Yeah, I agree, I've always felt that Colbert had a very clever wittiness around him, but I never realized that it stemmed from such traumatic events. I guess it makes sense. Later in the interview he admits that after his mother died, he thought about giving up comedy. He realized that everything he had done was for her happiness and to make her laugh.

I know it sounds strange, but I sometimes wish that I had experienced a high level of adversity as a kid. It seems like that is something a lot of creative geniuses have in common. I guess we can all find things that we struggle with and have to overcome... and come out better off from. sound familiar?