Superfan Stephen Colbert Blown Away by ‘Beautiful’ Lord of the Rings GiftEvolve EditorsThu, April 23, 2026 at 10:33 AM UTC

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Photo Credit: Scott Kowalchyk/CBS via Getty Images

Stephen Colbert got an unexpected moment of joy after CNN anchor Jake Tapper showed up with a handmade gift inspired by The Lord of the Rings. The surprise carried a personal touch and reflected Colbert’s long-known love for Tolkien’s world. The gesture came during what may be Tapper’s final appearance on The Late Show, making it even more memorable.

Stephen Colbert surprised with Lord of the Rings-themed gift

Jake Tapper appeared on The Late Show and decided to bring something special for Stephen Colbert instead of a regular farewell present. Knowing Colbert’s deep interest in The Lord of the Rings, Tapper chose to create something personal rather than buy a standard gift. He explained that Colbert can be “tough to shop for,” which pushed him toward a handmade idea.

Tapper shared that he once studied art in college and still enjoys painting as a hobby. With that in mind, he first considered Tolkien-inspired characters like hobbits or wizards. However, after speaking with Colbert’s wife, Evelyn, he changed direction.

She suggested that Colbert already had enough similar-themed artwork and did not need another version of himself as a fantasy character. “She was like, ‘He’s got plenty of those. He doesn’t need another ‘Stephen Colbert as a Hobbit.’ He doesn’t need another ‘Stephen Colbert as a wizard,'” Tapper recalled.

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Keeping the Middle-earth theme alive, Tapper went in a different direction and revealed his finished artwork on the show. The painting showed Stephen Colbert reimagined as Gollum, the iconic character obsessed with the One Ring. The reveal immediately got a strong reaction from Colbert, who called the piece “beautiful” and even echoed Gollum’s famous line, “My precious.”

The moment stood out not just for the artwork but also for the timing. Colbert is preparing to step away from The Late Show with his final episode scheduled for May 21. At the same time, he is shifting focus toward a new creative chapter connected to The Lord of the Rings universe, where he is developing a film project alongside his son Peter and writer Philippa Boyens.

Originally reported by Rishabh Shandilya on Mandatory.

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Source: “AOL Entertainment”