Colbert’s Love Story: A Cringe-Worthy Start to a Hollywood Romance

It was 1990, and a young Stephen Colbert, then 26 and on the verge of his comedy career, experienced a moment that would lead to one of Hollywood’s most endearing romances. The setting? A Charleston theater lobby during a performance of Hydrogen Jukebox, where Stephen locked eyes with the poised Evelyn McGee, standing with her parents. Sparks flew, but Stephen’s nerves got the better of him.

In a rare moment of boldness (and awkwardness), Stephen approached Evelyn, heart racing, and asked for her number—right in front of her parents. To his dismay, Evelyn politely declined, citing a prior commitment. Embarrassed, Stephen scribbled his own number on a scrap of paper before slipping away. “I thought I’d blown it,” Stephen later confessed on The Late Show, his trademark grin hiding the memory of that cringeworthy moment.

But fate had a different plan. Evelyn, intrigued by the quirky stranger, called him a few days later, setting the stage for their first date at a dive bar. Cheap drinks and even deeper conversation sealed their connection. Stephen, utterly captivated, recalls, “I knew she was the one.” It wasn’t just their chemistry but also Evelyn’s parents, who encouraged her to give Stephen a second chance. “I owe them everything,” Stephen said, crediting their nudge for the lasting relationship.

The couple, who married in 1993, built a life together, raising three children—Madeleine, Peter, and John—in Montclair, New Jersey. Evelyn, an actress and producer, has stayed mostly out of the limelight but occasionally makes playful appearances on Stephen’s shows, like The Colbert Report, showcasing the humorous bond that keeps them strong.

Long-distance dating tested their early romance, with Stephen pursuing his comedy dreams in Chicago while Evelyn remained in South Carolina. Yet, their shared Southern roots and love for theater kept them close. Stephen often refers to Evelyn as his “anchor,” the calm amidst his comedic chaos. “She makes me laugh harder than I make anyone else laugh,” he once shared.

Decades later, Stephen still marvels at the awkward Charleston moment that almost cost him the love of his life. Thanks to her parents’ matchmaking magic, Stephen’s cringe-worthy courage led to forever. As he says with a wink and a laugh, “I’m still thanking them for not letting me crash and burn.”