Having grown up in New Jersey, Stewart moved to New York in his mid-twenties to join the downtown comedy scene. He got his first TV exposure in the early '90s as the host of Comedy Central's Short Attention Span Theater. After two eponymous short-lived talk shows and a recurring role on The Larry Sanders Show as himself, he finally struck big in 1999. At the age of 37, he took over hosting duties on Comedy Central's The Daily Show. The satirical news series earned numerous accolades and developed a cult following, making Stewart a go-to source for witty and engaging commentary on the idiosyncratic goings-on in politics, media, entertainment and current events. As his popularity grew, the famous and the influential flocked to be guests on his show. The 2004 presidential campaign increased the reach of The Daily Show, and people watched not just to be amused but to be informed about the candidates and issues. Once his reputation was cemented, he helped launch the careers of pals like Stephen Colbert and Steve Carell, as well as many others. With his career rising upward, he spends his downtime enjoying a peaceful personal life as a doting husband and father.