Stephen Colbert (character)

Dr. Stephen T. Colbert D.F.A.
The Daily Show / The Colbert Report character
Stephen Colbert in character
First appearance	June 26, 1997 on The Daily Show
Last appearance	January 19, 2017 on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
Created by	Stephen Colbert
Portrayed by	Stephen Colbert
Information
Gender	Male
Occupation	Former correspondent on The Daily Show Former host of The Colbert Report
Title	Doctor of Fine Arts (honorary)
Spouse(s)	Lorraine
Relatives	Stephen Colbert (identical twin cousin)
Religion	Roman Catholic
Nationality	American

Dr. Stephen T. Colbert D.F.A. is the fictionalized persona of political satirist Stephen Colbert, as portrayed on the Comedy Central series 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 commentator 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.

Colbert's performance attracted widespread critical attention and acclaim, with a reviewer writing for Time magazine calling it "one of the greatest sustained performances in pop culture, TV or otherwise".