cancellation of The Late Show in July 2025, saying he learned about it the night before. "I'm not being replaced...This is all just going away," he clarified. CBS later said the decision was "purely a financial decision," and not related to the show's performance or content. Colbert has hinted that his final sign-off will be "something simple," much like how he wants fans to remember the show: "I hope they laughed."