Stephen Colbert, the peerless American satirist and comedian, who brought laughter and cheers to millions of people, has left The Colbert Report.

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With his departure is also the retirement of the popular Comedy Central satirical-news show, as well the fictional news anchorman, Dr. Stephen T. Colbert, DFA, who gained fame as the pompous, conservative, "well-intentioned, poorly informed high-status idiot" and as the "self-important right-wing commentator."

But Colbert's departure from his Comedy Central stint will see him play another character: himself, as the new host of CBS' Late Show. He will replace David Letterman who will step down as host in May.

The Colbert Report (both with silent t's), which premiered in October 2005, made its 1,446th broadcast on its finale night.

The show was initially intended to be a parody of Fox News' The O'Reilly Factor, however, Colbert's character eventually evolved into an astute satire and keen observer. The anchorman was also featured as the total opposite of who the real-life Stephen Colbert was and what he meant to say.

Colbert's religious efforts to showcase what is known as the "Opposite Day," the comedian earned a strong fan base, who he called "heroes."

The show was also a critical winner, winning two Peabody Awards, hailed for being a show that "started as a parody of punditry [and] is now its own political platform."

But Colbert's satirist alter ego even predates his nightly program. Colbert the anchorman was created in 1997 as a "senior correspondent" for Comedy Central's The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. There, he spoke with gusto on serious topics, such as national security. He is best remembered for telling Stewart what is the difference between "High Alert" and "Higher Alert" after the 9/11 attack.

In Colbert Nation, he pointed out the numerous failings government, society and the media, to point of even involving himself after he created "Americans for a Better Tomorrow, Tomorrow" and solicited donations just to show to his audience how money corrupts electoral process.

He surprised his fans (and drew them to laughter) in 2007 when he announced his intention to run as president, only of South Carolina, his native town.  The 2010 rally he organized with Stewart, named "Rally to Restore Sanity and/or Fear" saw tens of thousands of people swarm to Washington's National Mall.

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