Stephen Colbert On His Father And Brothers’ Tragic Death: Grief Is Just As Keen Four Decades On
Oct. 17 2012, Published 4:00 a.m. ET
By Alexis Tereszcuk - Breaking Celebrity News Entertainment Editor
Stephen Colbert’s witty sense of humor has carried him to the top of the ratings chart with his Comedy Central television show, but in a new interview with Playboy magazine he gets serious as he opens up about the grief he still feels over the tragic death of his father and brothers.
The three were killed in a plane crash in 1974 when Stephen was just 10, and he explained to Eric Spitznagel how he made sense of their deaths.
“Things didn’t seem that important anymore. Nothing seemed that important anymore. My mother said to me -- and I think she said this to all my brothers and sisters -- she urged me to look at everything in the light of eternity. In other words, it doesn’t matter what I wear. I just wear the uniform of my youth. I wear an oxford-cloth shirt and khakis. What does it matter? What does it matter what I wear?”
Stephen said that advice from his mother helped him, but that even though it has been almost four decades since their death the grief has not dissipated.
“It’s not as keen,” he explained. “Well, it’s not as present, how about that? It’s just as keen but not as present. But it will always accept the invitation. Grief will always accept the invitation to appear. It’s got plenty of time for you.”
Eric said: “I’ll be here,” and Stephen agreed with him.