Who is Conan O'Brien's wife? Family explored in the wake of his parents' deaths

Conan O'Brien, the comedian and former late-night TV host, is mourning a deep personal loss. His parents, Dr. Thomas O'Brien and Ruth Reardon O'Brien passed away just three days apart earlier this month. Thomas, 95, died on December 9, 2024, after a period of declining health, and Ruth, 92, followed on December 12, passing away peacefully.

The couple, married for 66 years, built a life of remarkable accomplishments while raising six children, including Conan, 61. As the O'Brien family grieves, many have been reflecting on Conan's family life, including his wife, Liza Powel O'Brien, who has been his partner for over two decades.

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Conan O'Brien reflects on his parents' remarkable legacies in medicine and law

Dr. Thomas O'Brien had a long career as a researcher in antimicrobial drug resistance. He served as the first director of the infectious diseases division at Brigham and Women's Hospital and worked at Harvard Medical School, dedicating more than six decades to his field before retiring at age 90 in 2019.

In an interview with the Boston Globe, published on December 12, 2024

Conan O'Brien fondly remembered his father as a man who combined intellect with a sharp sense of humor.

"The loudest I've ever heard anybody laugh was sitting next to him in a theater watching Peter Sellers in a Pink Panther movie. He was often the funniest guy in the room," O'Brien remarked.

Ruth O'Brien was equally accomplished. A graduate of Yale Law School, she was among the few women in her class. She is the second woman to become a partner at Boston's prestigious Ropes & Gray law firm.

In 2017, she received the iRelaunch Pioneering Relauncher Award for her contributions to the field. Thomas and Ruth's partnership spanned decades, and their family was at the heart of their achievements.

Conan O'Brien and Liza Powel O'Brien's love story began in an unexpected place—her advertising agency. In 1999, while taping a remote segment for Late Night with Conan O'Brien, he met Liza, who worked as a copywriter. During an interview on The Howard Stern Show in May 2020, Conan, reflecting on that day, joked about being smitten immediately.

"I'm just trying to find out more about this woman," he recalled.

The couple began dating shortly afterward and tied the knot in January 2002 in a ceremony held in Seattle, Liza's hometown. They now share two children: Neve, 21, and Beckett, 19.

Liza Powel O'Brien is a playwright and podcast host with a master's degree in fiction writing from Columbia University. She has written more than a dozen plays, with her works appearing at venues like the Geffen Playhouse and Ojai Playwrights Conference. One of her notable plays, Apostrophe, premiered in 2022 at the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts.

In 2022, Liza launched Significant Others, a podcast on Conan's Team Coco network. The show tells the stories of unsung individuals who shaped the legacies of their more famous counterparts. It featured guests, including actors like Megan Mullally and Jameela Jamil.

In a 2020 interview with the Ojai Playwrights Conference, Liza gave a glimpse into her perspective on raising teenagers. She described the experience as both "terrifying" and rewarding, adding that it's a journey of learning as much as it is teaching.

Conan's podcast Conan O'Brien Needs a Friend remains highly popular, offering conversations with celebrity guests. Through his production company, Team Coco, he has expanded his reach with podcasts like Significant Others and other creative projects.

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Additionally, Conan is set to return to television with a new weekly variety show on HBO Max, marking a fresh chapter in his career after retiring from nightly late-night television in 2021.