Tom Hanks gave Stephen Colbert one unforgettable birthday surprise during Wednesday night’s episode of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. The Oscar-winning actor appeared on the show carrying a series of gifts for the late-night host, whose final episode is officially set to air on May 21. But while the moment started sweetly, Hanks quickly turned it into a hilarious roast about Colbert’s uncertain future after CBS ended the legendary franchise.
Hanks first handed Colbert a box of old-school dot matrix printer paper.
“This is great paper that’s always connected,” Hanks joked before adding, “You’re going to be doing some serious résumé writing.”
The audience immediately burst into laughter as Colbert tried to hold himself together.
But Hanks was not done yet.
The actor, who is famously obsessed with vintage typewriters, then surprised Colbert with a classic Underwood typewriter, presented with the help of women he jokingly called “The Hankettes.”
To complete the package, Hanks also gifted him bags of Hanks Coffee, his coffee brand that supports veterans.
Earlier in the interview, Hanks had already arrived with another playful gift: a stack of CBS-branded office paper.
“Dude, you’re moving on, and there is so much stuff to steal from the offices right now,” Hanks told Colbert. “They’re never going to miss it.”
The jokes come as The Late Show officially approaches its end after CBS announced the franchise would conclude in May 2026. In a statement released earlier this year, the network called the decision “purely financial,” insisting the cancellation was unrelated to Colbert’s ratings or political commentary.
“The Late Show With Stephen Colbert will end its historic run in May 2026 at the end of the broadcast season,” CBS said. “We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire The Late Show franchise at that time.”
Hanks also reflected on some of the most memorable moments from his decades-long acting career during the interview.
The Forrest Gump star recalled filming the iconic beach scene in Splash, running through the Louvre for The Da Vinci Code, and unexpectedly witnessing commuters on a bus watching Sleepless in Seattle while he and director Rob Reiner stood nearby.
Meanwhile, support for Colbert continues pouring in from fellow late-night hosts. Earlier this week, Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, and John Oliver reunited on Colbert’s show to announce a special Strike Force Five charity episode honoring the host’s final days on air.
Both Kimmel and Fallon have also confirmed that their shows will air reruns on the night of Colbert’s finale in solidarity. With just days remaining before the curtain officially falls on The Late Show, moments like Hanks’ appearance are making Colbert’s farewell feel even more emotional for longtime fans.