Biographical Overview & Key Facts

Subject:

John Oliver

Role / Field:

Acclaimed comedian and political commentator known for 'Last Week Tonight' on HBO.

Born:

1977-04-23

Century / Era:

1977s Historical Era

Database Source:

2Day Chrono-Wiki & Wikipedia CC BY-SA 4.0

Origins & Early Life

John William Oliver (born 23 April 1977) is a British and American comedian, political commentator, actor, and television personality. He hosts Last Week Tonight with John Oliver on HBO and started his career as a stand-up comedian in the United Kingdom. He came to wider attention for his work in the United States as the senior British correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart from 2006 to 2013. Oliver won three Primetime Emmy Awards for writing for The Daily Show and became its guest host for eight weeks in 2013.

Pivotal Works & Achievements

He also co-hosted the comedy podcast The Bugle with Andy Zaltzman, with whom Oliver had previously worked on the radio series Political Animal and The Department. From 2010 to 2013, he hosted the stand-up series John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show on Comedy Central. His acting roles include Ian Duncan on the NBC sitcom Community, as well as voice work in the animated films The Smurfs (2011), The Smurfs 2 (2013), Wonder Park and The Lion King remake (both 2019). As the host of Last Week Tonight since 2014, Oliver has received widespread critical and popular recognition for the series, including winning twenty Emmy Awards and two Peabody Awards. The show's influence...

Enduring Legacy & Impact

The historical impact and works continue to influence the modern world.

Contemporary Figures & Related Historical Timelines

• A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada — Contemporary (Died in 1977) (1977): Pioneering global spread of Krishna consciousness teachings and the Hare Krishna mantra.
• A Certain Ratio — Contemporary (Born in 1977) (1977): English post-punk band known for blending funk, disco, and Latin percussion.
• Aleksandr Vasilevsky — Contemporary (Died in 1977) (1977): A pivotal Soviet general who commanded forces during WWII and served as Minister of Defense.
• Aleksey Yermolov — Shared historical date (04-23 · Died) (1861): Prominent Russian general known for service in the Napoleonic Wars and the Caucasian Campaign.
• Alistair Brownlee — Shared historical date (04-23 · Born) (1988): English former triathlete, renowned for two Olympic gold medals and multiple world titles.
• Alexei Stakhanov — Historical peer (Died in 1977) (1977): Soviet mining celebrity and pioneer of the Stakhanovite productivity movement.
• Alfred Lunt — Historical peer (Died in 1977) (1977): Esteemed American actor, celebrated for his stage partnership with Lynn Fontanne.
• Aaron Spelling — Historical peer (Died in 2006) (2006): Pioneering American producer of hit TV series like Dynasty and Beverly Hills, 90210.
• Abu Musab al-Zarqawi — Historical peer (Died in 2006) (2006): Jordanian jihadist militant known for orchestrating violence in Iraq (1966–2006)
• Aaron Swartz — Historical peer (Died in 2013) (2013): Pioneering programmer, activist, and hacktivist known for RSS, Markdown, and progressive organizing.
• 1977 Historical Timeline & Archive — Explore world events and figures from 1977
• April 23 (04-23) On This Day — Historical birthdays and events on April 23

Frequently Asked Questions about John Oliver