Stephen Colbert was born in Washington, D.C. on May 13, 1964 and grew up in Charleston, South Carolina. He is a published author, comedian, and television host who is well-known for his spin-off series of The Daily Show, The Colbert Report. In 1986, Colbert graduated with a theatre degree from Northwestern University. After graduation, he joined the Second City comedy improv troupe in Chicago. While there, he met Amy Sedaris and Paul Dinello with whom he developed the award-winning sketch comedy series Exit 57. In 1997, Colbert joined Comedy Central's The Daily Show where he was a correspondent and writer for eight years. He, along with the other writers of the Daily Show, received three Emmy Awards in 2004, 2005, and 2006. In 2005, he left The Daily Show and began hosting his own television show, The Colbert Report. He was nominated for three Emmys for The Colbert Report in 2006, and in 2008, he won the award as a writer for The Colbert Report. He is also the recipient of three Peabody Awards. Colbert is published author whose 2007 book, I Am America (And So Can You!) made number one on The New York Times Best Seller list. His 2012 title America Again: Re-Becoming the Greatness We Never Weren't: Now in 3-D High-Def Depthiness! also made the New York Times Best Seller List.