Beloved comedian Conan O'Brien is mourning the loss of both his parents, who died just three days apart at their home in Brookline, Massachusetts. Dr. Thomas O'Brien, 95, passed away on Monday, December 9, followed by Ruth Reardon O'Brien, 92, who died peacefully on Thursday, December 12.
The couple, married for 66 years, left behind an impressive legacy. Dr. Thomas O'Brien was a pioneering infectious disease specialist at Boston's Brigham & Women's Hospital, where he was among the first to warn about antimicrobial resistance. Ruth O'Brien broke barriers as one of only four women in her Yale Law School class and later became the second female partner at the prestigious Boston law firm Ropes & Gray.
In a touching tribute to his father, former SNL writer Conan told The Boston Globe, "My father was in constant motion. He was interested in everything — absolutely everything." The comedian fondly remembered his father's infectious laugh, particularly during Pink Panther movies, saying "his whole body would convulse and he would almost hug himself."
The O'Briens raised six children in a lively Irish Catholic household. On a recent podcast appearance, Conan credited his early comedy aspirations to his parents' contrasting personalities — his father's natural humor and his mother's more serious demeanor as the family's "straight man."
A joint funeral mass will be held for the couple in Boston on Wednesday, December 18. They are survived by their six children, including Conan, and nine grandchildren.
The 61-year-old comedian, who is scheduled to host the Oscars in March, has not yet publicly commented on his mother's passing.