Misplaced Pages

This is an old revision of this page, as edited by 83.252.57.236 (talk) at 22:17, 23 December 2008 (→Voice work and guest appearances). The present address (URL) is a permanent link to this revision, which may differ significantly from the current revision.

Conan O'Brien
O'Brien in New York, November 2007.
Birth name	Conan Christopher O'Brien
Born	(1963-04-18) April 18, 1963 (age 61) Brookline, Massachusetts, United States
Medium	Television
Nationality	American
Years active	1985—present
Genres	Improvisational comedy, Sketch comedy, Physical comedy, Surreal humor, self-deprecation
Subjects	self-deprecation, pop culture
Spouse	Elizabeth Ann Powell (2002—present) (2 children)
Notable works and roles	Writer for The Simpsons (1992—1993) Host of Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993—Present)
Website	Late Night with Conan O'Brien

Conan Christopher O'Brien (born April 18, 1963) is an Emmy Award-winning American television host and comedian, best known as host of NBC's Late Night with Conan O'Brien. He has been announced as replacing Jay Leno as host of The Tonight Show beginning June 1, 2009.

Background

O'Brien was born in Brookline, Massachusetts, a suburb of Boston, Massachusetts, the son of Ruth (née Reardon), an attorney, and Thomas Francis O'Brien, a physician and professor of medicine, both Irish Catholic. Later, in a famous Late Night episode, O'Brien paid a visit to County Kerry, Ireland, where his ancestors originated. He served as managing editor of his school newspaper and interned for Rep. Barney Frank. After graduating from the Brookline High School, in 1981, as valedictorian, O'Brien entered Harvard University and lived in Holworthy Hall during his freshman year. In his three upper-class years, O'Brien lived in Mather House. Throughout college he was a writer for the Harvard Lampoon humor magazine. During his sophomore and junior years, O'Brien served as the Lampoon's president, making him the second person ever to serve as president twice, and the first person to have done so since the 1920s. He graduated magna cum laude from Harvard University in 1985 with a A.B. in History and Literature. Also, while attending Harvard, classmate Damon Krukowski of the band Galaxie 500, used O'Brien's drum kit in many of the band's early recordings. In 2008, he received an honorary degree in Actuarial Science from Ball State University.

Career

Television writer (pre-Late Night)

O'Brien moved to Los Angeles after graduation to join the writing staff of HBO's Not Necessarily the News. He spent two years with that show and performed regularly with improvisational groups, including The Groundlings.

In January 1988, Saturday Night Live's executive producer Lorne Michaels hired O'Brien as a writer. During his three years on SNL, he wrote such recurring sketches as "Mr. Short-Term Memory" and "The Girl Watchers," the latter of which was first performed by Tom Hanks and Jon Lovitz. O'Brien also co-wrote the sketch "Nude Beach" with Robert Smigel, a sketch in which the word "penis" was said or sung at least 42 times.

While on a writers' strike from Saturday Night Live following the 1987-1988 season, O'Brien put on an improvisational comedy revue, in Chicago, with fellow SNL writers Bob Odenkirk and Robert Smigel called, Happy Happy Good Show. While living in Chicago, O'Brien briefly was roommates with Jeff Garlin. In 1989, O'Brien and his fellow SNL writers received an Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Comedy or Variety Series.

O'Brien, like many SNL writers, occasionally appeared as an extra in sketches; his most notable appearance was as a doorman in a sketch in which Tom Hanks was inducted into the SNL "Five-Timers Club" for hosting his fifth episode. O'Brien returned to host the show in 2001 during its 26th season, gaining notice for the sketch Moleculo.

O'Brien and Robert Smigel wrote the television pilot Lookwell, starring Adam West. The pilot aired on NBC in 1991, The pilot never went to series, but it became a cult hit. It was later screened at "The Other Network", a festival of un-aired TV pilots produced by Un-Cabaret, featuring an extended interview with O'Brien and rerun in 2002 on the Trio network.

