Jeff Daniels Has Finally Grown Into His Face

'To Kill a Mockingbird' was never on Jeff Daniels' school curriculum. Now he's playing Atticus Finch in Aaron Sorkin's Broadway adaptation.
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The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is the premier late night talk show on CBS, airing at 11:35pm EST, streaming online via CBS All Access, and delivered to the International Space Station on a USB drive taped to a weather balloon. Every night, viewers can expect: Comedy, humor, funny moments, witty interviews, celebrities, famous people, movie stars, bits, humorous celebrities doing bits, funny celebs, big group photos of every star from Hollywood, even the reclusive ones, plus also jokes.

[@fuckoffannoyingutube]

those two could spent two hours talking and I'd be entertained for every second of it. Jeff has such a great charisma and genuinely makes Stephen laugh. "but do you write a new play every night?"

[@muhammadbadhon8055]

absolutely loved the cheers from audience when he mentioned "the newsroom".

[@LG123ABC]

Jeff Daniels is one of those actors that seems to move effortlessly between drama and comedy without being typecast. I don't know how he does it, but he makes it look easy.

[@julianq618]

A Sorkin's To Kill a Mockingbird???? Wow! I would love to see that!! Congrats! Jeff your awesome!!

[@biofillea]

I really appreciate the way this interview went into the craft and context of Jeff's roles past and present. Nice work.

[@Hazju100]

I love him so much!

[@c.o.n.collectingofnostalgi889]

Brillant human being and a great actor ✌😊

[@Tupelo927]

I never would have thought to cast Daniels as my beloved Atticus Finch & yet the moment Stephen said it, my brain went, "Perfect! I can totally see that now!" Break a leg, Mr. Daniels!

[@amanpanda4497]

So glad he mentioned Newsroom

[@FacheChanteDeux]

He is the best. Purple Rose of Cairo.

[@NewMessage]

Corduroy shirt... Haven't seen one of those in about 30 years...Nice

[@Marcus_Caius]

It`s the cashmere for men. Keeps you cool and warm at the same time.

[@karenreese3623]

Shop at Eddie Bower

[@smith3163]

I thought it was velvet, then I zoomed in, yep I could see the wale. (Corduroy is a ridged form of velvet.)

[@steh8831]

New Message - Corduroy hides a multitude of sins, apart from corduroy. 🤔

[@telectronix1368]

@@steh8831 ...... and the fact that you chose to wear it.

[@crewsadist]

Jeff said "Simon and Schuster", I'm sure he MEANT "Wayne and Shuster" , the Canadian sketch comedy team that was in that same theater when it was HQ to the Ed Sullivan Show so many times it seemed like they had something on Ed.

[@Tupelo927]

Thanks for the clarification on that because it puzzled me. I'm a bibliophile but including a major publishing company in that list was incongruous.

[@svfest]

Simon and Schuster office is also near the theater?

[@linengray]

There are certain male guests that are always entertaining. Nathan Lane, Hugh Laurie, Eddie Redmayne, Tom Hanks, Stephen Fry and Jeff Daniels.

[@maryrosekent8223]

Linen Gray George Clooney.

[@yokie52]

I have his CD from his performance in his hometown in MI...he wrote the songs, performs them in front of family in friends. Great CD.

[@Pooreyorick]

Interesting Trivia: the actor "Jerome," whom Daniels mentions, is Jerome Collamore whose debut on Broadway was in a 1918 production of Hamlet. Collamore went on to appear in 13 more Broadway productions, 12 movies/TV shows, and apparently a number of Off-Broadway productions. His last appearance was in a 1987 film titled Five Corners. Collamore died that year (at the age of 95) before the film was released. What a trouper!

[@carjam49]

I loved him in Purple Rose of Cairo. He has been around a long time.

[@californio1850]

Something Wild starring Daniels, Melanie Griffith, and Ray Liotta is one of the most underrated films from the 80s.

[@dongeraci8599]

That's an awesome flick.

[@joelwateres]

Great interview , Jeff just spilled it perfectly

[@JustMe-vk4fn]

What a fabulous role for Jeff Daniels!

