Stephen Colbert pays tribute to mother to kick off show (Video)

Stephen Colbert put aside his act as a television pundit for a moment last night to explain to his fans why he had been gone for a week. His mother, Lorna Elizabeth Tuck Colbert died at age 92 and he thanked his fans for their support.

Lorna died last Wednesday and Colbert did not tape a new episode for Thursday night. He returned last night and spoke about his mother, who gave birth to 11 children.

“When you watch the show, if you like this show, that’s because of everybody who works here, and I’m lucky to be one of them,” Colbert said, reports http://popwatch.ew.com/2013/06/20/stephen-colberts-tribute-to-his-late-mom-lorna-get-ready-to-cry-video/>Entertainment Weekly. “But when you watch the show and you also like me, that’s because of my mom.”

Colbert showed incredible strength as he took viewers through a short history of his mother’s life, notes TV Guide.

“She was fun,” the Comedy Central host said. “She knew more than her share of tragedy, losing her brother and her husband and three of her sons, but her love for her family and her faith in God somehow gave her the strength not only to go on, but to love life without bitterness, and to instill in all of us a gratitude for every day we have together.”

The Colbert Report had previously been on hold in February 2012, while Colbert rushed to take care of his mother when she was ill. “Evidently having 11 children makes you tough as nails...Confidential to a lovely lady,” he said at the time.