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

Ellen Pompeo returns as ‘Grey’s Anatomy’ Season 23 brings another emergency to Grey Sloan Memorial.
2026-10-15T18:15:35.000Z
Samuel L. Jackson and Sylvester Stallone reunite in the first teaser for Paramount+’s 'Frisco King.'
2026-10-15T16:46:54.000Z
Sylvester Stallone returns as Dwight Manfredi in 'Tulsa King' Season 4, where rival gangs threaten to change his criminal empire.
2026-10-15T16:18:54.000Z
‘Tulsa King’ takes viewers beyond its namesake city as Dwight Manfredi’s empire grows across seasons. Here's a look at the real-life locations.
2026-10-15T16:02:35.000Z
Hal’s final move at the G7 raises questions about his loyalties as Kate confronts Grace, but keeps the viewers waiting for more.
2026-10-15T15:39:21.000Z
Season 6 of ‘Abbott Elementary’ premiered on October 7, and new guest stars are set to appear in upcoming episodes
2026-10-15T09:31:47.000Z
Linda Cardellini's ‘Crystal Lake’ Episode 1 pays tribute to a real snake killed during ‘Friday the 13th’ filming
2026-10-15T07:17:19.000Z
The adult animated series follows a celebrity escape artist who is pulled back into a war between Apokolips and New Genesis
2026-10-15T07:03:30.000Z
‘Chicago Fire’ Season 15 Episode 2 puts Stella Kidd (Miranda Rae Mayo) and Kelly Severide's marriage to the test after the latter's promotion
2026-10-15T05:26:51.000Z
‘VisionQuest’ introduces a young pickpocket from London whose past traces back to Westview and ties into ‘Agatha All Along’
2026-10-15T05:12:19.000Z