Comedy Central host Stephen Colbert put aside his on-screen conservative persona Wednesday night to give a touching tribute to his late mother on “The Colbert Report.”
Lorna Colbert passed away last week at the age of 92. “The Colbert Report” has been in re-runs for the past week while Colbert was with his family.
“But when you watch this show, if you also like me, that’s because of my mom,” he said during the segment while staring straight into the camera.
Colbert began the eulogy by showing a montage of pictures of his mother as he proceeded to tell her life story.
“I know that it may sound greedy to want more days with a person who lived so long,” he said. “But the fact that my mother was 92 does not diminish, it only magnifies, the enormity of the room whose door has now quietly shut.”
Colbert’s tribute not only put the spotlight on his mother, but also gave viewers a glimpse into what his childhood was like. His mother, a trained actress, was the one who helped him perfect his fainting episodes in the kitchen of their South Carolina home.
After honoring his mom, Colbert continued on with his show as normal. But before he signed off for the night, he paid his respects one last time in the best way he knew how – by performing the perfect pratfall.
Colbert also broke character earlier this year to campaign for his sister, Elizabeth Colbert Busch, who unsuccessfully ran for Congress in South Carolina this spring. Former Gov. Mark Sanford (R) beat Colbert Busch (D) in the May 7 election.
You can watch Colbert’s touching eulogy below.
And if you want to see his fainting skills, watch his final stunt too.
