He’s been on our screens since way back in 1993, but did Conan O’Brien go to college before he entered the world of television?
Conan O’Brien went to one of the most prestigious colleges in the United States: Harvard. He graduated in 1985 magna cum laude, with a string of academic achievements behind him.
Read on to learn more about Conan O’Brien’s fascinating educational background.
More Than Just A Funny Face
Conan O’Brien has been one of the most successful talk show hosts since the nineties. His quirky appearance, bright personality and quick wit has permitted him great popularity. His background in television began back in 1987, on SNL.
Before he was a host, he was a writer. He wrote comedic skits and scenes for Saturday Night Live and then The Simpsons. His writing was extremely popular and landed him considerably long roles on either show.
However, by 1993, he was shaping up to take the next step. There was a brief spot of difficulty for O’Brien, as his current employer wouldn’t end his contract. This was eventually worked out among companies, and he was free to start his career as a talk show host.
Reportedly, O’Brien struggled when his show first launched. He was described as too nervous and fidgety. He was also claimed to be “too smart, too East Coast, too sophisticated.” This is something that is a literal reality, being as Conan is highly intelligent and born and bred in Massachusetts.
Today, it’s a well known fact that Conan O’Brien is extremely intelligent. Not only is he a full-honors graduate of Harvard University, he also has a staggering IQ. Reportedly, Conan’s IQ is equal to that of the late Stephen Hawking, a world-renowned genius.
There’s a considerably impressive alumni from Harvard that joins O’Brien in the ranks. The minds of Michelle and Barack Obama, Mark Zuckerburg, Neil deGrasse Tyson and Bill Gates attended Harvard.
There’s a video on YouTube, published in 2013, of Conan O’Brien talking about his graduation from Harvard.
He always gravitated towards the academic, even from a young age. His father was a prominent figure in the educational world, being an epidemiologist, physician and professor of medicine at Harvard. His mother was an attorney and partner at a Boston law firm. It’s quite obvious that this power couple’s intelligence fed down into Conan.
Unbeatable Intelligence
Conan graduated from Harvard with degrees in history and literature. He was already accomplished with a pen and paper, having worked on small-time newspapers since a teenager. He interned in high school for a Congressman, and was winning awards for writing by the age of eighteen.
As time wore on, Conan dabbled in various other ventures. He offered his voice for work in television and internet shows, and took guest appearances on occasion. He hosted awards shows and large events, and produced some television episodes.
He often posts humorous Tweets in this nature, and his Twitter feed can be seen stuffed full of jokes.
It’s understandable that some people might not recognize Conan O’Brien’s intelligence at first. His humor has traditionally leaned towards self-deprecating, putting himself down. When he first launched his talk show career, he actually slandered himself.
He penned an article in the form of a review for the New York Times. He titled this article “O’Brien Flops!” and went on to talk himself down quite considerably. However, it was all in jest and over time, he became more than comfortable in his presenting role.
Conan O’Brien’s success would climb exponentially as time wore on. His shows transitioned in style and production value, and in 2010, he launched Conan, a self-titled talk show. This show would be a huge success, and by 2017 had been renewed until 2022.
While his future in television had been secured, it couldn’t be doubted that his intelligence had got him there.