John Oliver

John Oliver is a British-American comedian, writer, and television host best known for hosting the HBO news-satire program Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. He rose to prominence in the United States as a correspondent on The Daily Show before launching his own weekly show, which combines comedy with in-depth examinations of public-policy topics.

Early life

Oliver was born on April 23, 1977, in Erdington, Birmingham, England, and grew up in England. He attended the University of Cambridge, where he was a member of the Cambridge Footlights, the long-running student comedy troupe that has produced many British comedians. After university he performed stand-up and worked in radio and television comedy in the United Kingdom.

Career

Oliver moved to the United States to join The Daily Show with Jon Stewart as a correspondent in 2006, where his segments and on-air persona made him a standout member of the cast. He guest-hosted the program during a hiatus in 2013, an extended stint that demonstrated his ability to anchor a satirical news show. Alongside his television work he co-hosted the comedy podcast The Bugle and appeared in acting roles, including a recurring part on the sitcom Community.

In 2014 he launched Last Week Tonight on HBO, a weekly half-hour program that pairs topical jokes with long, researched main segments on subjects ranging from infrastructure and finance to government and media. The show became known for its detailed deep dives, occasional stunts and public campaigns, and has won numerous Emmy Awards. Oliver has also lent his voice to animated films, including the role of the hornbill Zazu in the 2019 adaptation of The Lion King and a part in the animated film The Smurfs, and he provided voice work in other projects.

Recent work

Last Week Tonight has continued its run on HBO and its associated streaming platforms, maintaining its format of comedic monologues built around investigative segments. Oliver has remained the program's writer and host and has used the show to spotlight a wide range of policy and consumer issues, sometimes purchasing and forgiving medical debt or launching attention-grabbing campaigns to illustrate a point. A naturalized U.S. citizen who retains his British roots, he continues to be recognized as one of the leading figures in American late-night and news-satire television, and his show is frequently cited in coverage of the topics it examines. The program has been credited with raising public attention to a number of otherwise underreported issues, a phenomenon sometimes discussed in the press, and Oliver has remained its central creative force throughout its run.