John William Oliver (born April 23, 1977, in Birmingham, England) is a British-American comedian, writer, producer, and television host best known for creating and hosting the HBO news satire show *Last Week Tonight with John Oliver* since 2014[1][3]. He began his career as a stand-up comedian in the UK before gaining prominence in the United States as the senior British correspondent on *The Daily Show with Jon Stewart* from 2006 to 2013, where he won three Primetime Emmy Awards for writing[1]. He also guest-hosted *The Daily Show* for eight weeks in 2013. Oliver’s *Last Week Tonight* has earned widespread acclaim for its in-depth, satirical examinations of political and social issues, winning over twenty Emmy Awards and two Peabody Awards. The show is noted for its influence on public discourse and policy, a phenomenon dubbed the "John Oliver effect"[1][5]. Despite being described as investigative journalism by some, Oliver has rejected that label. In addition to his television work, Oliver has acted in the NBC sitcom *Community* and provided voice roles in animated films such as *The Smurfs* (2011), *The Smurfs 2* (2013), and the 2019 remake of *The Lion King*[1][3]. He also co-hosted the comedy podcast *The Bugle* and hosted *John Oliver's New York Stand-Up Show* on Comedy Central from 2010 to 2013[1]. Oliver became a naturalized American citizen in 2019[1]. He is married to Kate Norley, an Army veteran, since 2011, and they have two children[4]. His early career included challenges such as frequent stage failures during stand-up in the UK, which he overcame by focusing on comedy that addressed political and social topics he cared about[2]. As of 2025, *Last Week Tonight* continues to air new episodes on HBO, maintaining Oliver’s relevance as a prominent voice in political satire and commentary[5].