Connan O’brien on CNN

As the famous celebrity talk show host of The Late Show with Conan O’Brien, Conan Christopher O’Brien has come a long way from being a writer since his high school days.

Born on April 18, 1963, this Emmy-winning comedian, television writer and host served as the managing editor of their school paper during his high school years. Soon after graduating as valedictorian in Brookline High School, he attended Harvard University and later became a writer for the satirical magazine The Harvard Lampoon. He served as the Lampoon’s president twice, during his sophomore and junior years.

Upon graduating magna cum laude in 1985, Conan moved to Los Angeles and became a member of the writing staff of HBO’s Not Necessarily the News. From there, he became a writer for the American comedy and variety show Saturday Night Live.

From 1991 to 1993, Conan O’Brien was the writer and producer of The Simpsons. A frequent contributor to the legendary show, Conan O’Brien is credited with writing four episodes, and he also produced many episodes as well.

Shortly afterwards, Conan O’Brien resigned from his position and accepted the offer of following the footsteps of David Letterman on Late Night. The first three years of the show did not appeal much to the critics. By 1996, however, O’Brien’s comedic antics and writing style had changed, and gave the show a remarkable improvement. He earned the respect of the critics and his peers.

Starting from there, the show received yearly nominations from the Emmy Award for Best Writing in a Comedy or Variety Series. The show won once in 2007. However, he and the writing staff of Late Night won the Writers Guild Award for Best Writing in a Comedy/Variety Series five times.

After such gigs, Conan O’Brien hosted the 58th Primetime Emmy Awards in 2006. Praised by critics for his more lively and spontaneous hosting style, O’Brien will become the new host of The Tonight Show this coming June 1, 2009.

Official site of Late Night with Conan O’Brien.

Quotes of Conan O’Brien on BrainyQuote.

Five Questions with Conan O’Brien.