Comedian and late-night legend Conan O’Brien has made millions laugh for decades, but behind the scenes, he’s been in a steady, supportive relationship with his wife, Liza Powel O’Brien, for over two decades. The two met in 1999 in a setting that was anything but glamorous—an advertising pitch meeting—yet it sparked a connection that has stood the test of time.
Today, the couple shares two children and a creative partnership that extends into the podcasting world through Conan’s Team Coco network. So, who exactly is Liza Powel O’Brien, and what makes her such an intriguing figure beyond her role as the spouse of a comedy icon?
Liza and Conan’s First Meeting Was Pure Serendipity
The year was 1999 when Conan, then hosting Late Night with Conan O’Brien, visited the Foote, Cone & Belding ad agency for a remote comedy segment. Liza, a copywriter at the time, happened to be part of the creative team Conan was working with. According to Conan, it was love at first conversation.
“She walked out [after the meeting], and we just kept talking,” Conan recalled during a 2020 interview on The Michelle Obama Podcast. That impromptu chat in the lobby laid the groundwork for their future. They began dating shortly after, and three years later, on January 12, 2002, they tied the knot in Liza’s hometown of Seattle.
Their wedding at St. James Cathedral was officiated by Conan’s Harvard roommate, Rev. Paul O’Brien (no relation), and included guests like Friends star Lisa Kudrow. As of 2025, the couple has been married for 23 years.
From Copywriting to Playwriting: Liza’s Creative Career
Born Elizabeth Ann Powel in the early 1970s (estimated age: 53 as of 2025), Liza has always had a flair for storytelling. After earning a bachelor’s degree from Vassar College, she pursued her MFA in fiction writing from Columbia University.
Her academic background laid the foundation for her career as a playwright. Liza has written at least 12 plays, which have been developed and presented at major venues like the Geffen Playhouse, Ojai Playwrights Conference, Blank Theatre, and Unscreened LA.
Among her most notable works is The Great Experiment, a play set at Vassar College in 1865. Other plays include Ruthie Goes Shopping, The Distinguished Gentleman, John Wayne Times, and Lucky. Her full-length play Apostrophe debuted at the Ojai Playwrights Conference in 2020 and premiered at the Whidbey Island Center for the Arts in 2022.
As of 2025, Liza Powel O’Brien’s estimated net worth is around $2 million, stemming from her playwriting, copywriting career, and podcasting ventures.
She’s Also a Podcast Host on Team Coco
In July 2022, Liza expanded her creative portfolio by launching Significant Others, a nonfiction podcast hosted on Conan’s Team Coco network. The show focuses on the unsung heroes behind iconic figures—highlighting lesser-known individuals who played pivotal roles in shaping someone else’s legacy.
The show features celebrity narrators like Megan Mullally, Jameela Jamil, Timothy Olyphant, and Rita Wilson, offering a mix of historical depth and narrative drama. It’s earned praise for its insightful storytelling and unique lens.
In a 2022 interview with Newsweek, Liza said, “For Conan, I don’t think I would be the significant other in terms of just being his wife, but he has other people in the story of his career who were pivotal. That could be an interesting story.”
Life at Home: Marriage, Parenthood, and Humor
Liza and Conan are parents to two children. Their daughter, Neve O’Brien, was born on October 14, 2003. Now 21, she’s currently studying at Yale University, with an expected graduation date in 2026. Their son, Beckett O’Brien, was born on November 9, 2005, and is now 19.
Despite their high-profile lives, the O’Briens keep their family relatively private. However, Conan often jokes about his wife and kids on social media. On Mother’s Day 2022, he tweeted, “All my wife wants is two years of alone time.” For Father’s Day, he quipped that his kids gave him “a cold and distant stare.”
In a 2020 conversation with the Ojai Playwrights Conference, Liza shared the emotional challenges of raising teenagers: “It’s sort of terrifying to watch them… They have a lot of confidence in some ways and doubt in others, but they don’t know any of that yet.”
A Quiet but Strong Presence
Liza doesn’t seek the spotlight, but her influence is deeply felt in Conan’s life and career. In fact, during a podcast episode with Claire Danes in June 2023, Conan revealed that an unexpected encounter with the actress once helped him win points with Liza early in their relationship.
“I think that may have gotten me my wife of 21 years,” he said with a laugh.
Liza prefers her creative projects and family life over red carpets and publicity tours. Still, her work—whether on stage or in podcast form—continues to earn recognition on its own merit.