Conan O' Brien's wife, Liza Powel, is a lass not foreign to many folks. Despite a very successful yet eventful TV career for her husband, Liza has been the somewhat silent force that kept the man pushing for a bigger TV and comedy legacy.
Unlike her superstar husband, Elizabeth Ann Powel, as she's formally known, has been a steady riser to fame. And as such, not so much is known about her. And even beyond her as a person, her relationship with Conan is not something we'd call an open book by Hollywood standards.
So, in this piece, we'll focus on the comedian's wife's life, career, and relationship with her TV sensation husband. So read on.
14 She Is From Washington
Liza Powell was born Elizabeth Ann Powel in Bainbridge Island, Washington, to one Jake Powel and his wife, Ann. From her early childhood days growing up in Washington, she had a keen interest in writing, which played a huge role in shaping her future career. She was also a staunch member of the local Catholic Church.
13 She Was Born On The 12th Of November, 1970
Now 50 years old, Liza Powel was born on 12th November 1970 in the United States. Luckily for her, she was born in a rather well-known family, given her father's rather famous name at the local restaurant. However, unlike common myth, this “local fame” did not play any role in propelling her to screenwriting and advertising fortune.
12 They Have Two Children: Beckett And Neve
Life has been so good to the Brien family. They are blessed with two children, Beckett and Neve. Their daughter, Neve, was born on 14th October 2003 while their son, Beckett, was born on 9th November 2005. Daily Mail reports that the family is closely knit, with the quartet having been spotted once having a day out at the beach in France.
11 They Met In 2000 While Conan Was Filming His Show
While talking to the Huffington Post, Conan called it "love at first sight". Conan and Liz met in 2000 when Conan was filming the "Late Night with Conan O' Brien" show. Liz, on the other hand, was getting ready to do a commercial on the same show, when Conan spotted the beau from the sides and immediately fell in love.
10 They Have Been Married For 18 Years
Liz and Conan tied the knot on the 12th of January 2002, roughly two years after the "love at first sight" encounter. The wedding took place in Seattle, Washington, at the St. James Cathedral Church, which is Liz’s home turf as well as her local church where she grew up as a catholic.
9 They Dated For 18 Months Before They Were Married
Well, unlike most love at first sight stories we get to hear, Liz and Conan's story didn't end up with the two tying the knot two months later. Huffington Post reports that it took the couple 18 months of dating before they finally tied the knot on 12th January 2002.
8 She Worked As A Copywriter For An Advertising Agency
This is the dream job that landed Liza Powel into the eyes of her dream man. IMDb reports that Liza Powel worked as a copywriter for Foote, Cone & Belding, an advertising agency. She furthered her career into an ad executive before finally calling it quits for a role that would challenge her more, creatively.
7 She Is A Screenwriter
After her stint as a copywriter, then an ad executive, Liza changed her focus to screenwriting. This, she felt, would challenge her more creatively and make better use of her writing skills. The Famous People reports that Powel's works have been shown in theatres and festivals around Los Angeles, New York, and Seattle.
6 She Stood By Conan After He Was Dropped By The Tonight Show
After Conan was controversially dropped from the Tonight Show, Liza Powel was his only beam of light during the dark times. While speaking to Rolling Stone, Liza described him, at the time, as "miserable and depressed". She had to offer unwavering support for him to get back to his feet and deal with the major career setback.
5 Her Net Worth Is $85 Million
For a former advertising executive and excellent screenwriter, Liza Powel is bound to reel in a lot of money to the family. Add that to her comedian husband's fortune, and the couple commands a combined net worth of $85 million, as reported by TV Show Stars. The two, as it turns out, don’t mind sharing their fortunes.
4 Her Father Is The Lead Guitarist In The “Dixieland Band”
What made her dad famous? Well, Elizabeth Ann Powel’s father was a legendary local guitarist. Liz's dad, Jake Powel, was the lead guitarist for the local "Dixieland Band". And despite aging and losing his youthful groove over the years, he's still been performing at the New Orleans Creole restaurant for over 20 years, every Monday.
3 She Graduated From Columbia University With A Master’s Degree In Fine Arts
Excellent copywriting and screenwriting are more than just talents for Liz. They're abilities she nurtured in school. The Famous People reports that Liz graduated from the University Of Columbia School Of Arts with a master's degree in fine arts. This career path was fueled by her passion for writing, which she developed at a young age.
2 She Owns A House With Her Husband Worth $19 Million
This is one of the significant contributors to their $85 million net worth. True to their wealth sharing spirit, Glamour reports that Liza Powel and Conan O’Brien jointly bought a house worth slightly over $19 million. The palatial home is built on a piece of land stretching over 11,600 square feet.
1 She Rarely Uses Social Media
Unlike Conan O’Brien, Liz is a rather low key celebrity on social media. She's dormant on almost all social media platforms, rarely posting any significant news or developments in her career or life. Rather, she prefers leaving most of the wave-making to her husband who has over 1.5 million followers on Instagram.
Sources: The Daily Mail, Huffington Post, Rolling Stone, IMDb, The Famous People