From 1991– 1993, O'Brien was a writer and producer for The Simpsons, credited as writer or co-writer of four episodes. Of all the episodes he wrote, he considers "Marge vs. the Monorail" to be his favorite. Years later, in his speech given at Class Day at Harvard in 2000, O'Brien credited The Simpsons with "saving" him, a reference to the career slump he was experiencing prior to his hiring for that show. As of 2004, O'Brien's office at The Simpsons was being used as storage. Along with that episode he has sole writing credits on "New Kid on the Block", "Homer Goes to College", and "Treehouse of Horror IV" on which he wrote the episode wrap-arounds. He produced several episodes of seasons 4 and 5 as well, meaning he would frequently contribute to scripts from those seasons.

Conan Rules!!!!

Emmy Host

O'Brien hosted the 58th Primetime Emmy Awards on August 27, 2006, to critical acclaim. He had previously hosted the Primetime Emmys in 2002, and Co-Hosted in 2003.

Conan Rules!

Television writer/producer (2002-present)

In 2002, Conan helped write and produce Andy Richter Controls the Universe, a comedy series that ran for two seasons. It was cancelled mostly due to poor ratings.

On March 7, 2006, NBC announced a new adventure/comedy series entitled Andy Barker, P.I.. O'Brien was executive producer and also co-wrote the pilot. The show starred O'Brien's former sidekick Andy Richter. After six episodes and low ratings, the show was canceled despite being named by Entertainment Weekly as one of the Top Ten Shows of 2007.

"USA Network has handed out a 90-minute, cast-contingent pilot order to the medical-themed "Operating Instructions" from Conan O'Brien's production banner. O'Brien will serve as an Executive Producer through his Conaco label. The script comes from "Just Shoot Me" veterans Judd Pillot and John Peaslee, who will also executive produce."

Personal life

O'Brien's long-time friend is Father Paul B. O' Brien, with whom he founded Labels Are For Jars, an anti-hunger organization based in Lawrence, MA. The two are not related.

O'Brien once was in a relationship with Lisa Kudrow until O'Brien decided to move to New York to pursue a television show. O'Brien met Elizabeth Ann 'Liza' Powell (who prior was dating actor Eric Schaeffer) in 2000 when she appeared on Late Night with Conan O'Brien in an advertising skit. The couple dated for nearly a year and a half before their January 12, 2002 marriage in Powell's Seattle hometown. O'Brien and Powell have a daughter Neve (born October 14, 2003) and son Beckett (born November 9, 2005).

O'Brien repeatedly affirms his Irish Catholic heritage on his show.

O'Brien donated $500 to the Senate campaign of Christopher Dodd in 1997 and again in 2004.

In January 2008, after his show was put on hold for two months due to the strike by the Writers Guild of America, he reemerged on late-night TV sporting a beard, which guest Tom Brokaw described as making him look like "a draft dodger from the Civil War." He grew the beard in support for his writers, but shortly after shaved it off.

Recently, O'Brien purchased a $10.5 million mansion in Los Angeles, California. The reason for this is that he will be moving there in 2009 from New York City to work his new job hosting The Tonight Show.

His third cousin through marriage, Denis Leary, is also a successful comedian and actor.

Subject of stalking

It was reported that since September 2006 that O'Brien had allegedly been stalked by the Father David Ajemian of the Archdiocese of Boston, who, despite multiple warnings to stop, had been sending O'Brien letters signed as "your priest stalker" and coming in contact with O'Brien's parents. Ajemian sent a letter to O'Brien, frustrated that he had been denied a spot in the Late Night audience. He stated in his letter to O'Brien that he flew to New York, "in the dimming hope that you might finally acknowledge me." He also stated in another letter that, "Is this the way you treat your most dangerous fans??? You owe me big time pal." Ajemian also seemed to have made a death threat to O'Brien in another letter; saying, "Remember Frank Costello once dodged a bullet in your building and so can you." Ajemian then tried to forcefully enter a taping of Late Night, but was caught and arrested. He was previously warned by the NBC security team to stay away from the studio. After a psychological evaluation, he was deemed fit to stand trial. He has since been bailed out of jail. He was then reported missing by his father around 3:15 PM EST on November 10, 2007. He was found and underwent evaluation at a hospital. It is known that the two had attended Harvard University at the same time. He was found fit to stand trial on April 4, 2008.

