Who Was Amy Cole? The Woman Stephen Colbert Honored in His Emmy Speech

One of the most emotional moments of the 77th Primetime Emmy Awards came when Stephen Colbert took the stage to accept the Emmy for Outstanding Talk Series. During his speech, he paused to honor someone who had worked beside him for more than a decade: Amy Cole, his longtime assistant who died in March 2024.

"I want to dedicate this to my mom and dad, her mom and dad, and a young woman who should be here tonight, Amy Cole," Colbert said, his voice heavy with emotion.

Cole passed away at the age of 53 after a brief illness. She worked with Colbert for 16 years, supporting him across projects including The Colbert Report, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and the animated political satire Tooning Out the News. Colleagues described her as not just an executive assistant but a key part of the team who helped guide the day-to-day rhythm of Colbert's television empire.

Her death was acknowledged publicly during an episode of The Late Show in early April 2024. That evening's broadcast ended with a simple black title card that read, "Dedicated to our dear friend Amy Cole, 1970–2024." She was later featured in the "In Memoriam" segment of the Creative Arts Emmys, a rare acknowledgment for someone who worked behind the scenes.

Cole's passing came during a season of transitions for Colbert. The Late Show is set to end after ten seasons, and the Emmy win was widely seen as both a celebration and a farewell. Colbert used the moment to reflect on love, loss, and the people who make creative work possible. By naming Amy Cole onstage, he gave visibility to someone who had helped shape his work from behind the curtain.

In June, Colbert spoke about Cole during an appearance on Good Morning America. "Every day when I walk into the building, I expect to see her," he said. "She was part of the heartbeat of our show. It doesn't feel the same without her."

Though Cole kept a low public profile, her impact within Colbert's team was profound. She was known for her steady presence, her attention to detail, and her ability to navigate the high-pressure environment of late-night television with quiet strength. Friends and co-workers have described her as warm, deeply loyal, and essential to the success of the show.

Social media lit up following Colbert's tribute. Fans unfamiliar with Cole's name before that night were moved by how much she clearly mattered to him. "That kind of public love tells you everything you need to know," one viewer wrote on X.

Stephen Colbert's tribute to Amy Cole was a public recognition of the people who work tirelessly behind the scenes, shaping the television moments we remember. In that moment, even in her absence, Amy Cole was seen, honored, and remembered

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Stephen Colbert, Emmys