Stephen Colbert gasped during a tribute to a longtime executive on his late-night talk show.
As Monday night’s episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert came to a close, a title card was shown that read “Dedicated to our dear friend Amy Cole, 1970-2024.”
Cole, 53, died March 31 after a battle with cancer. He worked with Colbert for nearly two decades.
The 59-year-old comedian and writer appeared stunned before simply saying “Good night” and running off camera.
Several staff members have honored their late coworker at X, formerly Twitter, with some alluding to a cancer diagnosis.
Late night host Stephen Colbert seemed overcome with emotion during Monday night’s episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
A title card honoring 53-year-old executive assistant Amy Cole appeared at the end of the episode. Cole died on March 31 after a battle with cancer.
Colbert, 59, simply said “Good night” before running off camera.
Writer and producer Opus Moreschi called Cole a “beacon of light, joy and calm in the chaos of our workplace,” adding, “I’m absolutely devastated that she’s gone.”
Director and producer Jake Plunkett wrote: “Words cannot measure the great loss that Amy Cole is to this world.”
He stated matter-of-factly: ‘Damn cancer.’
Both coworkers provided links to Radio Lollipop, an international charity that provides care for hospitalized children.
Cole worked with the organization for more than two decades, both in his native Texas and New York, and had a senior leadership role in recruiting volunteers.
“Amy’s skills as a child life specialist in Texas and her leadership role in recruiting volunteers for Radio Lollipop in New York played an important role in our work,” the charity wrote.
All donations made in his name will be shared equally between the Radio Lollipop Texas and New York chapters to “keep his incredible spirit alive in our work that he was so passionate about.”
Cole worked with children before moving from Texas to Manhattan and working as a production assistant and executive assistant.
She worked with Radio Lollipop, an international charity providing care to hospitalized children, for over 20 years. The organization accepts donations in her name to “keep her incredible spirit alive.”
Cole was born in Houston and died after a “brief illness,” according to an obituary.
She studied at St. Agnes Academy, Texas Tech University and Wheelock College before working as a nanny in New Jersey.
Cole later earned his master’s degree and served as a child life specialist at Texas Children’s Hospital for several years.
In 2002, Cole moved to Manhattan, where she worked as a production assistant and executive assistant on shows such as The Colbert Report and The Late Show.
“Working with Colbert for 16 years was more than a job for Amy,” the obituary says.
‘It gave her a purpose and gave her the opportunity to show herself as an incredible teammate to everyone involved. Her entire Late Show work family adored her and she will be greatly missed.”
The obituary describes Cole as a “dear daughter, sister, aunt, friend and colleague” who “expressed gratitude…always…even in difficult times.”
He is survived by his parents, sisters, nieces and nephew.
‘His circle of friends is too large to begin to estimate him. Once you met Amy, you were a friend for life,’ the obituary states.