Stephen Colbert and Wayne Gretzky are connected primarily through Gretzky’s October 18, 2016 appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. There is no reliable public evidence showing that the two are relatives, longtime business partners, or close personal associates.
Their best-documented interaction came when Gretzky visited Colbert’s CBS show while promoting his hockey book 99: Stories of the Game. The interview also produced a widely viewed segment about how Gretzky received his famous nickname, “The Great One.”
What Is the Connection Between Stephen Colbert and Wayne Gretzky?
The clearest connection between Stephen Colbert and Wayne Gretzky is a television interview.
CBS records confirm that Gretzky was a guest at the October 18, 2016 taping of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in New York. Official Paramount Press Express photographs identify Gretzky as Colbert’s guest at that taping.
The episode also featured actor and author Nick Offerman and filmmaker Morgan Spurlock, while the band Joseph appeared with Jon Batiste and Stay Human. Episode listings independently record Gretzky as a guest on the October 18 broadcast.
That public appearance appears to be the main reason people searching both names together encounter results linking Colbert and Gretzky.
There is no well-supported evidence that they share a deeper professional partnership or family connection.
Wayne Gretzky’s 2016 Appearance on The Late Show
Gretzky appeared on The Late Show at an especially relevant moment in his post-playing career. His book 99: Stories of the Game was published on October 18, 2016, the same date as his appearance with Colbert.
Published by G.P. Putnam’s Sons, the book combines stories from Gretzky’s career with his reflections on hockey history, teammates, rivals, mentors and players who influenced him. The hardcover edition ran 416 pages.
Episode records describe Gretzky’s segment as a discussion of both the book and his hockey career.
The timing therefore was not accidental. His appearance formed part of the media activity surrounding the book’s release.
The “Great One” Story
One of the best-known pieces of the Colbert-Gretzky interview concerned the origin of Gretzky’s nickname.
The official Late Show with Stephen Colbert YouTube channel published a clip on October 19, 2016 titled “How Wayne Gretzky Earned His Nickname.” The program described Gretzky as having to live up to the name “The Great One” after receiving it when he was only about 10 years old.
The story has been told by Gretzky on other occasions as well. In later accounts, he explained that a reporter covering him as a remarkable young hockey player helped popularize the nickname. By that age, Gretzky was already attracting extraordinary attention because of his scoring in minor hockey.
The nickname eventually became inseparable from his public identity.
Why Was Wayne Gretzky Such a Major Guest for Colbert?
By the time Gretzky sat across from Stephen Colbert, his status went far beyond being a retired athlete.
Gretzky played 20 NHL seasons for the Edmonton Oilers, Los Angeles Kings, St. Louis Blues and New York Rangers. He won four Stanley Cups with Edmonton and finished his regular-season career with 2,857 points from 894 goals and 1,963 assists.
Those numbers need one important modern update.
For decades, Gretzky’s 894 goals stood as the NHL career record. Alexander Ovechkin surpassed that total with his 895th regular-season goal on April 6, 2025. Gretzky nevertheless remains the NHL’s career leader in total regular-season points and assists.
This distinction matters because older articles and television clips may still describe Gretzky as the NHL’s career goals leader. That statement is no longer current as of 2026.
Gretzky’s broader record remains extraordinary. NHL records list his 2,857 regular-season points as the most in league history, while his career total rises to 3,239 points when his 382 playoff points are included.
Who Is Stephen Colbert?
Stephen Colbert is an American comedian, writer, producer and television host whose career spans The Daily Show, The Colbert Report and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
He became host of CBS’s The Late Show on September 8, 2015. His version of the program ultimately ran for more than a decade.
An important current update is that Colbert is no longer hosting new episodes of The Late Show. The series finale aired on May 21, 2026, ending Colbert’s approximately 11-year run and the broader CBS Late Show franchise.
CBS reported that Colbert hosted more than 1,800 episodes during his tenure.
His television work has also received extensive industry recognition. The Television Academy lists Colbert with 51 Emmy nominations and 13 wins, including 2026 awards connected with The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
That means descriptions calling him the “current host” of The Late Show are outdated as of September 2026. He is more accurately described as its former host.
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Who Is Wayne Gretzky Today?
Gretzky retired as an NHL player in 1999, but he has remained heavily involved with hockey.
