Stephen Colbert broke his social media silence on Sunday, July 19, with an Instagram post celebrating the seventh birthday of his Boykin spaniel, Benny. The dog has been a frequent presence on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" since making his debut as a puppy in December 2019. During those appearances, Benny often sat on the host's lap while the studio audience chanted his name.
In a January 2025 episode of "The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert," the comedian described Benny’s typical behavior during rehearsals. Colbert noted that the dog would sit in the same chair every time, often sitting up like a human. He added that the dog would watch him with such intensity that it appeared as if he were about to provide professional notes, joking, "I wish he would."
Colbert’s social media update follows his final broadcast at the Ed Sullivan Theater on May 21, which marked the end of his 11-year run on the program. Since that finale, the comedian has made several public appearances. One day after his show concluded, he guest-hosted a Michigan public access program, quipping that it had been an "excruciating 23 hours" without being on television. In June, he returned to the 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. During the event, Colbert joined other friends and loved ones in paying tribute to his wife, serenading her with a performance of Sam Cooke's "Bring It On Home to Me." Outside of these appearances, Colbert, a known J. R. R. Tolkien superfan, is currently working with his son to write a new film in the "Lord of the Rings" franchise.
