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Conan O’Brien has shared a remarkable journey with his wife, Liza Powel O’Brien, for over 20 years.
Their story began in 1999 when they met during the filming of a segment for Late Night With Conan O’Brien at the advertising agency where Liza worked as a copywriter.
On an episode of “The Michelle Obama Podcast” in September 2020, O’Brien fondly recalled the encounter: “I started talking to her [Liza], and I wasn’t even trying to be funny … I just wanted to learn more about this woman,” he said. “After our initial 20-minute conversation, as we packed up the equipment, she left the room. We continued talking in the lobby, and that was it.”
Three years after this serendipitous meeting, the couple exchanged vows in her hometown of Seattle. They have since become proud parents to their children, Neve and Beckett, born in 2003 and 2005, respectively.
Read on to discover more about Liza Powel O’Brien:
Liza Powel O’Brien Has a Master of Fine Arts Degree
Liza Powel O’Brien earned a master of fine arts degree in fiction writing from Columbia University’s School of the Arts. She also received her bachelor’s degree at Vassar College.
Liza Powel O’Brien Is a Playwright
Liza Powel O’Brien works as a playwright and has written several works over the years, including The Great Experiment, Ruthie Goes Shopping, Apostrophe and The Distinguished Gentleman.
According to Liza’s website, her work has been seen at The Geffen Playhouse, Echo Theater Company, The Blank Theatre, Unscreened LA, Naked Angels LA, Ojai Playwrights Conference, Tennessee Williams & New Orleans Literary Festival, Hedgebrook and Whidbey Island Center for the Arts.
Liza Powel O’Brien Is a Mom
One year after tying the knot in 2002, Liza Powel O’Brien and Conan O’Brien welcomed their first baby, Neve. The pair added to their family in 2005 when they welcomed son Beckett.
Liza Powel O’Brien Hosts a Podcast
Liza Powel O’Brien hosts the podcast “Significant Others,” which explores the stories of lesser-known historical figures. The show is on Conan O’Brien’s Team Coco network.
“I’m constantly thinking of missed opportunities but maybe moving forward, I should be asking everyone that I interview who their significant other is in the story of their life,” she told Newsweek in 2022. “Not necessarily their romantic life, but just their career or their passion project, or whatever it is that they think defines them.”
She continued, “For Conan, I don’t think I would be technically kind of significant other in terms of being his wife, but he has other people in the story of his career, who were pivotal. And that could be an interesting story.”
Liza Powel O’Brien Is Supportive of Conan O’Brien’s Work
During an interview with Newsweek in 2022, Liza Powel O’Brien praised Conan O’Brien’s work ethic.
“That’s something that Conan has always been really good about, is collecting nice people around him and appreciating them and benefiting from what they have to offer,” Liza said. “Most of the time, people seem very happy to be working with him and I’m certainly benefiting from that.”
She has also attended several red carpets with Conan — including the 2026 Oscars, which he hosted.