Conan Christopher O'Brien (born April 18, 1963) is an American comedian, television host, writer, and producer best known for his late-night talk shows on NBC and TBS - Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993-2009), The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien (2009-2010), and Conan (2010-2021). Before hosting, he wrote for Saturday Night Live and The Simpsons. He now hosts the globally popular podcast Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend and hosted the Academy Awards in both 2025 and 2026.
In June 2026, O'Brien joined Adaptive Security and produced a 15-part educational series about cybersecurity threats utilizing artificial intelligence.
In May 2026, O'Brien performed at the charity show Night of Too Many Stars at the Hollywood Bowl as a member of the improvised band The Very White Stripes alongside Jon Stewart and Jimmy Kimmel.
Harvard University awarded O'Brien an honorary doctorate of arts in May 2026; O'Brien also delivered a commencement address.
O'Brien hosted the Academy Awards for the second time (98th edition, March 15, 2026), and critics praised the show as more lively and witty than the previous edition.
O'Brien received the prestigious Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in March 2025; the recorded ceremony earned him an Emmy Award for Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded) that same year.
