Colbert’s Love Story: A Cringe-Worthy Start to a Hollywood Romance

In a tale that could rival any rom-com, Stephen Colbert, the king of late-night comedy, once turned beet-red in a Charleston theater lobby, fumbling his way into the heart of Evelyn McGee. It was 1990, and the then-26-year-old aspiring comedian locked eyes with the poised Evelyn, who was standing with her parents at a performance of Hydrogen Jukebox. Sparks flew, but so did Stephen’s nerves. In a moment of bold, awkward courage, he approached her, heart pounding, and asked for her number—right in front of her mom and dad. Cringe! To his dismay, Evelyn didn’t hand over her digits. Instead, she smiled politely, citing a prior commitment, leaving Stephen to sheepishly scribble his own number on a scrap of paper before slinking away.

“I thought I’d blown it,” Stephen confessed years later on The Late Show, his trademark grin masking the memory of that mortifying moment. But fate—and Evelyn’s parents—had other plans. Days later, Evelyn, intrigued by the quirky stranger, called him. That call led to a first date at a dive bar, where cheap drinks and deep conversation sealed their connection. “I knew she was the one,” Stephen gushed, recalling how Evelyn’s wit matched his own. Their chemistry was undeniable, but it was her parents’ unexpected matchmaking that turned his flub into a fairy tale.

Evelyn’s folks, it turns out, were Stephen’s secret weapons. After that awkward encounter, they encouraged their daughter to give the nervous guy a chance, sensing something special. “I owe them everything,” Stephen admitted, crediting their nudge for his 32-year marriage. The couple, who tied the knot in 1993, built a life together, raising three kids—Madeleine, Peter, and John—in Montclair, New Jersey. Evelyn, an actress and producer, has stayed mostly out of the spotlight, but her occasional cameos on Stephen’s shows, like The Colbert Report, reveal a playful partnership that thrives on laughter.

Long-distance dating tested their early romance, with Stephen in Chicago chasing comedy dreams while Evelyn stayed in South Carolina. Yet, their shared Southern roots and love for theater kept them tethered. Stephen calls Evelyn his “anchor,” the one who grounds his larger-than-life persona. “She makes me laugh harder than I make anyone else laugh,” he once shared, eyes twinkling. Their bond is a masterclass in balance—her quiet strength complements his comedic chaos.

Now, decades later, Stephen still marvels at the night he almost didn’t get the girl. That Charleston lobby, where he embarrassed himself in front of Evelyn’s parents, became the unlikely launchpad for a love story that’s outlasted Hollywood trends. Thanks to her parents’ matchmaking magic, Stephen’s awkward courage paid off, proving that even a cringe-worthy moment can lead to forever. As he tells it, with a wink and a laugh, “I’m still thanking them for not letting me crash and burn.”