Stephen Colbert broke his social media silence on Sunday, July 19, by sharing a celebratory post for his dog, Benny, who turned seven years old. The Boykin spaniel has been a familiar face to fans of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert since his puppy debut on the CBS program in December 2019. During his time on the show, Benny frequently captured the audience's attention, famously sitting on Colbert’s lap with a red leash as the crowd chanted his name.
Reflecting on their bond during a January 2025 episode of The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert, the comedian shared that Benny would consistently sit in the same chair during rehearsals. Colbert noted that the dog would sit up like a human, watching with such intensity that it felt like he was preparing to offer notes on the performance. The host jokingly expressed that he often wished the dog would actually provide that feedback.
Colbert has maintained a relatively quiet profile since concluding his 11-year tenure at the Ed Sullivan Theater on May 21. A dedicated J. R. R. Tolkien fan, he is currently focused on writing a new film for the Lord of the Rings franchise alongside his son. Despite his departure from nightly television, he has made a few select appearances. The day after his final Late Show broadcast, he guest-hosted a Michigan public access show, quipping that he found it an "excruciating 23 hours without being on TV."
In June, Colbert also returned to the public stage to honor his wife of 32 years, Evelyn McGee Colbert, as she stepped down from her role as president of the New Jersey nonprofit organization Montclair Film. Among the many friends and family members who gathered to pay tribute, the former late-night host serenaded his wife with a performance of Sam Cooke’s "Bring It On Home to Me."
