Stephen Colbert embarrasses Glen Powell with an unseen clip from his childhood: "I've never..."

'You know, I was flying high until just now,' Glen Powell said as Stephen Colbert played the throwback video on his show
A screenshot of Glen Powell and Stephen Colbert from 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' (Cover Image Source: YouTube | The Late Show with Stephen Colbert)
A screenshot of Glen Powell and Stephen Colbert from 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' (Cover Image Source: YouTube | The Late Show with Stephen Colbert)

After his breakthrough role in 'Top Gun: Maverick', Glen Powell rightfully earned his status as a Hollywood heartthrob. However, before gaining the ranking of a bankable star, Powell had his fair share of struggles. During an appearance on 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert', the host surprised Powell with a rare clip from his early acting days. While the footage shows off Powell’s budding talent, the actor couldn't help but cringe at his humble beginnings. 

Glen Powell attends the 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton on January 05, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/WireImage)
Glen Powell attends the 82nd Annual Golden Globe Awards at The Beverly Hilton on January 05, 2025 in Beverly Hills, California. (Photo by Matt Winkelmeyer/WireImage)

Colbert playfully teased Powell by revealing a rare clip of the actor at 13 years old on the reality series 'Endurance', a Survivor-style kids' show. Alongside the footage, Colbert also shared a mini-biography Powell wrote for himself at the time, as per Men's Journal. While Powell is now known for his action-packed roles in 'Top Gun: Maverick' and 'Twisters,' Colbert joked that his early attempt at action wasn't as successful, leaving the actor cringing as the audience enjoyed the lighthearted nostalgia.



 

For the uninformed, 'Endurance' was a reality competition show similar to 'Fear Factor' and 'Survivor,' where teens were sent to a remote location to compete in physical and mental challenges to stay in the game. The series premiered in 2002 and concluded after six seasons in 2007. Colbert then revealed a throwback photo of 13-year-old Powell from an 'Endurance' confessional, featuring the actor with a spiked hairdo and a beaded surfer necklace, screaming early-2000s style. The reveal visibly surprised Powell, leaving him slightly embarrassed.



 

Powell shared, "I've never talked about this publicly ever. The fact that [producers] pulled this out is shocking, but here we go." "I was 13," Powell explained and added, "I was on a show called 'Endurance.' This is basically a kid's Survivor-type show. It's a reality show where they throw kids to Mexico, and pit them against each other. The really sad part is I wanted to be on the show really bad, and I got kicked off on the first episode."



 

As if the throwback photo wasn't enough, Colbert took it a step further by revealing Powell’s self-written biography from 'Endurance'. Powell listened with an uneasy smile, clearly cringing as Colbert read it aloud. "'Glen likes making his own movies and is working to buy a professional video camera by mowing lawns and acting in commercials,'" Colbert read. "'He is a world traveler and is looking forward to going to a new destination and meeting new people on Endurance. He likes to tap dance and sing at nursing homes," the biography further read.



 

Powell had no choice but to admit, as he said, "Now that is sexy. Well, if falling off the bar wasn't as bad as that, I forgot about the bio." To which Colbert joked, "If the movie star thing doesn't work out, at least you've got a fallback position right there." Powell responded, "You know, I was flying high until just now." Notably, Powell is all set to star in a new adaptation of 'The Running Man,' which was based on Stephen King’s story, as per CBR. The action flick is set to hit theaters this year, where Powell will star in the lead role, taking over from Arnold Schwarzenegger, who played the character in the 1987 film.

GET THE BIGGEST ENTERTAINMENT STORIES
STRAIGHT TO YOUR INBOX.

MORE STORIES

Ebra’s final call to Albert Schnur gave ‘The Bear’ finale a quiet Rob Reiner tribute through one familiar line.
13 hours ago
Carmy’s kitchen mistake becomes a turning point for Sydney and reshapes the future of The Bear as tensions rise in the kitchen.
16 hours ago
Starz isn’t leaving fantasy behind after ‘Outlander’, as the network eyes a bestselling book series packed with romance, war, and werewolves.
16 hours ago
Beulah’s life hangs in the balance as forces around her begin finding ways to destroy her family and ranch.
17 hours ago
Disney is returning to one of its cult-favorite fantasy films with a fresh story, a new heroine, and one familiar face from the original movie.
19 hours ago
Netflix has paired two fan-favorite stars once again for a brand-new thriller, where a missing mission pulls an estranged family into danger.
21 hours ago
Adam Remsen faced off against Clay Stallworth and Kristin Warner in Friday's episode of 'Jeopardy!'
22 hours ago
Mariel Molino hints that Gibbs and Lala’s romance could face challenges after their Season 2 kiss; however, the complete story is yet to unfold.
1 day ago
The FX series will adapt the popular video game franchise of the same name by Ubisoft, with it's latest game, 'Far Cry 6' dropping in 2021.
1 day ago
The fifth season of 'The Bear' finally revealed whether Carmy and Sydney managed to stop the restaurant from shutting down
1 day ago