Biography for
Jon Stewart More at IMDbPro »

Date of Birth

28 November 1962, New York City, New York, USA

Birth Name

Jonathan Stuart Leibowitz

Nickname

Lefty
Soupy
Poochy
Susceptible Boy

Height

5' 6" (1.68 m)

Mini Biography

Jon Stewart is just hitting his stride at the age of 38. It's amazing that it has taken this long for people to embrace his sarcastic, sardonic and incisive sense of humor. Of particular note was a regular "gig" on "The Larry Sanders Show" (1992). Playing himself, Stewart was the oft-timed "Guest Host" of "The Larry Sanders Show". He became as much a part of the show's fabric as some of the regular performers. He has emerged as a bonafide television personality with his ascension to host of "The Daily Show" (1996)/Comedy Central since taking over for Craig Kilborn in 1999.

IMDb Mini Biography By: schuchat

Mini Biography

Jon Leibowitz was born in New York, though he soon after moved to Lawrenceville, New Jersey. He graduated from the College Of William And Mary in Williamsburg, Virginia. He made his breakthrough on "The Larry Sanders Show" (1992), before moving on to other roles. His wife Tracey gave birth to their second child, a girl, Maggie Rose Stewart 6 lbs, 9 oz on the afternoon of Feb 4, 2006.

IMDb Mini Biography By: Jeannette P, jeannette910@hotmail.com

Spouse

Tracy McShane

(November 2000 - present) 2 children

Trivia

Was chosen by People Magazine as one of 1999's 50 Most Beautiful People In The World.

Attended the College of William and Mary, where he was on the soccer team.

Decided to quit smoking on Dec. 28, 2000, after being encouraged by the CGL Foundation.

The College of William and Mary soccer team still gives out an award called the "Liebo", named after Jon's birth name of "Liebowitz". It is given to the clown/sweetheart of the team.

Filed petition to make his name change official from Leibowitz to Stewart. When "60 Minutes" (1968) asked him why he dropped Leibowitz, Stewart explained: "Sounded too Hollywood". (June 2001).

Was scheduled to host "Saturday Night Live" (1975) on February 5, 2000 but had to back out at the last minute. He was replaced by Alan Cumming.

Both he and his wife legally changed their last names to Stewart when they were married.

Graduated from Lawrence High School in Lawrence, New Jersey, in 1980. In the yearbook, he was voted "Best Sense of Humor". He still occasionally returns for school fundraisers.

Was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity for six months. During that time, he felt that fraternities had no point and dropped out. He feels no allegiance to PiKA at all.

Was voted the second funniest person in America by Entertainment Weekly in 2004, behind Chris Rock.

His wife Tracey is a veterinary technician.

Wife Tracey gave birth to their first child, a boy, Nathan Thomas Stewart on July 3, 2004.

On September 24, 2004, the online "Campaign Desk: Critique and analysis of 2004 campaign coverage from Columbia Journalism Review" published what they called "A Campaign Desk Honor Roll, of Sorts", offering "a short list of reporters who consistently rise above the superficial to do original and often insightful work". #4 on the list of 20 journalists was Jon Stewart and "The Daily Show" (1996) on Comedy Central - coming in ahead of many writers for The New York Times, the Washington Post, and other highly rated periodicals and newspapers.

Had a small part in The First Wives Club (1996) but it was left on the cutting room floor.

Wife Tracey gave birth to their second child, a girl, Maggie Rose Stewart 6 lbs, 9 oz on the afternoon of Feb 4, 2006.

Has a half-brother named Matt, who works in the music industry in Trenton, New Jersey.

He studied psychology in college.

Very good friends with comedians Dennis Miller and Ricky Gervais.

Original major in college was Chemistry.

Longtime friends with Arizona senator John McCain, a frequent guest on his show.

Does the New York Times crossword every night with his wife.

In 1995, he optioned the rights to Jack Finney's 1977 book "The Night People". He planned to produce and star in the film version for Miramax but the project never came to fruition.

Met Stephen Colbert's wife Evelyn McGee before actually meeting co-star Colbert.

Is a lifelong fan of the New York Mets.

The only musical performers permitted to play on 'The Daily Show' to date have been personal favorites of Stewart's: The White Stripes, Tenacious D, They Might Be Giants, Bad Religion (which he says is one of his favorite bands), Cold Play and, apparently his all-time favorite, Tom Waits.

Did uncredited writing work for "Caroline's Comedy Hour" (1989).

His biggest comedic influences were Woody Allen, Steve Martin, Lenny Bruce, and George Carlin.

After graduating college, he drifted between numerous jobs including busboy in a Mexican restaurant. His production company, Busboy Productions, is a reference to this job.

