

He started as a stand-up comedian in New York, eventually becoming a regular on HBO's "The Larry Sanders Show." He is seen here as a guest on a 1993 episode of "Late Night with Conan O'Brien."

Stewart soon caught the attention of MTV executives. In 1993, he co-hosted the network's Third Annual Rock N' Jock B-Ball Jam.

As a precursor to his Comedy Central gig, Stewart got familiar interviewing celebrities on "The Jon Stewart Show," a short-lived program he hosted on MTV in the '90s.

For more than 15 years, Stewart made "The Daily Show" must-see TV by injecting humor and witty criticism into his coverage of current events.

In 2005, Stewart (pictured with CNN's Anderson Cooper) was included on Time magazine's list of the Time 100: The Most Influential People In The World.

Stewart, who started his career in stand-up, helped comedians like Stephen Colbert, John Oliver and Steve Carell gain national notoriety though their appearances on "The Daily Show."

In 2010, Stewart and fellow Comedy Central host Stephen Colbert hosted the Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear on the National Mall in Washington. The event was attended by thousands and featured a mock debate and musical guests.

In 2010, President Barack Obama became the first sitting president to appear on the show. He has appeared on the show six times over the course of his political career.

In 2012, Stewart and Fox News' Bill O'Reilly "competed" in a mock debate called the "Rumble in the Air-conditioned Auditorium." Their jousting topics ranged from health care to entitlement spending, from Christmas to government counting of calories.

Stewart hosted the 2013 MusiCares gala honoring fellow New Jersey native Bruce Springsteen. Stewart has credited the Boss with making him feel less like a loser.

In 2013, Stewart took a 12-week hiatus from "The Daily Show" to make the film "Rosewater," his directorial debut. Released in 2014, the movie tells the story of journalist Maziar Bahari, far left with Tom Ortenberg and Stewart, and his 2009 imprisonment in Iran.

"The Daily Show" staff has won 20 Emmy Awards collectively, including outstanding writing for a variety series and outstanding variety series.


