Stephen Colbert Addresses His New Appearance After Late-Night Exit
Stephen Colbert Addresses His New Look After Late-Night
Stephen Colbert might officially be entering his Hobbit era in more ways than one.
The former Late Show host showed up to the 2026 Emmys looking noticeably scruffier than usual with a distinct, full goatee of gray hair. (See every star on the Emmys red carpet here.)
So, what's the story behind the 62-year-old's newfound fondness for facial hair?
"This is all A.I." Colbert joked during an exclusive interview with E! News backstage at the Emmys inside Los Angeles' Peacock Theater. "This isn't actually on my face. This could transform at any moment into a robot or something."
The comedian even nicknamed his new look.
"This is a beard-bot," he added. "I've got to deal with Michael Bay and Gillette."
Jokes aside, Colbert was over the moon after winning the Emmy for Outstanding Variety Series months after The Late Show ended on CBS this past May after 33 years on TV.
"So happy for everybody tonight, for the six teams that won last week at the Creative Arts Emmys, especially the writers, the director, the digital people," he told E!. "A great, lovely cherry on top for the 11 years that we were able to be together. The whole thing was a gift and this is just the bow at the end of it."
Colbert shared similar sentiments while onstage giving his acceptance speech.
LISA O'CONNOR / AFP via Getty Images
"Thank you so much on behalf of the over 200 people who threw themselves at this show for 11 years to try to do the best show they possibly could for you," he shared. "The thing about these late shows is that besides being a really good steady job is that they require so many people that they’re a fantastic incubator for young people to come into work professionally on a deadline in cooperation, in collaboration, and that is the future of our business that we have to look after."
Colbert concluded with an important reminder for the showbiz folks in the audience: "I want you to know I’ve got some great news. They’re all tech avail. Hire them: they will make your show better and your day easier."
Keep reading to see Colbert and every other star who won an Emmy tonight.
—Reporting by Nikki Novak
Outstanding Drama Series
The Diplomat
The Gilded Age
A Knight of the Seven Kingdoms
Paradise
WINNER: The Pitt
Pluribus
Slow Horses
Your Friends and Neighbors
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Drama Series
Carrie Coon, The Gilded Age
Keri Russell, The Diplomat
WINNER: Rhea Seehorn, Pluribus
Zendaya, Euphoria
Chase Infiniti, The Testaments
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Drama Series
Sterling K. Brown, Paradise
Gary Oldman, Slow Horses
Mark Ruffalo, Task
WINNER: Noah Wyle, The Pitt
Rufus Sewell, The Diplomat
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Drama Series
Fiona Dourif, The Pitt
Taylor Dearden, The Pitt
WINNER: Allison Janney, The Diplomat
Katherine LaNasa, The Pitt
Sepideh Moafi, The Pitt
Julianne Nicholson, Paradise
Karolina Wydra, Pluribus
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Drama Series
Patrick Ball, The Pitt
Billy Crudup, The Morning Show
Shawn Hatosy, The Pitt
Jack Lowden, Slow Horses
WINNER: Tom Pelphrey, Task
Carlos Manuel-Vesga, Pluribus
Gerran Howell, The Pitt
Outstanding Comedy Series
Abbott Elementary
The Bear
Nobody Wants This
Hacks
Margo’s Got Money Troubles
Only Murders in the Building
Shrinking
WINNER: Widow’s Bay
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Comedy Series
Quinta Brunson, Abbott Elementary
Ayo Edebiri, The Bear
Elle Fanning, Margo’s Got Money Troubles
Lisa Kudrow, The Comeback
WINNER: Jean Smart, Hacks
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Comedy Series
Steve Carell, Rooster
WINNER: Matthew Rhys, Widow’s Bay
Jason Segel, Shrinking
Martin Short, Only Murders in the Building
Yahya Abdul-Mateen II, Wonder Man
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Comedy Series
Dale Dickey, Widow’s Bay
