Conan O’Brien‘s mother has passed away just three days after his father died.
Conan O’Brien has lost both of his parents within a week
The 61-year-old TV host was left devastated after his dad Dr. Thomas O’Brien passed away on Monday (09.12.24) at the age of 95 and he was dealt a double blow on Thursday (12.12.24) when his mom Ruth Reardon O’Brien died at her home in Brookline, Massachusetts aged 92.
The sad news was confirmed in an obituary for Ruth, which read: “O’Brien, Ruth Reardon of Brookline passed away peacefully on December 12th, 2024, at age 92. Beloved wife of sixty-six years to Thomas Francis O’Brien, M.D., who passed away on December 9th, 2024.”
Conan paid tribute to his dad in an interview with the Boston Globe which was published on Thursday, saying: “Science has said there’s no such thing as perpetual motion, but my father was proof that that was wrong.
“My father was in constant motion. And he was interested in everything – absolutely everything … The loudest I’ve ever heard anybody laugh was sitting next to him in a theater watching Peter Sellers in a Pink Panther movie … He was often the funniest guy in the room. And when he would laugh, his whole body would convulse and he would almost hug himself.
“For the rest of my time on earth I will be hearing from people who want to talk with me about my dad. I’ve never met anyone like him, and he happens to be my father.
“If I met him randomly in a hotel lobby, I’d think: ‘Who the hell is this guy? He’s the most interesting person I’ve ever met’.”
Conan’s parents will be remembered at a joint funeral in Boston on December 18.
Conan previously shared an anecdote about his mum meeting movie funnyman Jim Carrey at a Christmas party and failing to recognise him.
During an appearance on Ryan Tubridy’s Virgin Radio show earlier this year, Conan said: “Years and years ago I had a Christmas party at my house.
“This was at the height of Jim Carrey mania, you know, he was coming off of his fourth massive hit film, and it was like The Beatles … Everywhere Jim Carrey went there was a riot …
“Out of the corner of my eye, I see my mother having a long chat with Jim Carrey, and I got nervous. When the party was over, I said: ‘Mom, what were you talking to that man about? Jim?’
“And she said: ‘Oh … he told me that he’s a comedian, and I told him: ‘Well my son’s had his difficulties but he just keeps at it, and eventually made it. So if you just keep at it Jim, you’re gonna make it too’.
“And I said to her: ‘Mom, I want you to go home to Boston and tell everyone you told Jim Carrey to keep at it!’”