Stephen Colbert and Tom Hanks
Some guests visit a talk show once. Tom Hanks became part of the furniture. Over the years, he sat on Stephen Colbert’s couch again and again, trading jokes, telling stories, and joining in silly bits. When The Late Show began its final stretch in May 2026, Hanks was there in the second-to-last week, joking that he wasn’t sure how the entertainment industry would survive without him.
Stephen Colbert and Tom Hanks share more than TV appearances. Both are known as two of the nicest, most respected people in show business. Both come from big, complicated families, and both have built long careers on warmth and wit. This article looks at their lives, their friendship on screen, and what each is doing in 2026.
Quick Facts
| Detail | Stephen Colbert | Tom Hanks |
|---|---|---|
| Born | May 13, 1964, Washington, D.C. | July 9, 1956, Concord, California |
| Age in 2026 | 62 | 70 |
| Education | BA in theater, Northwestern University | Chabot College; California State University, Sacramento |
| Known for | The Colbert Report, The Late Show | Forrest Gump, Toy Story, Saving Private Ryan |
| Big honors | Multiple Emmys | Two Oscars, Presidential Medal of Freedom |
| 2026 news | Final episode of The Late Show in May | Returned as Woody in Toy Story 5 |
Their Late Show Moments
Tom Hanks appeared on The Late Show many times after Colbert took over in 2015. His visits often went beyond standard interviews. He joined comedy sketches, played games, and told long, funny stories about his life and career.
In May 2026, as CBS prepared to end the show, Hanks returned during the penultimate week. His joke about the industry not surviving without him drew big laughs and captured the playful tone of their many conversations. For fans, these visits are the main link between Stephen Colbert and Tom Hanks.
Stephen Colbert: From Satire to Late Night
Early Life and Education
Stephen Colbert grew up in Charleston, South Carolina, the youngest of 11 children. When he was 10, his father and two of his brothers died in a plane crash. He has said that loss shaped his faith and his sense of humor.
He attended Hampden-Sydney College before transferring to Northwestern University, where he earned a theater degree in 1986. He then trained at Second City in Chicago.
Career Timeline
- Late 1980s to 1990s: Performed with Second City alongside Steve Carell and Amy Sedaris.
- 1997: Joined The Daily Show as a correspondent.
- 2005 to 2014: Hosted The Colbert Report, playing a blustering conservative pundit.
- 2015: Took over The Late Show from David Letterman.
- 2017 onward: The Late Show became the top-rated late-night show for several seasons.
- July 2025: CBS announced the show would end in May 2026, calling it a financial decision.
- May 21, 2026: Aired the final episode.
Colbert’s Final Week
The last week of The Late Show featured a clip show, guests including Jon Stewart and Steven Spielberg, a musical performance with David Byrne, and an appearance by Bruce Springsteen. After the show ended, Colbert said he would consider his options for what comes next.
Tom Hanks: America’s Dad
Early Life and Education
Thomas Jeffrey Hanks grew up in Northern California. His parents divorced when he was five, and he moved often, living in several towns and with multiple stepparents. He found a sense of home in high school theater at Skyline High School in Oakland.
He studied theater at Chabot College and then at California State University, Sacramento, before leaving to join the Great Lakes Theater Festival in Cleveland.
Career Timeline
- 1980 to 1982: Starred in the sitcom Bosom Buddies.
- 1984: Broke out in Splash.
- 1988: Earned his first Oscar nomination for Big.
- 1993: Won Best Actor for Philadelphia.
- 1994: Won Best Actor again for Forrest Gump, becoming one of only two men to win back-to-back Best Actor Oscars.
- 1995: Starred in Apollo 13 and voiced Woody in Toy Story.
- 1998: Starred in Saving Private Ryan.
- 2000: Starred in Cast Away.
- 2001: Co-produced Band of Brothers for HBO.
- 2013: Starred in Captain Phillips and Saving Mr. Banks.
- 2016: Received the Presidential Medal of Freedom.
- 2022: Played Colonel Tom Parker in Elvis.
