Conan O’Brien spent nearly three decades in front of a camera, usually acting like a frantic, self-deprecating maniac for our amusement. We know his hair. We know his "string dance." We definitely know his obsession with obscure historical figures. But for a guy who literally made a living sharing his life with millions, Conan O’Brien’s kids—Neve and Beckett—have remained remarkably, almost strangely, absent from the tabloid meat grinder.
It’s a weird paradox.
Most celebrities today use their children as accessories for "lifestyle" branding. You’ve seen the Instagram posts. The matching outfits. The carefully curated "candid" moments meant to drive engagement. Conan didn't do that. He and his wife, Liza Powel O'Brien, made a conscious, almost militant decision to give their children a normal upbringing in Los Angeles, which is arguably one of the hardest places on Earth to actually be "normal."
Meet the O’Brien Crew: Neve and Beckett
So, who are they?
First, there’s Neve O'Brien. Born in 2003, she arrived right as Conan was hitting his stride on Late Night. She’s now in her early twenties. Then there’s Beckett O'Brien, born in 2005. Honestly, if you saw them walking down the street, you probably wouldn't realize they were the offspring of a late-night icon unless you caught a glimpse of that unmistakable O’Brien DNA—specifically the height.
Conan is a giant. He’s 6'4". His kids definitely inherited the "tall" gene.
But beyond the physical traits, Neve and Beckett have stayed off the grid. Neve has occasionally appeared in the background of a few social media clips during the pandemic—remember when everyone was stuck at home and Conan was losing his mind on Instagram?—but she hasn't pursued the "nepo baby" career path that seems so mandatory in Hollywood these days. She’s paved her own way, reportedly focusing on her education and staying away from the red carpets unless it's to support her dad at a major milestone.
Beckett is much the same. While he’s been spotted at a few Lakers games with his dad (the classic father-son celebrity outing), he isn't out here trying to launch a streetwear brand or a TikTok house. There's a groundedness there that you don't often see in the children of people who are world-famous. It makes you wonder how Conan managed it.
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The Liza Factor: Keeping It Real
You can't talk about Conan O’Brien’s kids without talking about Liza Powel. Conan famously met Liza when she appeared in a 2000 skit on his show about an advertising agency. He fell for her instantly. Like, "on camera, heart-eyes" fell for her. They married in 2002, and she has been the anchor of that family ever since.
Liza isn't a "Hollywood" person. She’s incredibly sharp, worked in advertising, and has a background in screenwriting. She’s the one who ensured that when Conan came home from the studio after being worshipped by a live audience, he was just "Dad" who needed to take out the trash.
This dynamic is likely why Neve and Beckett turned out so... well, functional.
Conan has joked in various interviews—especially on his podcast, Conan O’Brien Needs a Friend—about how his kids aren't particularly impressed by him. That’s the secret sauce. If your kids think your job is kind of embarrassing or "cringe," they aren't going to seek out the limelight themselves. Conan often shares anecdotes about Beckett or Neve rolling their eyes at his bits or correcting his outdated slang. It’s a very relatable, suburban dad energy, despite the millions of dollars and the Emmy awards.
Why the Privacy Actually Matters
In an era where every detail of a celebrity's life is monetized, the O'Brien family's privacy feels like a political statement. It’s not. It’s just parenting.
Privacy for celebrity children isn't just about avoiding paparazzi. It's about developmental psychology. When a kid is raised as a "public figure" before they even have a personality, it messes with their sense of self. By keeping Neve and Beckett out of the monologue jokes and off the reality TV circuit, Conan and Liza gave them the chance to figure out who they are without the weight of an audience's expectations.
Think about the other late-night hosts.
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Jimmy Fallon’s kids are frequently part of his "at home" segments. Jimmy Kimmel has shared very personal (and moving) stories about his son’s health struggles. These aren't bad choices—they are just different choices. Conan chose a wall. He decided that his work was his work, and his family was a sanctuary.
It’s probably why he’s stayed married for over 20 years. In Hollywood, that’s basically a century.
The "Normal" Life in a Not-Normal World
What does a "normal" life look like for the O’Brien kids?
It looks like attending school without a camera crew. It looks like going to concerts and basketball games and being just another face in the crowd (albeit a very tall face). There’s a story Conan once told about taking his son to a record store. They just browsed. No one bothered them. No one was hunting for a "scoop."
That doesn't happen by accident. It happens because Conan hasn't "sold" his kids to the media. If you don't feed the beast, the beast eventually looks for food elsewhere.
There's also the humor aspect. Conan has mentioned that his kids are both incredibly funny, but in a dry, observational way. They aren't "performers." They are listeners. Neve, in particular, is said to have a very sharp wit that can cut through her father’s nonsense in seconds. That kind of environment—where humor is a tool for connection rather than a product for sale—creates a very different kind of person.
The Future for Neve and Beckett
As Neve and Beckett enter adulthood, the question is always: will they join the "family business"?
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So far, the answer seems to be a quiet "no."
Neve has shown an interest in music and the arts, but on her own terms. She’s not trying to be the next big pop star. She’s just a young woman living her life. Beckett is still largely a mystery to the public, which is exactly how his parents wanted it.
We live in a world obsessed with legacy. We want to see the "next Conan." But maybe the best legacy Conan O’Brien could leave isn't a new talk show host with red hair—it’s two kids who are happy, private, and totally unimpressed by fame.
That’s a real success story.
Actionable Takeaways for Navigating Fame and Family
If you’re looking at the O'Brien family model, there are a few things anyone can learn about balancing a high-profile career with a healthy home life:
- Establish Hard Boundaries Early: Conan and Liza decided from day one that the kids were off-limits for professional content. Once you open that door, you can't close it.
- Don't Use Family for "Clout": It’s tempting to post that cute video for likes, but consider the long-term impact on a child's privacy.
- Keep the "Day Job" Separate: Your kids don't need to be your fans. They need you to be their parent. If they think you're "lame," you're probably doing something right.
- Value Substance Over Visibility: Encourage your children to develop interests that have nothing to do with your career or public persona.
Conan O’Brien might be a master of the spotlight, but his greatest trick was making sure it never blinded his children. By keeping Neve and Beckett O'Brien out of the headlines, he gave them something much more valuable than fame: a real life. Moving forward, expect them to stay on this path—building their own identities far away from the "Team Coco" brand, which is perhaps the most "Conan" thing they could possibly do.