The translation of the text «Стивен Колбер и его большая семья: утраты и поддержка братьев» into English is: «Stephen Colbert and his big family: losses and support from brothers»
21 may 2026 в 17:13
Stephen Colbert comes from a large family! The comedian and experienced television host grew up among many brothers and sisters who supported him in his entertainment career. However, many fans do not know that Stephen lost two brothers and their late father, Dr. James Colbert Jr., in a plane crash. The television host shared this in an interview with Anderson Cooper.
«I realized that I feel gratitude for the pain of loss», - Stephen told Anderson in 2019 while discussing the grief of losing loved ones. «It doesn’t take away the pain. It doesn’t make the grief any less deep. In some ways, it makes it deeper because it allows you to look at it. It allows you to explore your grief in a way that doesn’t feel like you’re holding hot coals in your hands, but rather that this pain can warm you and illuminate the understanding of what others might be going through, which is really just another way of saying that there is value in experiencing it».
The entire Colbert family has been through a lot together. Let’s get to know Stephen’s siblings.
Stephen has a total of 10 siblings: James III, Edward, Mary, William, Margaret, Thomas, John, and Elizabeth. His late brothers are Paul and Peter.
The comedian maintains close relationships with his siblings and noted that it was Mary who inadvertently encouraged him to accept the offer to host «The Late Show» after David Letterman stepped down in 2015.
«I said, 'Well, Dave is leaving.' And she just broke into a big smile, and I said, 'Okay, okay. Mary, if this show works out, CBS should send you a bouquet of flowers because I’m going to take this job because you just smiled,'» Stephen told People magazine in May 2026. «So her joy for me is what really settled the matter for me».
Unfortunately, Stephen’s brothers, Paul and Peter, died on September 11, 1974, along with their father, Dr. James Colbert, in a plane crash. The trio was flying on Eastern Air Lines Flight 212 when a mismanagement error led to the plane crashing near Charlotte, North Carolina. A total of 72 people died in the tragedy, including Paul, Peter, and James.
Stephen was only 10 years old at the time of his brothers' and father’s deaths.
Unlike his younger brother, most of Stephen’s siblings lead private lives. However, his sister Elizabeth ran for the U.S. Congress in 2013 from South Carolina’s 1st district as a Democrat. She lost the election to Republican Mark Sanford
«I realized that I feel gratitude for the pain of loss», - Stephen told Anderson in 2019 while discussing the grief of losing loved ones. «It doesn’t take away the pain. It doesn’t make the grief any less deep. In some ways, it makes it deeper because it allows you to look at it. It allows you to explore your grief in a way that doesn’t feel like you’re holding hot coals in your hands, but rather that this pain can warm you and illuminate the understanding of what others might be going through, which is really just another way of saying that there is value in experiencing it».
The entire Colbert family has been through a lot together. Let’s get to know Stephen’s siblings.
Stephen has a total of 10 siblings: James III, Edward, Mary, William, Margaret, Thomas, John, and Elizabeth. His late brothers are Paul and Peter.
The comedian maintains close relationships with his siblings and noted that it was Mary who inadvertently encouraged him to accept the offer to host «The Late Show» after David Letterman stepped down in 2015.
«I said, 'Well, Dave is leaving.' And she just broke into a big smile, and I said, 'Okay, okay. Mary, if this show works out, CBS should send you a bouquet of flowers because I’m going to take this job because you just smiled,'» Stephen told People magazine in May 2026. «So her joy for me is what really settled the matter for me».
Unfortunately, Stephen’s brothers, Paul and Peter, died on September 11, 1974, along with their father, Dr. James Colbert, in a plane crash. The trio was flying on Eastern Air Lines Flight 212 when a mismanagement error led to the plane crashing near Charlotte, North Carolina. A total of 72 people died in the tragedy, including Paul, Peter, and James.
Stephen was only 10 years old at the time of his brothers' and father’s deaths.
Unlike his younger brother, most of Stephen’s siblings lead private lives. However, his sister Elizabeth ran for the U.S. Congress in 2013 from South Carolina’s 1st district as a Democrat. She lost the election to Republican Mark Sanford
© Zhinobaeva Margarita