- 2024: Starred in Here, reuniting with Forrest Gump director Robert Zemeckis.
- June 2026: Returned as Woody in Pixar’s Toy Story 5.
Two Nice Guys at the Top
| Trait | Stephen Colbert | Tom Hanks |
|---|---|---|
| Public image | Smart, witty, kind | Warm, trustworthy, everyman |
| Comedy roots | Improv at Second City | Sitcoms and early comedies |
| Big range | Satire, interviews, sketches | Comedy, drama, animation |
| Faith | Devout Catholic | Raised in different churches, now Greek Orthodox through his wife |
| Hobbies | Fan of The Lord of the Rings | Collects vintage typewriters |
Both men are famous for kindness. Hanks has often been called one of the nicest people in Hollywood. Colbert is known for treating guests with respect, even when he disagrees with them.
Big Families, Big Losses
Stephen Colbert and Tom Hanks both grew up in unusual family situations.
Colbert was the youngest of 11 children and lost his father and two brothers in a single tragedy. He has spoken about grief with honesty, helping many viewers who have faced similar losses.
Hanks grew up moving between households after his parents divorced. He has said that constant change taught him to adapt and to find community wherever he went.
Why People Search for Them Together
Searches for Stephen Colbert and Tom Hanks often come from fans looking for their funniest Late Show moments. Clips of Hanks on the show, from wild stories to sketches, have racked up millions of views online.
The end of The Late Show in 2026 added a new reason. Fans revisited favorite moments between Stephen Colbert and Tom Hanks as the show wrapped up, and Hanks’s appearance in the final weeks felt like a fitting farewell.
What Makes a Great Talk Show Guest
Hanks shows what hosts love in a guest. He arrives with stories ready, plays along with games, and never seems to be just selling a movie. He’s equally comfortable joking about his age, his typewriters, or his famous roles.
Colbert, in turn, gave Hanks room to be himself. He asked thoughtful questions, laughed at the stories, and joined in the fun. That give-and-take is why their chats felt more like conversations between friends than promotional stops.
Fast Facts
- Colbert made a brief cameo in The Hobbit: The Desolation of Smaug and is a well-known expert on Tolkien’s world.
- Hanks owns a collection of hundreds of vintage typewriters and wrote a short story collection titled Uncommon Type.
- Colbert’s Late Show was the most-watched late-night show for several seasons.
- Hanks and his wife, Rita Wilson, were among the first celebrities to share that they had COVID-19, in March 2020.
These facts show the playful, curious sides of Stephen Colbert and Tom Hanks that made their talk show chats so fun.
Legacy
Colbert’s legacy includes reshaping political satire and leading late night’s top show. Hanks’s legacy includes some of the most beloved roles in film history. Both will be remembered as entertainers who made audiences feel welcome.
Final Thoughts
Stephen Colbert and Tom Hanks are two of the most beloved figures in entertainment. Colbert went from improv stages to The Colbert Report and more than a decade on The Late Show. Hanks went from a sitcom to back-to-back Oscars and some of the most iconic roles in film. Their many Late Show conversations gave fans years of laughs.
In 2026, Colbert closed one of the great chapters in late-night TV, and Hanks returned to the role of Woody in Toy Story 5. Both remain fan favorites.
Key Takeaways
- Stephen Colbert was born May 13, 1964, and earned a theater degree from Northwestern. Tom Hanks was born July 9, 1956, and studied at Chabot College and Sacramento State.
- Stephen Colbert and Tom Hanks share a long history of Late Show appearances, including Hanks’s visit in the show’s penultimate week in May 2026.
- Colbert rose through Second City and The Daily Show, hosted The Colbert Report, and took over The Late Show in 2015.
- CBS aired the final episode of The Late Show on May 21, 2026.
- Hanks won back-to-back Best Actor Oscars for Philadelphia and Forrest Gump and voices Woody in the Toy Story films.
- Hanks received the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2016 and returned as Woody in Toy Story 5 in June 2026.
- Both are known as two of the kindest and most respected people in entertainment.