Has a cat named Stan and two pitbulls, Monkey and Shamsky. Shamsky was named after Art Shamsky.

Made his first television appearance as a child on a local Philadelphia children's show "Captain Noah and His Magical Ark". He appeared as a trumpet player for "The Lawrence Stage Band".

Was introduced to his wife by a production assistant on Wishful Thinking (1997). Proposed to her through a crossword puzzle made by Will Shortz.

His favourite musicians includes Tom Waits, Bruce Springsteen and Buffalo Tom.

Close friends with Jennifer Beals.

Personal Quotes

[on why he loves "The Daily Show" (1996)]: It saves me from sitting at home in my underwear screaming at the television set. If I didn't do this show I'd be the crazy guy at the bar sitting at the corner screaming "He doesn't know shit about what he's talking about!" That's the reason I do it. [January, 2003].

I think people are used to people in show business having a lot of hubris. I think I have a normal amount of self-loathing but because I'm in show business it's considered self-deprecation. In normal life I would just be considered your average neurotic. [January, 2003].

[on the role of "The Daily Show" (1996)]: When we spot silliness, we say so out loud. We're not really Democrat or Republican. We're out to stop that political trend of repeating things again and again until people are forced to believe them.

I see myself as a driving force for global peace. Since we ["The Daily Show" (1996)] have been on CNNI [CNN International], the border between India and Pakistan has been stood down from red alert. Coincidence? We're bringing healing to the international community. [March, 2003].

[on his role in "The Daily Show" (1996)]: Liberal and conservative have lost their meaning in America. I represent the distracted center. [March 2003].

[of his position at "The Daily Show" (1996)]: I mostly work on writing the show. We have a talented crew of writers and I'm like the managing editor. I am the fake Lou Grant of the fake news world. [February 2003].

[on the attitude of "The Daily Show" (1996), referring to a role played by Dan Aykroyd on "Saturday Night Live" (1975), September 30, 2002]: We have always embraced stupidity. We have always worshipped at the altar of a man bent over with his butt crack exposed, fixing a refrigerator.

[about "The Daily Show" (1996)]: That's the beauty of our show. Comedy or politics. We're sort of a mix. A space age polymer of both. A synthetic comedy-like material.

I was born in New York City, but I was raised in New Jersey, part of the great Jewish emigration of 1963. [7 Nov. 2002].

[on being picked to host the 78th Annual Academy Awards]: As a performer, I'm truly honored to be hosting the show. Although, as an avid watcher of the Oscars, I can't help but be a little disappointed with the choice. It appears to be another sad attempt to smoke out Billy Crystal.

[on Tucker Carlson and his show]: You may have heard that I went onto a TV show on CNN called "Crossfire" (1982), which I suppose is a debate show named after the stray bullets that strike and kill innocent bystanders during a gang fight. I said some pretty nasty things, most notably that their show was destroying America, and that he was a dick. He replied to me by saying, "You're not being funny." I then said, "I know that, but on Monday I will go back to being funny, and your show will still blow."

I'm thrilled to be asked to host the Academy Awards for the second time because, as they say, the third time's a charm.

What's nice to us about the relentlessness of the show ["The Daily Show" (1996)] is you know you're going to get that release no matter what, every night, Monday through Thursday. Like pizza, it may not be the best pizza you've ever had, but it's still pizza, man, and you get to have it every night. It's a wonderful feeling to have this toxin in your body in the morning, that little cup of sadness, and feel by 7 or 7:30 that night, you've released it in sweat equity and can move on to the next day.

[I'm looking forward to the end of the George W. Bush administration] as a comedian, as a person, as a citizen, as a mammal.

When in doubt, I can stare blankly. The rubber face. There's only so many ways you can stare incredulously at the camera and tilt an eyebrow, but that's your old standby: What would Buster Keaton do?

[What we're always looking for are] those types of stories that can, almost like the guy in The Green Mile (1999) - suck in all the toxins and allow you to do something with it that is palatable.

Hopefully the process is to spot things that would be grist for the funny mill. In some respects, the heavier subjects are the ones that are most loaded with opportunity because they have the most - you know, the difference between potential and kinetic energy? - they have the most potential energy, so to delve into that gives you the largest combustion, the most interest. I don't mean for the audience. I mean for us. Everyone here is working too hard to do stuff we don't care about.

Where Are They Now

(October 2007) On October 18, 2007, Stewart renewed his contract with Comedy Central and will continue to host The Daily Show through 2010.

(February 2006) Will host the Academy Awards for the first time.

(2004) Release of his book, "America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction".

(1998) Release of his book, "Naked Pictures of Famous People".

Browse biographies section by name

A B C D E F G H I J K L M N O P Q R S T U V W X Y Z