John Oliver

John Oliver is a comedian, writer and host best known for his Emmy-winning HBO show Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. Born and raised in Birmingham, England, Oliver attended Christ’s College, Cambridge, where he studied English and became a member of the comedy troupe the Footlights.

He began performing stand-up and appearing on U.K. panel shows before gaining U.S. attention in 2006 when he joined The Daily Show with Jon Stewart as a correspondent. His sharp political satire and writing earned him acclaim and several Emmy Awards, including the Emmy for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series in 2009, 2011 and 2012. In 2013, he guest hosted The Daily Show during Jon Stewart’s hiatus, which led to his own show on HBO.

Last Week Tonight with John Oliver premiered in 2014 and became known for its deep dive segments on political, social and global issues. The show has won over 30 Primetime Emmy Awards and two Peabody Awards. He has also lent his voice to films like The Smurfs (2011) and The Lion King (2019) and shows like Bob’s Burgers and Ricky and Morty.

Oliver married Iraq War veteran and U.S. Army medic Kate Norley in 2011. The couple met at the 2008 Republican National Convention. They have two sons, whom they welcomed in 2015 and 2018.