For nearly ten years, Stephen Colbert was known to the world almost exclusively as the faux-conservative character he played on his Comedy Central comedic news show, "The Colbert Report."
The character ran so deep that most of Colbert's public appearances outside of the show involved him staying in that persona. Most famously, he even delivered his speech as the host of the 2008 White House Correspondents Dinner in character, roasting President George W. Bush's policies right to his face.
But with "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" imminent, the world is about to get to know the real Colbert more than they ever have before.
To prepare people who may be expecting the biting wit of the political commentator when he shows up to host CBS' flagship late night talk show, below are five of Colbert's best "out of character" moments, when he appeared as just himself.
"The world seems confused by you," Winfrey said to Colbert during an interview in 2012, referencing the three different versions of the Comedy Central host: the onscreen Colbert, the real Colbert, and the version of the onscreen Colbert that appears off the show. "Who will I be talking to today?"
