Former late night host Conan O’Brien has explained how some dark humor and Jason Bateman helped him grieve the deaths of his parents.
In a recent interview on his “Conan O’Brien Needs A Friend” podcast, Will Arnett looked back on his text exchange with O’Brien after the death of his father, Dr. Thomas O’Brien, last December.
“I said, ‘Hey, listen. I’m sorry to hear about your dad’s passing, sending love from our family to yours,’” Arnett began. “And you wrote, ‘Thank you, Will. To be honest, I blame Bateman.’”
“For the death of my father,” Conan O’Brien added.
Arnett recalled texting the former late night host back.
“I wrote, ‘It’s not a terrible theory.’ And Conan texted me back, ‘He killed my dad,’” Arnett continued.
“Can I say, in fairness, my dad would have loved this,” O’Brien replied.
Arnett revealed that Bateman sent another text to O’Brien.
“He says, ‘Arnett tells me you’re onto me,’” Arnett said. “And Conan texts Bateman, he says, ‘Bateman, do yourself a favor. Turn yourself in.’”
Conan O’Brien attends the 26th Annual Spirit of Ireland Gala at Pier 60 on November 07, 2025 in New York City.
Dia Dipasupil via Getty Images
Conan O’Brien’s father, a professor at Harvard Medical School who was known for his work in antimicrobial drug resistance, died at age 95 on Dec. 9, 2024, after his health was failing him, The Boston Globe noted in an obituary.
O’Brien’s mother, Ruth Reardon O’Brien, died “peacefully” three days later at age 92, per her obituary. She was just the second woman to be a partner at the Boston-founded Ropes & Gray law firm.
After Arnett learned the news, he reached out to O’Brien again.
“I said, ‘Bateman is asking for your sister’s street address,’” recalled Arnett as Conan and his co-hosts laughed.
“A day and a half later you texted back, ‘Just seeing this now. Fantastic. 625 Boyleston Street, Apartment 12C. Tell Bateman to make it look like a robbery.’”
“You know what’s weird? I swear to God, this is how I grieve. Everyone has their way,” said O’Brien, who noted that a “big driving force” in his life was making his parents laugh.
“It was so comforting for me to screw around with you guys at that moment. It just was and so if that makes me a madman, then so be it.”
O’Brien, in a piece published by The Boston Globe last year, said that his parents “complemented each other very well” and both recognized that “they were kindred spirits.”