[@claytonis1]

Jeff has no idea what typecasting is. He has so much range! Movies, TV, Stage... Comedy, Drama, Thrillers, Period pieces.... etc. I just love Jeff Daniels in everything I've seen him in.

[@Canuckmom128]

I wish The Newsroom ran longer. Fantastic show. Great memories of good times when there was something called indisputable truth, and to have a Faux News channel dedicated to disseminating propaganda was something you only found in places like Zimbabwe...or the Third Reich. Just finishing The Looming Tower. Really excellent.

[@Quotenwagnerianer]

I assume not having read "To Kill a Mockingbird" in school while growing up in the U.S. is similar to not having read "Faust" when growing up in Germany. Because that's me. Never read it, never seen the play.

[@Tupelo927]

Gracious, that's tragic to me. Harper "Nell" Lee was an Alabama native, as am I. I've actually lost count of how many times I've read the book, watched the film, or seen various productions of the play. The inimitable Gregory Peck was phenomenal in the film! His performance earned him an Oscar. "To Kill A Mockingbird" is indeed an American classic & one of my all-time favorite books. It's a touching coming of age story interlaced with quiet condemnation of several human prejudices, most notably racism in the American south. It's quite moving & made a huge impression on me as a child. Nell was a fascinating woman & lived an extraordinary life - from her friendship with the irascible Truman Capote to her reclusive spinster life back in Alabama to the surprising discovery & subsequent publishing of her long-awaited second novel "Go Set A Watchman." She & Truman were childhood friends. He's the basis for the character "Dill" in the book. Nell fashioned Scout after herself & Atticus represented her father, a successful lawyer. I truly hope you make time to read it or perhaps listen to it via Audible. Sincere apologies to all for my fanatical ramblings. :-) Best wishes from Alabama, Rebecca

[@Quotenwagnerianer]

I guess it was easily misunderstandable. I do know "To Kill a Mockingbird", I have seen the movie. What I was refering to was being german myself without having read "Faust". I know the story, but I have never read it. In fact I have never read anything Goethe. I was trying to imagine myself into Jeff's shoes.

[@Quotenwagnerianer]

But I take it you read something by Hugo. That's something I couldn't imagine, a french person who has not read anything by Hugo. ;)

[@blarblablarblar]

Never read Faust, but I watched an anime called Masons Magica. Not unsimilar to watching the movie :[

[@gomcocramp]

so what would be the pendant in france?

[@oneofthekings4660]

Loved his speach about america

[@alexandercampbell7903]

Simon & Schuster - the publishing company? Think Jeff means Waynw & Schuster: the long running Canadian Comics from Ed Sullivan.

[@noamzacks3315]

Jeff Daniels for P R E S I D E N T

[@lilgunky]

Saw the play yesterday, he did a really good job at making Atticus a more flawed, realistic, and vulnerable character!

[@robertgillespie7946]

Wait, did Jerome do all of the shows? God bless him. This reminds me of one of my favorite childhood jokes. Why does a fart stink? For the benefit of those who didn't hear it.

[@KittySnicker]

“One time we successfully mated a bulldog and a shi tzu. We called it a bullshit.”

[@setaarehlessan5140]

Love that actual literature and theatre are on the Colbert show ♡

[@CBSmrclean18]

You come in to Stephen’s house talking smack, you better be ready to get smacked back haha

[@axlslak]

I didn't expect "dumber" to grow into this great guy. Everytime I see him I'm just stunned at his depth of mind.

[@rondellthreadgate8092]

Just love Jeff, he is brilliant !

[@ducducgoose989]

This guy’s dad sounds like a good man.

[@KT-ki8ik]

I've never laughed more during an interview for any show than I did during that last story 😂

[@Jim_Fries]

Newsroom was his greatest roll for me. I’ve had to of seen that series at least 3 times now!

[@babycakes2077]

That’s right, “all before me is dust.” - Caesar

[@perusalenne]

I needed this, almost as much as i need a new season of The Newsroom. :S **almost**

[@Paul-sy3qo]

Jeff Daniels looks like the kind of Dad you wouldn't want to disappoint. If he looked at me with a blank face I'd die inside a bit.

