Comedy Central Confirms Jon Stewart Leaving ‘Daily Show’

Jon Stewart, the face of Comedy Central and host of “The Daily Show,” will leave the broadcast later this year, the network confirmed Tuesday night.

Stewart, 52, broke the news to the audience at Tuesday’s taping in New York, ending a run on the nighttime satirical news program that began in 1999 after he succeeded Craig Kilborn. Stewart used “The Daily Show” to emerge as a leading voice for the progressive movement, frequently giving platform to political figures both sides of the political spectrum.

“Jon has been at the heart of Comedy Central, championing and nurturing the best talent in the industry, in front of and behind the camera,” Comedy Central President Michele Ganeless said in a statement. “Through his unique voice and vision, ‘The Daily Show’ has become a cultural touchstone for millions of fans and an unparalleled platform for political comedy that will endure for years to come. Jon will remain at the helm of ‘The Daily Show’ until later this year. He is a comic genius, generous with his time and talent, and will always be a part of the Comedy Central family.”

While there is no immediate indication on what Stewart plans to do after his tenure on the show, he had taken a several months-long hiatus in 2013 to direct “Rosewater,” a film about an Iranian-born journalist who was imprisoned for 118 days in Tehran and accused of being a spy.

The network lost another major host last year when Stephen Colbert left to take over David Letterman’s late night show on CBS.