Who Is John Oliver? Age, Biography, and Wiki
John Oliver was born on April 23, 1977, making him 48 years old as of 2025. He is a celebrated British-American comedian, writer, producer, and television host, best known for his satirical commentary on current events on the HBO show "Last Week Tonight with John Oliver." Raised in Birmingham, England, Oliver gained prominence as a correspondent on "The Daily Show" before launching his own successful series, which has earned him multiple Emmy Awards.
Occupation | Screenwriter |
---|---|
Date of Birth | April 23, 1977 |
Age | 48 Years |
Birth Place | Birmingham, England |
Horoscope | Taurus |
Country | England |
Popularity
John Oliver's Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
In 2025, John Oliver stands at an impressive height of 6 feet 1 inch (185 cm) and maintains a weight of approximately 190 pounds (86 kg). His distinctive appearance includes dark brown hair and piercing blue eyes, contributing to his signature comedic persona.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
Throughout his career, John Oliver has managed to keep his personal life relatively private. He is married to Kate Norley, a former U.S. Army medic and current political activist. The couple has maintained a low profile, focusing on their family rather than the spotlight. As of now, they are happily raising their two children together, with no public information indicating any relationship controversies or infidelity.
His mother is from Liverpool, while his father comes from the Wirral. He has a younger sister who lives in Australia. His uncle was the composer Stephen Oliver. He grew up in Bedford, where he attended the Mark Rutherford School and learned to play the viola.
He was raised Anglican, but later told interviewer Terry Gross that he lapsed at the age of 12 after the death of a school friend and an uncle, followed by a feeling of receiving no useful answers from the church. In the mid-to-late 1990s, he studied at Christ's College, Cambridge, where he was a member of the Cambridge Footlights.
His Footlights contemporaries included comedians David Mitchell and Richard Ayoade, and he became the club's vice president in 1997.
He and Footlights president Ayoade wrote and performed in several productions together, appearing in both Footlights' 1997 and 1998 touring shows: Emotional Baggage (directed by Matthew Holness) and Between a Rock and a Hard Place (directed by Cal McCrystal). In 1998, Oliver graduated with a degree in English.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, John Oliver's estimated net worth is around $30 million. His impressive earnings come from various sources, including his successful HBO show, stand-up comedy specials, and voice acting roles. Reports suggest that Oliver earns approximately $8 million annually, primarily linked to his television ventures and lucrative deals from endorsements.
Oliver was opposed to Brexit, writing multiple pieces about it and calling it "painful, it's pointless, and most of you didn't even agree to run it; you were just signed up by your dumbest friend". He stated that it was "sad" to consider that his children with British citizenship would not experience the benefits of the EU.
He has been particularly critical of the Conservative Party and of its former leader Boris Johnson's time as Prime Minister.
He also criticised the Royal Family's secrecy concerning their wealth, calling them "a freeloading multimillionaire family exempt from paying most taxes" and stating that "the Royal Family's wealthunlike its gene poolis massive". He supports abolishing the British monarchy and making Britain a republic, and declined an OBE.
On a September 2022 episode of Late Night with Seth Meyers, he said he declined it because he did not want his name being associated with the words "British Empire" and expressed distaste for the British class system.
Career, Business, and Investments
John Oliver's career has seen a remarkable trajectory, transitioning from stand-up comedian to a prominent television host. His work on "Last Week Tonight" not only garnered critical acclaim but also significant commercial success, with an audience regularly tuning in for his compelling take on news. In addition to his shows, Oliver has invested in various financial endeavors, including documentaries and production companies, diversifying his portfolio.
John William Oliver (born 23 April 1977) is a British and American comedian who hosts Last Week Tonight with John Oliver on HBO. He started his career as a stand-up comedian in the United Kingdom and came to wider attention for his work in the United States as the senior British correspondent on The Daily Show with Jon Stewart from 2006 to 2013.
Oliver won three Primetime Emmy Awards for writing for The Daily Show and became its guest host for an eight-week period in 2013. He also co-hosted the comedy podcast The Bugle with Andy Zaltzman, with whom Oliver had previously worked on the radio series Political Animal and The Department.
From 2010 to 2013, he hosted the stand-up series John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show on Comedy Central. His acting roles include Ian Duncan on the NBC sitcom Community and voice work in the animated films The Smurfs (2011), The Smurfs 2 (2013), and The Lion King remake (2019).
Social Network
John Oliver is active on various social media platforms, including Twitter and Instagram, where he engages with fans and shares insights into his work. His witty tweets and captions often reflect his comedic style, contributing to his massive following. Oliver has become known for his satirical, yet informative, takes on social issues, making him a relatable figure among his audience.
In 1985, Oliver made his first on-screen appearance playing Felix Pardiggle, a minor role in the BBC drama Bleak House. In an appearance on Late Night with Seth Meyers, he commented, "When I was six years old ... [the BBC] wanted a kid with dark hair and brown eyes, and I was two-for-two on that".
In 2001, Oliver appeared as a bank manager in series two of People Like Us. Oliver said in a later Seth Meyers appearance that one of his first paying jobs was writing for the British morning show The Big Breakfast.
Education
Oliver attended Christ Church, Oxford, where he studied English Literature, earning his degree in 1998. During his time at university, he began performing stand-up comedy, which laid the foundation for his lifelong career in entertainment. His education equipped him with a keen sense of narrative and an understanding of the complexities of social issues, which he adeptly translates into his comedic content.
After moving to New York City, Oliver began performing stand-up comedy in clubs, later headlining shows in larger venues. From October 2007 to May 2015, Oliver co-hosted The Bugle, a weekly comedy podcast, with Andy Zaltzman. Originally produced by The Times, it became an independent project in 2012.
John Oliver: Terrifying Times, his first stand-up special, premiered on Comedy Central in 2008. In 2009, Comedy Central announced that it would be ordering six episodes of the John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show, a series on Comedy Central that featured sets from himself and other comedians, including Janeane Garofalo, Brian Posehn, Paul F.
Tompkins and Marc Maron. From 2010 to 2013, four seasons were produced. In 2013, he went to Afghanistan on a USO tour to perform for the troops. Oliver continues to perform stand-up. Oliver had a recurring role on the NBC sitcom Community as the professor of psychology Ian Duncan.
Owing to his work at The Daily Show, he declined the offer to become a regular member of the cast, and did not appear in the third, fourth, or sixth seasons, but returned in season five, appearing in seven of its thirteen episodes. In 2008, Oliver played Dick Pants in The Love Guru, his first film role.
He later voiced Vanity Smurf in The Smurfs film and its sequel. Oliver performed several roles in the 2009 Comedy Central series Important Things with Demetri Martin. In 2009, Oliver made a cameo appearance in the music video for The Fiery Furnaces' single "Even in the Rain".