[@NewMessage]

His neck is gonna play Mitch McConnell one day.

[@samsonian]

That and a metric ton of anti-botox...

[@ashleycd8500]

When I first saw the trailer for the new Cheney movie I would've sworn it was Jeff and not Christian Bale

[@Nothing_Israel]

That’s a mean thing to say .

[@mlfeathers7527]

Most of us will achieve that on some level. That said, I think Jeff looks pretty good.

[@mdlsvensson]

Hahaha

[@anumeon]

I still say that Daniels peak performance was as Colonel Lawrence Chamberlain. Damn he made that man of history come alive once again. (In the movies "Gettysburg" and "Gods and generals")

[@leemaxwell1912]

And he played Gen. George Washington, convincingly, in the movie "The Crossing."

[@nyrmetros]

Great movie, very underrated......

[@TheHManShow]

Not the biggest fan of Jeff Daniels as a person but as an actor I will admit he’s fantastic. Especially in Mockingbird.

[@ordinacijamariomalnar197]

News, anchor. Best ever!

[@codyeasonBGR]

Blown away that you did not ask him about his work on. The News room and his thoughts on trump

[@pandagiri]

NEWSROOM TOO! That was an awesome show!

[@MaxTP86]

Given you had the two leads on your show, please tell me you made a Newsroom Sketch. I would love to see Will McAvoy and MacKenzie McHale after their mental breakdown the 2016 election must have caused.

[@ginniserena]

I loved him in Moonlight over Escanaba! What a strange and wonderful movie.

[@chezmoi42]

His dad brought him up right. Wonderful men.

[@jomac2046]

I spied a little channelling of Harry Dunne in that interview at 4:00

[@PenguinApple]

Atticus Finch is a hell of a role to fill Jeff. Pretty sure you got it though!

[@gerydb]

best stuff always come last

[@QuantumBraced]

8 shows a week for a year, saying the same lines over and over again. Like imagine watching a movie every day for a year, except you gotta act it out too. I don't know how they do it, I would die of boredom. Or being a teacher and teaching the same lesson every day or week for years, I don't know how they do it either. I need novelty and variety in my life.

[@RyanNickelsPK]

oh my god. I got confused and thought this was an episode with Jeff BRIDGES... and I saw the video thumbnail and flipped out like "THATS HIM WITHOUT THE BEARD!?!?!?"

[@katielancaster6376]

I am still mourning the loss of Newsroom

[@benski2012]

Sometimes I find myself looking back...

[@jamesbaker7920]

Face growing at 1:54

[@MKMK-bj2sk]

*For the 1% who read this comment / randomly scrolling the comments* *Have a nice day and Happy Holidays / Season's Greetings!*

[@atandraanwesh9049]

Happy Holidays and Season's Greetings to you too!

[@tommyz5189]

You too. This is a crazy world right now but we still need to true. Take care.

[@mariesia0525]

Merry Christmas! 😊

[@davidmurrell5143]

Right back at you.

[@MojoJoco]

Thanks a lot! Have an awesome night/weekend and happy holidays to you and yours!!

[@armstrongjosh]

"You know him from Godless..." What? "...The Looming Tower..." Huh? "...and Dumb & Dumber." Oh yeah.

[@MetalGuitarGuy]

I like Jeff...

[@dfg1999]

He looks better in his age now than when he was young.

[@brettjones6700]

Do Newsroom again, that’s my suggestion !

[@maryjensen5310]

You know, some people read books after they get out of school and really enjoy them.

[@AA-xk1uv]

"My name is Jeff"

[@AlexandreNunesCunha]

Did anyone else noticed Jeff Daniels could play Bush senior who just died in a heartwarming biopic? Assuming you don't want to get all the warmongering part of his life.

[@Adoriaclub47]

Savage...both of them :D

[@arthurwatts1680]

I wonder how Dad felt when he saw Jeff's breakthrough performance in Dumb&Dumber. I love Jim Carrey but I still haven't forgiven either of them for that toilet scene - they should have left that one on the cutting room floor.