After his playing career, he held executive and coaching positions and became a prominent broadcaster. Warner Bros. Discovery Sports announced a multi-year extension with Gretzky and fellow NHL studio analysts in 2023, and he continued appearing on TNT’s hockey coverage afterward.
His role remained active during the 2025-26 season. TNT Sports’ January 2026 material listed Gretzky alongside Paul Bissonnette, Henrik Lundqvist, Anson Carter and host Liam McHugh as part of its NHL studio group.
TNT also announced Gretzky as part of its studio coverage during the 2026 Stanley Cup Playoffs.
Reuters reported in October 2025 that Gretzky had agreed to another multi-year extension as an NHL analyst with Turner Sports.
So while Gretzky’s playing career ended decades ago, his professional connection to hockey remains active through television analysis and other appearances.
Are Stephen Colbert and Wayne Gretzky Friends?
There is not enough reliable public information to describe Stephen Colbert and Wayne Gretzky as close personal friends.
They clearly interacted professionally during Gretzky’s 2016 appearance, and the interview was friendly in the ordinary format of a late-night guest conversation. CBS photographs, episode records and the official video establish that meeting.
However, a television appearance by itself does not demonstrate a private friendship.
No credible source reviewed for this article establishes an ongoing personal relationship between them.
Are Stephen Colbert and Wayne Gretzky Related?
No known family relationship connects Stephen Colbert and Wayne Gretzky.
Colbert was born in Charleston, South Carolina, while Gretzky was born in Brantford, Ontario. Their careers also developed in completely different fields, with Colbert becoming known for comedy and television and Gretzky becoming one of professional hockey’s defining figures.
Searches linking their names are better explained by Gretzky’s Late Show appearance than by any family connection.
Did Stephen Colbert and Wayne Gretzky Work Together?
They worked together only in the broad sense that Gretzky appeared as a guest on Colbert’s television program.
There is no reliable evidence of a joint company, recurring television project, sports venture, book, investment or other substantial collaboration involving both men.
The documented timeline is straightforward:
| Date | Verified event |
|---|---|
| September 8, 2015 | Stephen Colbert began hosting The Late Show |
| October 18, 2016 | 99: Stories of the Game was published |
| October 18, 2016 | Wayne Gretzky appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert |
| October 19, 2016 | The show’s official YouTube channel published the Gretzky nickname segment |
| April 6, 2025 | Alexander Ovechkin passed Gretzky’s NHL regular-season career goals record |
| May 21, 2026 | Colbert hosted the final episode of The Late Show |
| 2026 | Gretzky continued appearing as an NHL studio analyst for TNT Sports |
The dates are supported by Penguin Random House, CBS/Paramount, the NHL and TNT Sports records.
Why Do People Search for Stephen Colbert and Wayne Gretzky Together?
The most likely reason is the 2016 interview and the online video that followed it.
The official clip about Gretzky’s “Great One” nickname remains a prominent searchable connection between the two names. Gretzky was also promoting a major book at the time, giving the interview continuing relevance to people looking for information about his career and personal stories.
The pairing should therefore not be interpreted as evidence of a secret business or family relationship. Based on verifiable public information, it is primarily a host-and-guest connection created through The Late Show.
FAQ
When did Wayne Gretzky appear on Stephen Colbert’s show?
Wayne Gretzky appeared on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert on October 18, 2016. Official CBS/Paramount photographs and episode records confirm the appearance.
Why was Wayne Gretzky on The Late Show?
His appearance coincided with the October 18, 2016 publication of 99: Stories of the Game, his book about hockey history, his career and the people who influenced him.
Did Stephen Colbert interview Wayne Gretzky about “The Great One” nickname?
Yes. The official Late Show YouTube channel published a segment titled “How Wayne Gretzky Earned His Nickname” after the appearance, focusing on how the name “The Great One” followed Gretzky from childhood.
Are Stephen Colbert and Wayne Gretzky related?
There is no credible evidence that they are related. Their verified public connection comes from Gretzky appearing as a guest on Colbert’s show.
Is Wayne Gretzky still the NHL’s all-time goals leader?
No. Alexander Ovechkin scored his 895th regular-season NHL goal on April 6, 2025, passing Gretzky’s former record of 894. Gretzky still holds the NHL records for career regular-season assists and points, with 1,963 assists and 2,857 points.
Is Stephen Colbert still hosting The Late Show?
No. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert aired its series finale on May 21, 2026. Colbert had hosted the program since September 2015.
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