Stephen Colbert and Evelyn McGee-Colbert with kids John, Peter and Madeleine at the New York premiere of ‘Speed Racer’ held during the 7th annual Tribeca Film Festival on May 3, 2008.Photo:Nancy Kaszerman/ZUMA Press/Alamy
Nancy Kaszerman/ZUMA Press/Alamy
Stephen Colbert’s children — Madeleine, Peter and John — keep him on his toes.
“For a solid year, Madeleine and I made up jokes on the spot before she went to bed,“The Late Showstar said in the book.
Madeline Colbert, Peter Colbert, Stephen Colbert and John Colbert at the ‘Speed Racer’ Film premiere during the 7th Annual Tribeca Film Festival on May 3, 2008.Stan Seymour/Shutterstock
Stan Seymour/Shutterstock
In 2018, Stephen toldRolling Stonethat the best part of being a parent is feeling “hopeful” for the next generation.
“As my father-in-law says, ‘I have no worries about the future, having seen these children.’ And I feel the same way,” he said. “I am extremely hopeful there is a large group of young people who are better than I am. Better than the generation that came before them. It gives me hope.”
Here’s everything to know about Stephen Colbert’s children: Madeleine, Peter and John.
Madeleine Colbert
Stephen Colbert and his daughter Madeleine Colbert arrive at the 38th Annual Kennedy Center Honors Gala on December 6, 2015 in Washington, D.C.Kris Connor/Getty
Kris Connor/Getty
Stephen and Evelyn’s daughter Madeleine was born around 1995.
“I remember your gorgeous little girl. She was such a little peanut,” Garner said onThe Late Showin May 2017. “She was really smart, she was very verbal, and she was precocious and adorable.”
Apart from working as an editorial fellow atThe Atlantic, she was also a reporter and staff writer forTIME, where she covered national news, legal affairs, gender and sexuality, among other topics.
Stephen Colbert and Madeleine Colbert arrive at the 52nd Annual GRAMMY Awards on January 31, 2010.Jeff Vespa/WireImage
Jeff Vespa/WireImage
According toher LinkedIn, Madeleine is currently an associate producer at60 Minutes,putting her under the same network umbrella as her dad. Although she hasn’t gotten a chance to work with him, Madeleine was credited as his makeup artist for an episode ofThe Late Showwhen Stephen filmed at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
In a 2014 interview withBuzzFeed, Stephen shared that his favorite memories with Madeleine were conversing with her when she was learning to talk. As she grew, she also demonstrated that she was wise beyond her years, particularly during a family disagreement.
Stephen explained that after his youngest child, John, was born, his wife went out for the night while he stayed to watch the kids — and within five minutes of her leaving, everyone was upset, leading him to raise his voice.
Stephen continued, “It was such a clenching reminder — she won not only the argument, but she won life with that statement. I just burst out laughing, and I think they were so surprised that I burst out laughing, that they did too.”
Peter Colbert
Stephen Colbert and son Peter Colbert attend a benefit for the Montclair Film Festival on December 2, 2011.John W. Ferguson/Getty
John W. Ferguson/Getty
Stephen and Evelyn welcomed their second child, Peter, around 1998.
“I’ve instituted a new rule that when commercials come on, my daughter has to press the mute button,” he said. “Otherwise, Peter falls into a trance:I want that. I want that. I hear, and I obey.”
As for whether Stephen let his children watchThe Colbert Report, it was a hard no for an important reason.
“I want them to know me as Dad,” he said in the biography. “While I’m insincere on the show, my character is very sincere. I look like their dad, I sound like their dad, I shout more than their dad, but I say things I don’t mean, and a child isn’t going to know that’s a character.”
Stephen Colbert, Evelyn McGee-Colbert, and kids John and Peter Colbert at the Post-Election Evening to Benefit Montclair Film Festival on November 19, 2016.Dave Kotinsky/Getty
Dave Kotinsky/Getty
Stephen continued, “Then they’re going to think I don’t mean it when I say I’m proud of them or I love them, and I’m going to tuck them into bed one night and say I love you, and they’ll say, that’s very good, Dad, that’s very dry.”
Five years later, he wrote and directed the shortAt the Crossroads Down Yonder, and the following year, he served as co-executive producer and director of the comedy seriesWhere’s Noah?.
John Colbert
Stephen Colbert, Evelyn McGee-Colbert, and John Colbert at the 66th Annual Primetime Emmy Awards on August 25, 2014 in Los Angeles, California.Barry King/FilmMagic
Barry King/FilmMagic
Born in 2002, John is Stephen and Evelyn’s youngest child. In 2014, Stephen joked that John was his only kid who got along with him at the time.
“The 12-year-old still seems to like me,” he told BuzzFeed. “That’s nice! I think all three of them like me, but I’ve got two teenagers, and a 12-year-old. He’s within months of being a teenager. Then it’s all over. Then my wife and I might as well live alone.”
Aside from his cameo with his dad and brother inThe Desolation of Smaug, John has kept himself busy in film.
Stephen Colbert, Evelyn Colbert, and sons Peter and John pose with Goofy at Disney California Adventure park in on August 28, 2010.Paul Hiffmeyer/Disney/Getty
Paul Hiffmeyer/Disney/Getty
Like his siblings, John keeps a low profile online, but viewers spotted him in an episode ofThe Late Showin April 2020 when Stephen was shooting segments at home during the COVID-19 pandemic.
Speaking to Buzzfeed, Stephen also reflected on what he had learned about parenthood.
“No one tells you anything about being a parent,” he told the outlet. “You just can’t explain what it’s like to be a parent until you are a parent. It’s like, poetry might get at it, but it’s such an experience.”
TheStrangers with Candystar added, “I didn’t know what to expect. But I think the most surprising thing is that … even the hard parts are just beautiful.”
source: people.com
