Conan O’Brien | History & Literature

Even during his years in school, Conan O’Brien already had the makings of an entertainer. Throughout high school, he was the managing editor of the school newspaper. In addition, he wrote a short story that won a national contest. By the time he went to Harvard University, O’Brien played drums for a band and served as a writer for the humor magazine Harvard Lampoon. To top it off, he graduated magna cum laude with a Bachelor of Arts degree, majoring in History and Literature.

Most of his earlier stints in the entertainment industry were as a writer, though he’s also had the chance to perform with improvisational comedy groups. After working as a writer for Saturday Night Live, O’Brien lent his comedic chops to the animated show The Simpsons. Nowadays, though, it goes without saying that he has garnered even more fame as a talk show host for programs like The Tonight Show and Conan.