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Who Is Liza Powel O’Brien? All About Conan O’Brien’s Playwright Wife and 25-Years of Love Story
As Conan O’Brien stepped onto the Oscars stage in 2025 for his hosting debut, one person in the audience was cheering louder than anyone else—his wife of more than two decades, Liza Powel O’Brien. The accomplished playwright and podcast host has been by the comedian’s side long before late-night TV fame turned into Emmy Awards and prestigious honours like the Mark Twain Prize for American Humour.
But who exactly is the woman who stole the heart of one of America’s most beloved comedians? Here’s an inside look at Liza Powel O’Brien’s life, career, and the enduring romance that’s quietly become one of Hollywood’s most genuine love stories.
Who Is Liza Powel O’Brien and Where Did She Come From?
Liza Powel O’Brien.
Source: Airmail
Born and raised on Bainbridge Island, Washington, Liza Powel O’Brien grew up in a tight-knit family with parents Jake and Pamela Powel. From a young age, she developed a love for literature and storytelling—a passion that would shape her career.
After high school, Liza attended Vassar College in New York, where she earned her bachelor’s degree. In 2019, she revisited that formative chapter of her life in her play The Great Experiment, set in 1865 and inspired by her alma mater’s groundbreaking history as one of the first female colleges.
Determined to hone her craft further, Liza went on to pursue a Master of Fine Arts in fiction writing at Columbia University’s School of the Arts. This academic foundation would pave the way for a multifaceted career as a copywriter, playwright, and later, podcast creator.
How a Fake Furniture Ad Sparked a Real Romance
In January 2000, when Conan’s Late Night team needed fake commercials for Hilton Furniture, they enlisted Foote, Cone & Belding. Conan flew to their office, clipboard in hand, and met Liza. “I wasn’t trying to be funny,” he later recalled on The Michelle Obama Podcast. “I just wanted to know her.”
Liza’s candid lobby confession—that she’d been told by her gynecologist to start having children within two to three years—could have spoiled the moment. Instead, Conan thought, “Yes, you should have kids… your children should be mine.” They chatted amid cables and camera crates, exchanged numbers, and began dating soon after.
Their chemistry was so obvious that Conan later joked there’s footage “somewhere in the NBC vault of me literally falling for my wife on camera.”
A Seattle Wedding and Two Children
Conan O”Brian (R) walks down the aisle with his new bride, Liza Powel January 12, 2002, at St. James Cathedral in Seattle, WA.
Source: Paul Brown/Daniel Sheehan/Getty Images
After dating for a couple of years, the couple tied the knot on January 12, 2002, at St. James Cathedral in Seattle, Liza’s hometown. The ceremony was intimate but star-studded, with Friends actress Lisa Kudrow among the guests.
Shortly after their wedding, they welcomed their first child, Neve, in October 2003, followed by their son Beckett in November 2005. Neve is currently studying at Yale University (Class of 2026), while Beckett is navigating his own teenage years.
Though Conan is known for his quick wit and comedic timing, he’s often candid about fatherhood, poking fun at himself on social media. For Mother’s Day in 2022, he joked that “all my wife wants… is two years of alone time,” while on Father’s Day, he quipped that his kids “regifted me a cold and distant stare.”
From Copywriter to Acclaimed Playwright
Even as she juggled family life, Liza Powel O’Brien never let go of her pen. She wrote a dozen plays—titles like Ruthie Goes Shopping, John Wayne Times, The Distinguished Gentleman, and Lucky found stages at the Geffen Playhouse, Echo Theatre Company, The Blank Theatre, and beyond.
Her full-length Apostrophe debuted at the 2020 Ojai Playwrights Conference and premiered in 2022 at Whidbey Island Center for the Arts. Critics praised its wit and emotional depth, highlighting Liza’s talent for capturing human nuance and familial bonds. In 2019, her The Great Experiment transported audiences to 1865 Vassar College—an imagined freshman year full of “questionable decisions” and “epic culture clashes,” reflecting her own alma mater’s progressive roots.
Hosting Significant Others: A Podcast About Unsung Partners
Conan O’Brien (L) and Liza O’Brien attend the Vanity Fair New Establishment Summit cocktail party at The Ferry Building on October 19, 2016 in San Francisco, California.
Source: Michael Kovac/Getty Images
In 2022, Liza launched Significant Others on the Team Coco network—her chance to spotlight the people behind history’s big names. Each episode uncovers the partner, friend, or sibling whose quiet influence changed a public figure’s life. Liza’s fascination with these hidden stories stemmed from her own experience beside Conan: “No one exists in a vacuum—not even geniuses,” she explained. Guests have ranged from Megan Mullally to Rita Wilson, each revealing the unsung heroes who shaped them.
Conan has said he’s proud of her work. On X, he declared, “My very talented wife, Liza, has a new history podcast that I absolutely love.” By giving voice to overlooked collaborations, Liza continues her lifelong mission: telling stories that matter—no matter where they unfold.
Standing by Conan as He Takes on the Oscars
In early 2025, when news broke that Conan would host the Academy Awards, headlines focused on his comedic chops and the ceremony’s View Postneed for fresh energy. But behind the scenes—and on the red carpet—Liza Powel O’Brien has been the quiet force cheering him on. At the 2025 Mark Twain Prize ceremony, she sat proudly as Conan received the Kennedy Centre’s highest honour for American humour.
Their marriage has weathered decades in an industry where long-term relationships are rare, and friends say that’s due to their unwavering respect and admiration for each other.
Conan himself has said that marrying Liza was “the best decision I ever made,” crediting her with grounding him through the highs and lows of a demanding career in comedy.
Life Away from the Spotlight
Liza Powel and Conan O’Brien attend the 9th Annual “Oscar Wilde: Honoring The Irish In Film” Pre-Academy Awards event at Bad Robot on February 27, 2014 in Santa Monica, California.
Source: Alberto E. Rodriguez/Getty Images
Despite her husband’s fame, Liza Powel O’Brien prefers a relatively private life. She divides her time between writing, producing, and family life, rarely stepping into Hollywood’s glitzy scene unless it’s to support Conan at major events.
The O’Briens have raised their children away from the constant glare of cameras, focusing on a stable home life that emphasises creativity, education, and humour.
FAQs
Who is Liza Powel O’Brien? She is a playwright, podcast host, and former advertising executive who has been married to Conan O’Brien since 2002.
How did Liza meet Conan O’Brien? They met in 1999 during a comedic segment for Late Night with Conan O’Brien, which was filmed at her advertising agency.
How many plays has Liza written? She has written at least 12 plays, many of which have been showcased at respected theaters and festivals.
Do Conan and Liza have children? Yes, they have two children: Neve (born 2003) and Beckett (born 2005).
What is her podcast Significant Others about? It explores the hidden stories of people whose lives profoundly influenced famous figures in history.
