Jennifer Garner Babysat Stephen Colbert’s Daughter After ‘Spin City’ Role

It’s always a fun story to hear about actors and comedians before they became household names. For Jennifer Garner and Stephen Colbert, one such experience came from a guest appearance on the sitcom Spin City, which ultimately led to Garner babysitting for the talk show host’s family.

Early Roles on ‘Spin City’

In 1996, both Jennifer Garner and Stephen Colbert were cast in Episode 10 of Season 1 of Spin City, starring Michael J. Fox. IMDb details that Colbert played the character Frank, while Garner played Becky. Both actors were relatively unknown at the time, described as “scrubby guest stars” by Stephen Colbert on Facebook.

From Setmates to Babysitters

Despite assuming they each had recurring roles, both Garner and Colbert only appeared in that single episode. This limited involvement allowed them to connect and get to recognize each other. As Garner explained, Colbert then asked her to babysit his daughter. At the time, Garner was still early in her career, with credits including appearances on Law & Order. Colbert was a year before joining The Daily Show and had recently appeared on The Dana Carvey Show, while also contributing to Saturday Night Live.

A 30-Year Friendship

Colbert recalled hiring Garner, noting that the “baby” he asked her to watch is now 30 years classic. Garner’s reaction was playfully incredulous, asking if Colbert’s daughter was “flirty and thriving.” Colbert confirmed that she was, prompting Garner to reference her 2003 film 13 Going on 30. Reddit user klsi832 shared a story about Colbert discussing this experience on the Strike Force 5 podcast.

Looking Ahead

The story highlights the long-lasting connections forged in the entertainment industry. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is scheduled to end in May 2026 on CBS (IMDb). Jennifer Garner’s recent operate includes The Last Thing He Told Me, available on Apple TV.