On April 8, 2008, Ajemian pleaded guilty to stalking, stating that "he never meant to cause anxiety or to upset anyone." He was ordered to pay a $95 USD court charge, and was also required to sign a two-year restraining order, barring him from coming near O'Brien.

On September 11, 2008, Ajemian checked himself out of his treatment at a hospital against the wishes of his cardinal, Seán Patrick O'Malley. Cardinal O'Malley then released a statement, saying that because he violated his Cardinal's wishes, Ajemian can no longer serve as a priest in the Catholic Church.

Comedy and mannerisms

On Late Night, O'Brien has become known for his more active and spontaneous hosting style. He starts off every show by saying, "We have a great show for you tonight." His stage habits include but are not limited to mime, self-deprecation, dramatic expressions, various impressions, use of awkward pauses or responses and moving his hair and scalp back and forth. He frequently makes fun of and interacts with the audience. He commonly makes light of his own appearance including his hairstyle, his pale skin, his clumsiness and his height.

One of his trademarks is to perform the "string dance." He also does impressions of celebrities; among the most common are Arnold Schwarzenegger (where he pretends to bite off a piece of an imaginary sausage, only because "his Arnold always eats a sausage"), Donald Trump, which generally includes the phrase, "You're fired," and Larry King where he circles both eyes with his fingers and pretends to pull suspenders on his chest.

Filmography

Template:Multicol

• Guest appearance on The Jon Stewart Show (1993)
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien (1993—present)
• Saturday Night Live (1991, 2001)
• The Simpsons (as himself) (1994)
• Space Ghost: Coast to Coast (as himself) (1994)
• Mr. Show with Bob and David (1995)
• The Single Guy (1996)
• Arli$$ (1996)
• Spin City (1999)
• Futurama (1999)
• Storytelling (2001)
• Vanilla Sky (2001)
• The Ballad of Ricky Bobby(as himself) (2006)
• Sugar & Spice (2001) (cameo in end credits)
• Andy Richter Controls the Universe (2003)

Template:Multicol-break

• Bewitched (film) (as himself) (2005)
• Robot Chicken (2005)
• The Denial Twist (The White Stripes music video) (2005)
• O'Grady (2006)
• The Office (cameo) (2006)
• Queer Duck (as himself) (2006)
• 30 Rock (as himself) (2007)
• Robot Chicken Star Wars (as Zuckuss) (2007)
• Guest appearance on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart (2007, 2008)
• Guest appearance on The Colbert Report (2007, 2008)
• Guest appearance on The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (2007, 2008)
• Sesame Street (2008)
• Robot Chicken: Star Wars Episode II(as Zuckuss, Star Wars nerd) (2008)

