Kevin Bleyer’s legacy extends far beyond late-night television writers’ rooms. The Emmy-winning Daily Show writer and Obama speechwriter died tragically at 54 after a remarkable career in comedy and politics.
Emmy winner Kevin Bleyer passes away
Emmy-winning writer Kevin Bleyer died on October 25 in a car crash on a rural road in Millrift, Pennsylvania, as Deadline reported. He was 54. Bleyer spent over a decade writing for The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. He also contributed speeches for President Barack Obama, including all White House Correspondents’ Dinner addresses.
Bleyer’s wife Nella Vera said in a statement: “Kevin spent his life finding the perfect words to make people laugh, think, and see the world a little differently. I was lucky enough to know the humor, curiosity, mischief, and tenderness behind those words—and to be loved by a man who made my own world more joyful, more adventurous, and infinitely more beautiful.”
Born in Bethesda, Maryland, Bleyer grew up in Seattle and attended Stanford University. The writer launched his television career on Politically Incorrect with Bill Maher from 2000 to 2002. Subsequently, a stint on Dennis Miller’s CNBC talk show followed before Bleyer joined The Daily Show in 2006. Over his tenure, the Emmy winner contributed to more than 1,000 episodes and earned four Emmy Awards.
Meanwhile, actor and screenwriter Danny Strong called Bleyer “a writer’s writer.” Strong added: “From his many years on The Daily Show to writing Obama’s WHCD speeches to his many books and his work on numerous scripted dramas, Kevin could literally do it all. His immense talent was only outmatched by his kind soul.”
Beyond television, Bleyer authored the bestselling Me the People: One Man’s Selfless Quest to Rewrite the Constitution. Additionally, he co-authored Earth: The Book and How to Sweet-Talk a Shark with former U.N. Ambassador Bill Richardson. In 2013, the writer executive produced Studio 7 in Kyrgyzstan, the first political satire news show in Central Asia.
Bleyer later co-founded Pilot Media Initiatives, launching civics-focused media programs in countries including Nigeria, Moldova and Kenya. Before his death, he had been developing a pilot about New York City politics for HBO. Bleyer is survived by his wife, father, brother, nephew and niece.
