Stephen Colbert found himself choking back tears due to the death of one of his colleagues.
It happened on the April 1 episode of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” during the last few seconds of the show, as the somber news was revealed.
The 59-year-old host became emotional after saying, “That’s it for the ‘Late Show.’”
He told the audience, “Good night,” then got up from his desk and seemingly hurried off-screen. As the show ended, a black title card appeared that featured a photo of a woman. The text on it read, “Dedicated to our dear friend Amy Cole, 1970-2024.”
An obituary for Cole reveals she worked with Colbert for 16 years. Due to a “brief illness,” she died at the age of 53 “peacefully” on March 31.
“Working with Colbert for 16 years was more than a job to Amy. It gave her a purpose and provided an opportunity to showcase herself as an incredible teammate to everyone involved. She was adored by her entire ‘Late Show’ work family, and she will be greatly missed,” the obituary reads.
Fellow crew members took to social media to mourn her death as well, remembering Cole as a “beacon of light” and “calm” in the busy workplace.
“I am absolutely gutted that she’s gone. If you love somebody with cancer (or even if you don’t) please consider giving to Amy’s favorite charity in her name,” “Late Show” writer and producer Opus Moreschi wrote on X, formerly known as Twitter.
Director and producer Jake Plunkett, who remembered Cole as someone who helped children with cancer, also took to X to express his hurt.
“Words cannot measure how big a loss Amy Cole is to this world. [Expletive] cancer.”
Both Plunkette and Moreschi encouraged others to donate to the Radio Lollipop charitable organization – an international children’s charity providing care, comfort, play and entertainment to sick children in the hospital, according to its website.
She worked with the organization for over 20 years and held a senior leadership role in recruiting volunteers.
A fund was also set up in Cole’s name with Radio Lollipop, which has raised over $25,000 in donations.
“All donations received through this appeal will be shared equally between the Radio Lollipop Texas and New York chapters and will go directly to supporting the children that we work with as a gift in Amy’s name. This will help us to keep her amazing spirit alive in our work that she was so passionate about,” her fundraising page reads.