Anecdotes

Filed petition to make his name change official from Leibowitz to Stewart. When 60 Minutes (1968) asked him why he dropped Leibowitz, Stewart explained, "Sounded too Hollywood". (juin 2001)

New York, NY, USA: Announced he would step down from hosting his show for 12 weeks, beginning in June, to direct a serious dramatic film which he wrote, called Rosewater. Stewart's screenplay is an adaptation of a book by Canadian-Iranian journalist Maziar Bahari who was jailed for months in Tehran in 2009 after being accused of plotting a revolution, only because he had appeared on Stewart's Daily Show with correspondent Jason Jones, who was pretending to be a spy. (mars 2013)

Was on a celebrity episode of Who Wants to Be a Millionaire (1999) and won $125,000 for Alzheimer's disease research. (2000)

Original major in college was chemistry.

Does the New York Times crossword every night with his wife.

Decided to quit smoking after being encouraged by the CGL Foundation. (28 décembre 2000)

After graduating college, he drifted between numerous jobs including busboy in a Mexican restaurant. His production company, Busboy Productions, is a reference to this job.

The College of William and Mary soccer team still gives out an award called the "Liebo", named after Jon's birth name of Liebowitz. It is given to the clown/sweetheart of the team.

According to TV Guide Magazine, Stewart is currently the highest paid late night TV personality as of 2013 with a reported annual salary of $25-30 million as host of The Daily Show (1996).

Was introduced to his wife, Tracy McShane, by a production assistant on Wishful Thinking (1997). Proposed to her through a crossword puzzle made by Will Shortz.

Attended the College of William and Mary, where he was on the soccer team.

Made his first television appearance as a child on a local Philadelphia children's show, "Captain Noah and His Magical Ark". He appeared as a trumpet player for "The Lawrence Stage Band".

Both he and his wife, Tracy McShane, legally changed their last names to Stewart when they were married.

Was voted the second funniest person in America by Entertainment Weekly behind Chris Rock. (2004)

His wife, Tracy McShane, is a veterinary technician.

Longtime friends with Arizona senator John McCain, a frequent guest on his show.

The online "Campaign Desk: Critique and analysis of 2004 campaign coverage from Columbia Journalism Review" published what they called "A Campaign Desk Honor Roll, of Sorts", offering "a short list of reporters who consistently rise above the superficial to do original and often insightful work". #4 on the list of 20 journalists was Jon Stewart and The Daily Show (1996) on Comedy Central - coming in ahead of many writers for The New York Times, the Washington Post, and other highly rated periodicals and newspapers. (24 septembre 2004)

Release of his book, "Naked Pictures of Famous People". (1998)

He studied psychology in college.

Was a member of the Pi Kappa Alpha fraternity for six months. During that time, he felt that fraternities had no point and dropped out. He feels no allegiance to PiKA at all.

Was paid $6 million for the first season of The Daily Show.

Met Stephen Colbert's wife Evelyn McGee before actually meeting co-star Colbert.

Graduated from Lawrence High School in Lawrence, New Jersey, in 1980. In the yearbook, he was voted "Best Sense of Humor". He still occasionally returns for school fundraisers.

After releasing his book, "America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction", viewers for The Daily Show increased 17% from the previous year.

Was chosen by People Magazine as one of the 50 Most Beautiful People In The World. (1999)

Admitted that his scribbling on paper and tapping his pen is a nervous tic that developed since he quit smoking.

His four-year production deal with HBO was canceled due to "technical reasons". (mai 2017)

His biggest comedic influences were Woody Allen, Steve Martin, Lenny Bruce, and George Carlin.

Is a lifelong fan of the New York Mets.

His paternal grandparents, Max Leibowitz and Rachel Rosenfeld, were Austrian Jewish immigrants. His maternal grandparents, Fannie and Nathan Laskin, were of Eastern European Jewish descent (their families were from Poland, Ukraine, and Belarus). His maternal grandfather was born in Manzhouli, China, where his parents had moved to, and later lived in Tientsin, China.

He was inducted into the New Jersey Hall of Fame for his services in the Performance Arts. (2015)

Release of his book, "America (The Book): A Citizen's Guide to Democracy Inaction". (2004)

Had a strained professional relationship with former Daily Show correspondent Wyatt Cenac. Cenac took offense when Stewart did an impression of Herman Cain, claiming the impression too closely resembled Kingfish from the Amos N' Andy Show. When Cenac brought it to Stewart's attention (their stories differ somewhat), Stewart felt Cenac was being overly sensitive, and Cenac thought Stewart was berating him prior to storming out of the office. It eventually led to Cenac leaving the show shortly thereafter, but they had since patched things up in time for Stewarts's final night hosting the Daily Show, in which Cenac had a cameo.

Close friends with Jennifer Beals and Stephen Colbert.

Signed a four-year production deal with HBO. (2015)

Very good friends with comedians Dennis Miller and Ricky Gervais.

Has a half-brother named Matt who works in the music industry in Trenton, New Jersey.

Has two children together with his wife, Tracy McShane, a son Nathan Thomas Stewart (b. 3 July 2004) and a daughter Maggie Rose Stewart (b. 4 Feb 2006).

Was scheduled to host Saturday Night Live (1975) but had to back out at the last minute. He was replaced by Alan Cumming. (5 février 2000)

His political hero is Robert Kennedy.

Had a small part in Le club des ex (1996) but it was left on the cutting room floor.

Has a cat named Stan and two pitbulls, Monkey and Shamsky. Shamsky was named after Art Shamsky.

Will host the Academy Awards for the first time. (février 2006)

In 1995, he optioned the rights to Jack Finney's 1977 book "The Night People". He planned to produce and star in the film version for Miramax but the project never came to fruition.

A fan of professional wrestling.

He was the inspiration for how Jon Favreau developed the company and podcast network Crooked Media.

Did uncredited writing work for Caroline's Comedy Hour (1989).

Devoted fan of the New York Giants.

Renewed his contract with Comedy Central and will continue to host The Daily Show through 2010. (18 octobre 2007)

He inspired music student Andy Junttonen's political satire opera called the State of the Union.