Conan O’Brien is grieving the loss of both his mother and father. The comedian’s mother, Ruth Reardon O’Brien, passed away just three days after his father, Dr. Thomas O’Brien, a renowned physician. Both died at their home in Brookline, Massachusetts. Thomas O’Brien, who was 95, died on Monday, December 9, while Ruth, aged 92, passed away on Thursday, December 12.
“Science has claimed there’s no such thing as perpetual motion, but my father was living proof that this was incorrect,” Conan, 61, shared with the Boston Globe in an interview published on Thursday. “My father was always on the move. He was fascinated by everything—absolutely everything.” The former “Saturday Night Live” star noted that his dad was frequently the funniest person in any room. According to the Globe, Thomas introduced his six children, including Conan, to the films of Charlie Chaplin and the Marx Brothers.
“The loudest laughter I’ve ever heard came from him while watching Peter Sellers in a Pink Panther movie,” Conan recalled. “His whole body would shake, and he would almost hug himself with laughter.” Conan added, “For the rest of my life, I’ll hear from people who want to talk about my dad. I’ve never met anyone like him, and he just happened to be my father. If I met him in a hotel lobby, I’d think, ‘Who is this guy? He’s the most fascinating person I’ve ever encountered.’”
Ruth and Thomas were married for 66 years. Ruth’s obituary reveals that she was born and raised in Worcester, Massachusetts, and graduated from Vassar College in Poughkeepsie, New York, in 1953. She was one of only four women in her law school class and served as vice president of the student government. In 1978, she became the second woman to join the partnership at the Boston law firm Ropes & Gray.
A funeral mass for both of Conan’s parents will take place in Boston on Wednesday, December 18. The late-night host, who shares two children with his wife, Liza Powel O’Brien, has not yet publicly commented on his mother’s death. Conan is scheduled to host the 97th Academy Awards on ABC on March 2.
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