Andy Cohen

Andy Cohen (born Andrew Joseph Cohen on June 2, 1968 in St. Louis, Missouri) is an American television and radio personality best known for his role as the host and executive producer of Bravo’s flagship reality franchise The Real Housewives and the late‑night talk show Watch What Happens Live! . He began his media career after graduating with a B.S. in broadcast journalism from Boston University, interning at CBS News where he later rose to senior producer on The Early Show and contributed to 48 Hours and CBS This Morning. In 2000 he moved to the niche cable network Trio, and when Bravo acquired Trio in 2004 he was appointed vice president of original programming, eventually becoming executive vice president of development and talent, overseeing groundbreaking series such as Top Chef and Project Runway. Cohen’s on‑camera presence expanded when he started hosting Watch What Happens Live! in 2009, a format that grew from a midnight slot to a weeknight staple and earned him the distinction of being the first openly gay host of an American late‑night talk show. Alongside his television work, he launched Radio Andy on SiriusXM in 2015, producing talk shows, town halls, and comedy specials while also authoring four best‑selling memoirs, beginning with Most Talkative in 2012. His contributions have been recognized with a Primetime Emmy, two Peabody Awards, and numerous honors from GQ, Out magazine, and the GLAAD Media Awards. Cohen is openly gay, a proud American Jew, and an outspoken supporter of LGBTQ rights and political causes, having spoken out against anti‑gay legislation in Russia and endorsing Kamala Harris in 2024. He is a father of two children, Ben (born February 4 2019) and Lucy (born April 29 2022), both conceived via surrogate, and continues to influence pop culture through television, radio, publishing, and public advocacy.