Stephen Colbert thanks wife Evelyn Colbert for 'saving his life' following appendix rupture in November

LOS ANGELES, CALIFORNIA: Stephen Colbert attributes the saving of his life to his wife Evelyn McGee-Colbert after experiencing a ruptured appendix.

The 59-year-old host of 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' shared details about the incident, which occurred in November, during an interview with ET’s Nischelle Turner on the red carpet prior to the 75th annual Emmy Awards on January 15.

Colbert credits wife for life-saving intervention

According to Independent, Colbert, who had to cancel multiple shows in November due to the health emergency, acknowledged his wife of over 30 years, stating, “Where’s my wife? She’s somewhere around here. She saved my life.”

He went on to provide more information about the ruptured appendix, explaining how McGee-Colbert played a crucial role in his recovery.

“First, appendix. And I was in a lot of pain. It was the last show before we took a break. And I went: ‘I’ll just go do the show anyway. I’m sure we’ll be fine.’ By the time the show’s over I had a 102.5 fever. I was in shock. I had blood poisoning,” he recalled.

Despite being in significant pain, Colbert attempted to go on with the show before realizing the severity of his condition.

Colbert's humorous warning and McGee-Colbert's swift response to health crisis

Reflecting on the situation, Colbert humorously cautioned viewers, saying, “Don’t do it, kids. Don’t broadcast with blood poisoning!” According to Colbert, McGee-Colbert recognized the urgency of the situation just by the sound of his voice when he called her from the car.

He described how his condition worsened on the drive home, with chattering teeth and spasms throughout his body. McGee-Colbert insisted on taking him directly to the hospital, overriding his preference to go home.

McGee-Colbert's critical decision and concern for Colbert's well-being

McGee-Colbert, who accompanied Colbert on the red carpet, elaborated on her decision, expressing concern about providing adequate care at home.

She said, “I kept saying: ‘What am I gonna do at home with you?’ No, we need a hospital. We need medical care because I can’t take care of that kind of pain.”

Colbert, who has three children with McGee-Colbert, initially shared the details of his ruptured appendix when he returned to The Late Show in December.

He recalled enduring excruciating pain while filming and suffering from a 'raging fever' on the day before his absence. By the time he reached the hospital, his appendix had already burst.

Colbert and McGee-Colbert tied the knot in 1993, having first encountered each other in the lobby of a theater. They are parents to Madeline, their daughter, as well as sons Peter and John.