[@benjaminsagan5861]

In fairness, I also read Golding and Hemingway first. Though I still read Harper before I turned 16.

[@Gauss6174]

tried reading to kill a mockingbird as a teenager, got to page 92, felt like nothing was happening (then again i may have just been stupid), put it aside with plans to finish it (halo 3 was calling me), but ended up never going back to it.

[@maryrosekent8223]

Gauss24 You’re still alive so you still can...

[@LecherousCthulhu]

i only know jeff daniels from the news room where he was great.

[@Danimal77]

How have you not seen Dumb and Dumber?

[@LecherousCthulhu]

@@Danimal77 I had a sheltered childhood. Things got better when i found the internet in 2004 lol

[@onjofilms]

By the way, love your brother Jack's whiskey.

[@Morshoil]

Always finish it with a fart joke. xD.

[@ensetsu]

Pfft I know him from "The Newsroom"

[@KajSeVai]

Did you know that Hanukah sounds similar to Honecker?

[@luisirigoyen1347]

Love you Jeff Daniel’s

[@RichO1701e]

Pop Quiz Hot Shot...

[@enkibumbu]

Where can I buy his choker necklace?

[@MKMK-bj2sk]

RIP 41

[@dyrectory_com]

I'm due to watch Dumb and Dumber again.

[@daviestj]

I've never read it either.

[@Phoenix-ug1ru]

Fly Away Home?

[@shauryapandya1662]

He said Dumb and Dumber. Not the Newsroom. I will never forgive Colbert for that.

[@Seldomane]

a r a c h n o p h o b i a

[@thelinx4147]

Next time your doing a video, make it on ice cubes arrest the president

[@rukawa23gold]

Every time he open his mouth, I hear dumb and dumber🤣 There is an understated goofiness about him. Seemingly serious on the surface, but understatedly goofy to the bone. Without Jeff Daniel, Jim Carrey would have totally dominated the "Dumb and Dumber". And it would have been a typical wacky Jim Carrey overacting film. But Jeff just made that film so real and so relatable. Jeff adds a touch of authenticity and balance out the force of personality of Jim Carrey. 😂. And I didn't realize he was in Speed with Keanu Reeves in Speed until recently. Jeff just add the missing piece to film. He complements and balance the Superstar lead of the film. 👍

[@abhishekamol4404]

WTF.... "well ne right back with emliy mortimer?" why not have her there at the same time

[@JBugz777]

Are those sorta bell-bottoms? (plus the curdroy shirt...)

[@josemanuelgarcia5442]

Ha...

[@SlayerOfCunts]

Jeff daniels is slowly turning into a pelican.

[@potterpotty01]

you had jeff daniels and emilly mortimer on the same show and didnt bring them out for a newsroom reunion sketch! shame on you stephen!

[@MKMK-bj2sk]

Cool so this guy's has 2 first names?

[@elrumblo4239]

Well, 'Daniels' is plural so maybe it's more. It's short for Jeff Daniel Daniel Daniel Daniel.

[@traceywilkes7870]

Gregory Peck will always be Atticus!!

[@Eddyspeeder]

Has PETA already suggested the new title "To Fill a Boxing Shirt"?

[@TxRxAxP]

Smash or pass

[@nicholassalamone770]

Jeff Daniels as Atticus Finch? That's a hard sell.

[@isaactfa]

what an affable guy.

[@RealCyclops]

What do you do after that... NEWSROOM SEASON 4 - WITH TRUMP, IT WRITES ITSELF

[@HorseMuse]

Look at Alabama today...not much different

[@enriqueali]

I'm not American. Why did Stephen act so shocked at him not having read To Kill A Mockingbird? Btw, on an entirely different note, does anyone else think Jeff Daniels has a slight resemblance here to George Bush Sr. ??

[@dgh469]

are there any jews that aren't rich ? … Geld is their god, methinks ...

[@ZenCorvus]

What's this got to do with trump? How come trump stuff isn't trending anymore? Still fake trending.