Template:Multicol-end

References

1. "Outstanding Comedy Series". Academy of Television Arts & Sciences. Retrieved 2008-05-09.
2. Associated Press (2008-07-21). "Leno's last 'Tonight' announced". CNN.com. Retrieved 2008-07-21. Leno's last show will be Friday, May 29, and O'Brien will start the following Monday, June 1, NBC executives told a Television Critics Association meeting Monday.
3. "Conan O'Brien Biography (1963-)". Film Reference. Retrieved 2008-05-09.
4. "Conan Christopher O'Brien". Ancestry. Retrieved 2008-05-09.
5. Newman, David C. (2000-06-07). "'Poonster Gets the Last Laugh". Harvard Crimson. Retrieved 2008-05-11.
6. Beggy, Carol (2003-11-06). "Monet goes to Vegas; Kerry goes out on the town". Boston Globe. Retrieved 2008-05-11.
7. "Harvard College Freshman Dean's Office". Harvard College. Retrieved 2008-05-11.
8. "Famous Alumni: Where Did They Go to College".
9. Rabin, Nathan (2006-08-30). "Conan O'Brien". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2008-05-11.
10. ^ "Host of Late Night With Conan O'Brien". Greater Talent Network. Retrieved 2008-05-11.
11. "Jeff Garlin interview". Late Night with Conan O'Brien. 2007-09-07.
12. "Conan O'Brien". IMDB. Retrieved 2008-05-09.
13. Volonnino, Michael R. (2000-06-08). "O'Brien Returns to Harvard". Harvard Crimson. Retrieved 2008-05-11.
14. "Conan O'Brien's Commencement Speech for the Harvard Class of 2000". everything2. 2000-08-08. Retrieved 2008-05-11.
15. The Simpsons: The Complete Fourth Season DVD commentary for episode 9F10, "Marge vs. the Monorail" (DVD).
16. Adalian, Josef (2006-08-27). "http://www.variety.com/review/VE1117931393?categoryid=1264&cs=1". Variety. Retrieved 2008-05-11. {{cite web}}: External link in |title= (help)
17. Flynn, Gillian (2007-12-21). "Andy Barker, P.I." Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved 2008-05-11.
18. "Conan O'Brien scrubs up for medical drama - Yahoo! News". News.yahoo.com. Retrieved 2008-10-13.
19. "Labels are for Jars". Labels are for Jars. Retrieved 2008-05-11.
20. Serpe, Gina (2005-11-10). "Conan's Baby O'Brien". E! Online. Retrieved 2008-05-11.
21. "Conan O'Brien and wife have baby girl". USA Today. 2003-10-15. Retrieved 2008-05-11.
22. "Conan O'Brien & Wife Have Second Child". People magazine. 2005-11-11. Retrieved 2008-05-11.
23. "Conan O'Brien's Federal Campaign Contribution Report". Newsmeat. Retrieved 2008-05-11.
24. "O'Brien Spends Big in L.A." San Francisco Chronicle. Retrieved 2008-05-11.
25. "SMOKE 06-05 - Denis Leary A Man on Fire..." Smoke Mag. Summer 2005. Retrieved 2008-09-01.
26. Conan's Alleged 'Priest Stalker' in Court
27. Conan Stalker Pleads Guilty
28. Conan O'Brien's Stalker Checks Out of Treatment

Further reading

• "Late night talk show host Conan O'Brien". NPR. 2003-09-08. Retrieved 2008-05-11.
• Rabin, Nathan (2006-08-23). "Conan O'Brien". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2008-05-11.
• Rabin, Nathan (2006-08-30). "Conan O'Brien". The A.V. Club. Retrieved 2008-05-11.
• Rose, Charlie (2006-08-24). "Charlie Rose - An hour with Conan O'Brien". Google Video. Retrieved 2008-05-11.

External links

• Conan O'Brien at IMDb
• O'Brien's Horny Manatee Website

Template:Simpsons writers

Template:Persondata {{subst:#if:Obrien, Conan|}} [[Category:{{subst:#switch:{{subst:uc:1963}}

|| UNKNOWN | MISSING = Year of birth missing {{subst:#switch:{{subst:uc:LIVING}}||LIVING=(living people)}}
| #default = 1963 births

}}]] {{subst:#switch:{{subst:uc:LIVING}}

|| LIVING  = 
| MISSING  = 
| UNKNOWN  = 
| #default = 

}}

• Living people
• LIVING deaths
• American comedians
• American television talk show hosts
• Late Night television talk show hosts
• American television writers
• Emmy Award winners
• Groundlings
• Harvard University alumni
• Harvard Lampoon members
• Late Night with Conan O'Brien
• People from Boston, Massachusetts
• People from Massachusetts
• American Roman Catholics
• Irish-Americans
• Irish-American comedians
• Irish-American writers