Stephen Colbert (character)

Stephen Colbert (character)

Stephen Colbert is the persona of political satirist Stephen Colbert, as portrayed on Comedy Central's The Colbert Report. Described as a "well-intentioned, poorly informed high-status idiot" and a "self-important right-wing commentator," the character incorporates aspects of the real Colbert's life and interests but is primarily a parody of cable news pundits, particularly Fox News' Bill O'Reilly.

Colbert first appeared as a correspondent on Comedy Central's news parody series The Daily Show in 1997 and remained a regular contributor until 2005, when he left to host The Colbert Report, a spin-off show satirizing personality-driven political pundit programs. He has also been featured in a number of other public performances, most notably at the 2006 White House Correspondents' Association Dinner, and as the author of the books I Am America (And So Can You!), I Am a Pole (And So Can You!), and America Again: Re-Becoming the Greatness We Never Weren't.