Stephen Colbert Reveals Intimate Secrets of His ‘Late Show’ Set—and the Stunning Discovery Made When He Moved In

Stephen Colbert is preparing to bid farewell to “The Late Show” once and for all—but not before pulling back the curtain on one of New York City’s most iconic TV sets: the legendary Ed Sullivan Theater, which has served as the home of the hit series for more than three decades.

In a new behind-the-scenes tour with Architectural Digest, Colbert, 62, opened the doors to his longtime Manhattan set, revealing hidden passageways, secret architectural details, and personal keepsakes tucked throughout the historic venue.

“We're here in the Ed Sullivan Theater, built in 1927,” Colbert began at the start of the tour, noting that the space was originally designed to be “a cathedral of culture.”

The Emmy-winning host, who took over “The Late Show” in 2015 after David Letterman stepped down, shared that one of the biggest discoveries made during the theater’s renovation that year was a hidden dome and stained glass that had been covered up for decades.

“I couldn't believe it had been hidden all these years,” Colbert admitted, revealing that workers uncovered original stained glass windows hidden beneath white vinyl—as well as a stunning chandelier with its own stained glass design.

Colbert revealed that the stunning architectural detail had been covered over by the various pieces of equipment need to reduce the amount of "bounce" caused by the soaring ceilings, noting that—despite having been on Letterman's show multiple times, he'd never really known what the space actually looked like under all of the staging.

"I wanted to know what the dome was like ... and they said, 'Oh it's all gone, it was all torn out in the 1950s,'" he recalled. "And I said, 'Well I'd like to just go see.' And so they took down the sound sails and it was all still there. So we went to CBS and, god bless them, they gave us the money to restore it."

However, there were some other, less-than-elegant discoveries made, with Colbert joking that workmen who were restoring the chandelier came across "cigars, tools, and traffic tickets from the 1940s and 1950s up there."

Eventually, the chandelier was restored to its original glory, complete with stained glass designs that depict several of the musicians and performers who graced the stage in its earliest years.

The ornate theater, which previously welcomed legendary performers including Elvis Presley and The Beatles, also features a series of concealed doors, trapdoors, catwalks, and balconies woven throughout the set.

Elsewhere in the tour, Colbert showcased personal memorabilia scattered across the studio, including a sword gifted to him by Viggo Mortensen, a "Captain America" shield from Marvel, and bookshelves packed entirely with science fiction and fantasy novels.

One of the most sentimental details on the set sits directly beneath the show’s logo: a South Carolina state outline placed at Colbert’s monologue mark.

“I like it because it reminds me to be myself,” he shared.

It is currently unclear what will become of the Ed Sullivan Theater when Colbert's show ends—however Broadway World notes that its landmarked status means it must remain as a performance space, whether it is used to stage plays, musical performances, or future TV shows.

The tour comes as Colbert prepares for the final episode of “The Late Show,” which CBS confirmed will end after 11 seasons with him as the host on May 21.

And while the comedian reflected fondly on the theater’s storied history, he also admitted he’s emotional about its uncertain future.

“In my opinion, it's the best broadcast space in New York City,” Colbert said before confessing that the possibility of the venue no longer housing a late-night show “breaks my heart.”

The glimpse inside the theater came after the comedian opened up about his plans following the end of the show.

Even before his show entered its final two weeks, which began with a visit from several of his fellow late night hosts, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver, questions were already being raised about what the future holds for Colbert—and whether he will pivot from East Coast comedy to the bright lights of Hollywood.

The longtime television personality recently joked about the growing speculation surrounding his next move during an episode of his show, noting that there have been a wild variety of conspiracies about what he will do next, almost none of which are entirely true.

“I've heard a lot of theories—everything from I'm moving to CNN to I'm announcing a massive wildlife rescue program to I'm running for president of the United States,” Colbert quipped. “Now, here's the thing. I can reveal right now that all of those are partially true.

“Next year, I will be president of an animal sanctuary dedicated to caring for the rare Blitzer Wolf," he added.

 Colbert has already started expanding into new creative territory that has taken him far beyond New York City—starting with a major movie role that was announced in March 2026: co-writer of the next "Lord of the Rings" installment.

During the 2026 Cannes Film Festival, filmmaker Peter Jackson revealed that Colbert had been hard at work on the movie, which is titled "The Lord of the Rings: Shadow of the Past," after personally pitching the project himself.

Jackson explained that Colbert became deeply invested in the project long before CBS announced the cancellation, with the late night host even traveling to New Zealand to work on the screenplay alongside his son and longtime Tolkien collaborators.

Work aside, Colbert is already planning to hit the road immediately after his show concludes, telling The Hollywood Reporter in a recent interview that he has an action-packed schedule lined up, focusing almost entirely on familial commitments.

"My brother is getting married, so my whole family is going to be here on [May 21], and then we’re all going to get on the train and go to DC for the wedding. So, immediately after the show’s over, there’s something much more important going on," he revealed, before noting that his obligations as a family man actually start even before his show concludes, when his son will graduate from college on May 18.

"There’s something much more important going on the Monday before, too," he added. "My son is graduating from college. Then there’s a little blip in the middle where my 20-year late night career comes to an end. The universe has conspired to give me the proper perspective."

He also revealed to the outlet that Hollywood had come calling as soon as his show's cancellation was announced, but noted that he hadn't accepted any other big projects because he wanted to focus solely on finishing his late night run before thinking about what lies ahead.

"Yes, immediately," he said when asked if he'd been pitched scripts. "And listen, people have been patient because I’ve had to say, like, 'I’m sorry, when I no longer have to think about this show all the time, I’ll have a better idea of what I want to do.' But it’s been very nice."

The comedian has previously admitted that he was actually looking forward to having a break from the late night grind, particularly when it comes to dealing with the heaviness of politics and news.

“I love what we do and I love the grind,” Colbert explained to GQ. “But there is a sense of relief that I might not have to put on the snorkel and get into the sewer every day."

And while fans are focused on the emotional final episode, Colbert recently revealed that the aftermath behind the scenes will be far less sentimental.

“We all have to be out,” Colbert explained while discussing the abrupt closure of the Ed Sullivan Theater during a recent late night host roundtable. “I’m already packed,” he added, according to Entertainment Weekly. 

According to the comedian, staff members will stop being paid immediately after the finale airs, with offices expected to be vacated within days. 

Whether Colbert will be taking box loads of memorabilia back to his family home in Montclair, NJ, remains to be seen, however.