Hannah Einbinder, Hacks
Janelle James, Abbott Elementary
WINNER: Kate O’Flynn, Widow’s Bay
Megan Stalter, Hacks
Michelle Pfeiffer, Margo’s Got Money Troubles
Jessica Williams, Shrinking
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Comedy Series
Colman Domingo, The Four Seasons
Paul W. Downs, Hacks
Nick Offerman, Margo’s Got Money Troubles
WINNER: Stephen Root, Widow’s Bay
Michael Urie, Shrinking
Tyler James Williams, Abbott Elementary
Harrison Ford, Shrinking
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Comedy Series
Leslie Bibb, Hacks
Jamie Lee Curtis, The Bear
WINNER: Betty Gilpin, Widow's Bay
Cherry Jones, Hacks
Laurie Metcalf, Hacks
Kaitlin Olson, Hacks
Lauren Weedman, Hacks
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
Christopher McDonald, Hacks
Michael J. Fox, Shrinking
Brett Goldstein, Shrinking
Hamish Linklater, Widow's Bay
WINNER: Rob Reiner, The Bear
Connor Storrie, Saturday Night Live
Outstanding Guest Actress in a Drama Series
Tal Anderson, The Pitt
Brittany Allen, The Pitt
Tina Ivlev, The Pitt
Miriam Shor, Pluribus
Merritt Wever, The Gilded Age
WINNER: Shailene Woodley, Paradise
Outstanding Guest Actor in a Drama Series
Colman Domingo, Euphoria
WINNER: Ernest Harden Jr., The Pitt
Jeff Hiller, Pluribus
Jeff Kober, The Pitt
Jonathan Pryce, Slow Horses
Bradley Whitford, The Diplomat
Outstanding Limited or Anthology Series
The Beast in Me
Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette
WINNER: DTF St. Louis
Beef
All Her Fault
Outstanding Lead Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Claire Danes, The Beast in Me
Sarah Pidgeon, Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette
WINNER: Sally Field, Remarkably Bright Creatures
Carey Mulligan, Beef
Sarah Snook, All Her Fault
Outstanding Lead Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
WINNER: Matthew Rhys, The Beast in Me
Riz Ahmed, Bait
Jason Bateman, Black Rabbit
Charlie Hunnam, Monster: The Ed Gein Story
Oscar Isaac, Beef
Outstanding Supporting Actress in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
WINNER: Linda Cardellini, DTF St. Louis
Constance Zimmer, Love Story: John F. Kennedy Jr. & Carolyn Bessette
Dakota Fanning, All Her Fault
Joy Sunday, DTF St. Louis
Youn Yuh-jung, Beef
Laurie Metcalf, Monster: The Ed Gein Story
Outstanding Supporting Actor in a Limited or Anthology Series or Movie
Jason Bateman, DTF St. Louis
Richard Gadd, Half Man
Richard Jenkins, DTF St. Louis
WINNER: David Harbour, DTF St. Louis
Charles Melton, Beef
Nick Offerman, Death by Lightning
Outstanding Unstructured Reality Program
America's Sweethearts: Dallas Cowboys Cheerleaders
WINNER: Love on the Spectrum
RuPaul's Drag Race: Untucked
Summer House
Welcome to Wrexham
Outstanding Structured Reality Program
WINNER: Antiques Roadshow
Diners, Drive-Ins and Dives
Love is Blind
Queer Eye
Shark Tank
Outstanding Host for a Reality or Reality Competition Program
RuPaul Charles, RuPaul's Drag Race
WINNER: Alan Cumming, The Traitors
Kristen Kish, Top Chef
Ariana Madix, Love Island USA
Jeff Probst, Survivor
Outstanding Variety Series
The Daily Show
Jimmy Kimmel Live!
Last Week Tonight With John Oliver
WINNER: The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
Saturday Night Live
Outstanding Reality Competition Program
Dancing With the Stars
RuPaul’s Drag Race
Survivor
Top Chef
WINNER: The Traitors
Outstanding Variety Special (Pre-Recorded)
Dave Chappelle: The Unstoppable
WINNER: The Muppet Show
Nikki Glaser: Good Girl
Taylor Swift, The Eras Tour, The Final Show
Wicked: One Wonderful Night
Outstanding Host for a Game Show
Steve Harvey, Celebrity Family Feud
Ken Jennings, Jeopardy!
Colin Jost, Pop Culture Jeopardy!
WINNER: Jimmy Kimmel, Who Wants to Be a Millionaire?
Martin Short, Match Game
Don't miss the Emmy Awards 2026 live telecast tonight, Sept. 14, at 8 p.m. ET/5 p.m. PT on NBC and streaming on Peacock. E!'s red carpet kicks off at 5 p.m. ET/2 p.m. PT.
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