Let’s face it, life has a way of throwing curveballs at us when we least expect it. Conan O’Brien, the beloved late-night host, knows this all too well. In December 2024, his world was turned upside down after the sudden passing of both his parents, just three days apart. Now, as he prepares to host the 2025 Oscars, a source exclusively tells Closer that Conan is taking this monumental responsibility seriously, steering clear of his usual antics, and opting for a more heartfelt approach.
Now, you might be wondering, how does someone navigate such a profound personal loss and still step into the spotlight for one of the most significant nights in entertainment? Well, according to insiders, Conan isn't alone in this journey. "Conan has a bunch of siblings that he’s still very close to, so he hasn’t had to go through this tragedy alone," the source reveals. "But the timing of his parents’ deaths was a complete shock and it happened right as things were creatively coming together for him with his upcoming debut as Oscar host."
Conan, now 61, lost his parents, Ruth Reardon O’Brien and Dr. Thomas Francis O’Brien, in December 2024. The couple, who had been married for over 66 years, passed away just days apart. Dr. O’Brien passed on December 9, 2024, at the age of 95, and his wife, Ruth, followed peacefully on December 12, 2024, at the age of 92. Their love story was one for the ages, and their legacy lives on through their children.
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From Personal Loss to Global Stage
As if losing both parents wasn’t enough, Conan faced yet another challenge when the Palisades and Eaton fires struck Southern California in early January, forcing thousands of Los Angeles residents, including Conan, to evacuate their homes. "It’s crazy how things work because shortly after his mom and dad passed, Conan had to take in the devastation of the L.A. wildfires," the insider explains. "The reality has set in that this will be a very different Oscar ceremony than in years past."
But Conan isn’t one to let adversity get the best of him. Instead, he’s channeling his emotions into something beautiful. The insider reveals that Conan’s mission as the 2025 Oscars host is to create "a love letter to the people of Los Angeles," a city that has been his home for the past 16 years. "Conan and his family have been evacuated since the fires," the source continues. "He’s pouring the stress of the situation into the Oscars job."
A New Approach to Hosting
And here’s the kicker: Conan isn’t just hosting the Oscars; he’s leading the charge as the show’s head writer this year. "Conan is steering the comedy away from his usual over-the-top antics and into something really different and emotional," the source explains. While the academy has dealt with large-scale tragedies in the past, like 9/11 or the pandemic, fans will be surprised by how Conan executes his role as host. "With Conan, they have a seasoned leader who has just gone through a devastating personal tragedy as well, and he’s going to deliver the goods as a tribute to the parents he just lost and the homes and lives lost by his family’s neighbors in L.A," the insider adds.
Walking the Tightrope
Conan has a daunting task ahead of him: walking the tightrope of honoring his parents’ legacy, acknowledging the losses suffered by his community, and delivering a memorable Oscars show. "It’s a huge moment for Conan, and he’s going to have to walk a tightrope because of these sensitive issues," the insider explains. "But he’s up to the challenge and has the support system around him to actually pull this off and make the show one for the history books!"
Conan previously teased that he and the academy planned to present the show in a way that would "respect the moment." "What I’m saying to my writers is, ‘don’t — let’s not decide now what’s going to be on the show. Let’s think of lots of different ideas, lots of different approaches," he told On The Red Carpet on January 24. "And as we get closer to the night, I think, I have, I can read a room and I can, when I say read a room, I don’t just mean it can’t be just that room … It’s global. So what is the room? Read that room."
