Talk shows are an interesting piece of television, and there are of course thousands of them across the globe. Here you have some of the major American talk shows, and more specifically, the hosts and hostesses of those shows. Many of them worked with something else originally before embarking on their careers as talk show hosts. Such as in the fields of acting, journalism, law, literature, macadamia farming, psychology, stand-up comedy, and television production.

Happy reading!

1921-1226 Steve Allen* the co-creator and first host of The Tonight Show, whic, and hosting The Steve Allen Show (1956-1964) – New York, NY USA (2000/78)
1925-1023 Johnny Carson* hosting The Tonight Show Starring Johnny Carson (1962-1992) – Corning, IA USA (2005/79)
1929-0925 Barbara Walters* hosting of The View - Boston, MA USA

1931-0825 Regis Philbin* media personality/talk show host/game show host - The Bronx, NY USA (2020/88)
1935-1221 Phil Donahue* hosting The Phil Donahue Show – Cleveland, OH USA
1936-1119 Dick Cavett* hosting The Dick Cavett Show (1968-2007, various times)– Gibbon, NE USA
1939-0117 Maury Povich* hosting The Maury Povich Show & Maury – Washington, D.C. USA

1944-0213 Jerry Springer* hosting The Jerry Springer Show (1991-2018). 28 seasons and over 4000 episodes. Also the host of Judge Jerry. – London, England

1950-0428 Jay Leno* stand-up comedian/television host (The Tonight Show with Jay Leno) – New Rochelle, NY USA
1950-0901 Phil McGraw* hosting Dr. Phil - Vinita, OK USA
1952-1103 Roseanne Barr* hosting Roseanne (1988–1997; 2018) – Salt Lake City, UT USA
1954-0129 Oprah Winfrey* hosting The Oprah Winfrey Show – Kosciusko, MS USA
1955-1113 Whoopi Goldberg* hosting The View - New York, NY USA
1956-0120 Bill Maher* hosting Politically Incorrect (1993–2002), and Real Time with Bill Maher (2003–) – New York, NY USA
1956-0212 Arsenio Hall* hosting The Arsenio Hall Show (1989-1994) and (2013-2014) – Cleveland, OH USA
1958-0126 Ellen DeGeneres* hosting The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003-) – Metairie, LA USA

1963-0418 Conan O’Brien* hosting Late Night with Conan O’Brien (1993–2009), The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien (2009–2010), and Conan (2010–2021) – Brookline, MA USA
1964-0513 Stephen Colbert* hosting The Colbert Report (2005-2014) and The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015-) – Washington D.C. USA
1967-1113 Jimmy Kimmel* hosting Jimmy Kimmel Live! (2003-)– Brooklyn, NY USA
1968-0602 Andy Cohen* hosting Watch What Happens Live with Andy Cohen (2009-) – St. Louis, MO USA

1970-1118 Megyn Kelly* hosting Megyn Kelly Today (2017-2018) - Champaign, IL USA

To get some depth and human touch in this article, here is a nice piece about Maury Povich and Connie Chung:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XcF1YkZit_0

MONTHWISE LIST

1939-0117 Maury Povich
1956-0120 Bill Maher
1958-0126 Ellen DeGeneres
1954-0129 Oprah Winfrey

1956-0212 Arsenio Hall
1944-0213 Jerry Springer

1963-0418 Conan O’Brien
1950-0428 Jay Leno

1964-0513 Stephen Colbert

1968-0602 Andy Cohen

1931-0825 Regis Philbin

1950-0901 Phil McGraw
1929-0925 Barbara Walters

1925-1023 Johnny Carson

1952-1103 Roseanne Barr
1955-1113 Whoopi Goldberg
1967-1113 Jimmy Kimmel
1970-1118 Megyn Kelly
1936-1119 Dick Cavett

1935-1221 Phil Donahue
1921-1226 Steve Allen

Updated 14.3.2023