When Stephen Colbert returned to The Late Show on Monday after missing nearly three weeks due to his ruptured appendix, he described how his wife Evelyn "Evie" McGee-Colbert played an instrumental role in his seeking medical attention.
Colbert recounted waking up during Thanksgiving week in severe abdominal pain but initially brushing it off, assuming it would subside. Despite the discomfort, he decided to proceed with the show that evening, only to realize the agony had escalated significantly by showtime.
His decision to soldier on, he admitted, was influenced by previous hiatuses the show had taken in 2023 due to various reasons, including strikes and COVID-related pauses:
"Because we’d already been out five months for the strike and I’d already missed a week for COVID and most importantly because I am an idiot, I said ‘Let’s just do the show.' But it also proves that I’m kind of brave.”
As his health issues escalated, it was his wife—to whom he's been married for 30 years—who came to the rescue, and his story prompted his audience to applaud her and chant her name.
You can watch what happened in the video below.
The Story of Stephen Colbert’s Ruptured Appendix www.youtube.com
Colbert describes having managed to get through multiple segments that day, including an interview with Bradley Cooper and a cooking segment with chef José Andrés. Recalling the latter, Colbert humorously described the segment, juxtaposing Andrés’ enthusiasm with his own internal ordeal, likening his condition to a Spanish paella.
Colbert said:
"At the end of [the segment], he spontaneously grabbed me to dance with him afterward. Now, keep in mind, not to get too technical here, I was dying. ... [Andrés] had no way of knowing at that point my insides had become what the Spanish call paella.”
He said he had "a raging fever" by the time filming ended but that he initially declined to go to the hospital when urged by his personal driver.
Then his wife called and intervened:
"She said, 'Pablo's going to take you to the hospital and I'm going to meet you there.' I said, 'That sounds like a good idea.'"
At this point, he gestured to Evie Colbert, who was standing just off-stage watching the taping. The audience began to applaud and chant her name in response.
People hailed Colbert's triumphant return—and his love and appreciation for his wife.
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Colbert later recalled that doctors told him when they "opened me up, it was like they’d shot John Wick 5 down there," joking that medical teams "basically, they go in there with a power washer and a Shop-Vac."
He added:
“They don’t know why appendix goes bad … because they don’t know why they go good. They have no idea what it does. All they know is at some point it just turns around to the pancreas and says, ‘I bet I could kill this guy.'”
Colbert concluded the segment with a heartfelt acknowledgment of gratitude to his loved ones and medical team for their unwavering support during the challenging period.
He even said he'd "like to thank my appendix because you giving me blood poisoning helped me lose 14 pounds," joking that "Appendicitis is the new Ozempic," referring to an anti-diabetic medication that has gained significant attention this year for aiding weight loss and long-term weight management.
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