Kate Norley is the wife of John Oliver, the host of the HBO series Last Week Tonight with John Oliver. She is a former war medic, an advocate for war veterans, and a Republican.
Oliver, Norley’s husband, has established himself as one of the most popular figures on modern television. People are often surprised to learn that John Oliver is Kate’s husband, and the two appear to be very happy together, even though Kate Norleyis a staunch Republican and her husband, John, is a Democrat. Although the former is more recognizable among Oliver and his wife, it turns out that Kate Norley is also a much more interesting character.
Norley appears to be a more heroic individual with a similarly illustrious career. For starters, she served in Iraq as an Army combat medic while also advocating for veterans’ rights. And Oliver has always been quick to praise his wife.
Though the couple prefers to keep their personal lives under wraps. So, who exactly is John Oliver’s wife? Learn more about the extended answer in the headings below, as well as how she and Oliver are staying together despite their polarizing political beliefs.
Kate Norley is not British, as some belief; she is an American
Kate Norley, the American Nationale, was born on May 25, 1978. Oliver is of British nationality, but Norley is from Arlington, Virginia.
Kate appears to be the child of wealthy parents, but she has made it clear that money has never provided her with an easy, lazy life. Her birth mother, Pam Mannion, and birth father, Walt Norley, who designs golf courses in Florida with Jack Nicklaus, divorced when Norley was four years old.
Kate’s mother married Dennis Mannion, a senior vice president of business ventures for the National Football League’s Baltimore Ravens, after her divorce from Walt.
Kate Norley, now 44, was always encouraged by her parents to forge her path. Her mother, who was born in Virginia, is described as altruistic and the person who inspired her to serve others.
Her Schooling
Norley went to Episcopal High School in Arlington, Virginia, for boarding school.
Kate Norley Survived A Serious Car Accident
Kate was in a terrible accident when she was 16 years old, long before she joined the military. Norley was riding her bike to a soccer game when a driver lost control of his vehicle and collided with her.
As a result, Oliver’s wife suffered “severe head trauma” and lost all of her cognitive abilities, requiring her to relearn how to read and write. Norley credits her mother with assisting her in getting back on her feet following the accident.
The First Meeting of Kate Norley and Husband John Oliver Is An Interesting Story
Kate Norley met her future husband John Oliver in September 2008, when he was working as a senior British Correspondent on The Daily Show, alongside Jon Stewart.
She met Oliver while attending the Republican National Convention with other veterans. As a correspondent, Oliver would frequently go out in the field to record interviews in which he openly mocked people in front of their faces.
While doing so, Oliver encountered a difficult situation during his Daily Show tenure that had nothing to do with the type of questions he asked. Instead, while attempting to gain access to politicians at the 2008 Republican National Convention in St. Paul, Minnesota, the Emmy winner entered a restricted area.
Shortly after, security became aware of Oliver’s presence and began pursuing him with the intent of evicting him.
When the five-foot-eleven-inch-tall Oliver and his camera crew attempted to flee, they came across a group of veterans who assisted them in hiding and avoiding arrest and deportation.
Kate Norley, his future wife, was among the veterans. Norley and Oliver hit it off after that fateful meeting.
Kate Norley and John Oliver began their relationship through email
After meeting in 2008, John Oliver and Kate Norley began exchanging emails. They quickly fell in love. Oliver and Norley married in October 2011 after dating for three years.
In 2010, the Birmingham-born host proposed to Kate in St. Thomas. Oliver and his wife Kate left for Afghanistan as part of the USO Tour two years after their wedding, at the end of 2013, after Oliver left the Daily Show.
They slept in the barracks, ate with the troops, and performed at over a half-dozen forward operating bases during their trip to the Middle East.
Kate Norley and her husband have two children, both sons.
The former British correspondent and Norley have two sons. Their first child, a son named Hudson, was born in November 2015, and their second child, also a son, was born in June 2018.
Norley had given birth to Hudson prematurely, but the baby survived.
Kate’s Military Career Began in What Way?
Norley enlisted in the military shortly after graduating from Episcopal High School, a boarding school.
Following the 9/11 terrorist attacks, the Smurfs actor’s wife decided to join. She was 19 at the time.
The East Coast girl began and completed her basic training at Ft. Jackson, South Carolina. Kate then enrolled in medical school at Ft. Sam Houston in Texas.
Norley joined the military and trained as a mental health specialist with the 1st Cavalry Division at Fort Hood, Texas. She went to Iraq for the first time in December 2003. Norley was soon a combat medic in Fallujah and a mental health specialist in Ramadi.
Norley was a soldier’s counselor in Iraq
Kate offered advice to soldiers returning from combat. She also worked as a counselor to the soldiers in Iraq.
During the Gulf War, she counseled soldiers suffering from war-related mental trauma. She also worked with squatters near Camp Blackjack, the base of the 1st Cavalry Division in northwestern Baghdad.
Despite the dangers in Iraq, the English man’s wife, Norley, told the Washingtonian on June 1, 2008, that she planned to stay until her mission was completed.
During her time in Iraq, Norley encouraged young women to help rebuild the country.
She also met with eight University of Baghdad students following Saddam Hussein’s capture by US forces. During that tour, Kate claims she witnessed all of the horrors of combat. Kate spent a total of 16 months abroad.
Honors for Kate Norley
Norley received a 1st Cavalry Division lapel pin in recognition of her unit’s efforts during the war. People have noticed her husband, Oliver, wearing the pin on his jacket on occasion.
Kate was also awarded the Combat Medic Badge for her efforts in providing medical care while under fire. When John’s wife returned from Iraq, she was assigned to the Walter Reed Army Medical Center in Washington, D.C.
She then went on to study medicine at George Washington University. By 2008, the English journalist’s wife had completed her military service and dedicated herself to advocating for veterans’ rights.
Kate returned to Iraq after her service was completed, this time as a journalist. She returned to report on the changes that had occurred since her departure from the service.
Kate Norley Challenged John Oliver’s Belief
Oliver says his perspective on the military has shifted since his marriage to Norley, particularly after the couple went on a USO tour in Afghanistan together. Several times, the former co-host of The Bugle has expressed his admiration for his wife’s service.
Kate, an ex-army medic and mental health specialist, and her partner, John Oliver. Getty
During an interview about his wife’s military service, the comedian said,
Norley Volunteers for Disaster Relief
Norley has also given a significant amount of her time and money to worthy causes. As such, she is a member of Team Rubicon, a fantastic organization.
Team Rubicon strives to “provide disaster relief to victims of natural disasters, both domestic and international.” As a member of Team Rubicon, Norley combines her military experience and skills with first responders, medical professionals, and technological solutions.
Kate Norley is a war veteran’s rights advocate
Norley, John’s wife, is deeply committed to the rights of American veterans. Norley began advocating for better veteran funding after her military service ended and she returned to the United States.
And, as previously stated, she is a veteran rights advocate for Vets for Freedom, an organization founded in 2006 by Iraqi and Afghan war veterans in the United States. The goal of the advocacy group is “to advocate for victory in America’s War on Terrorism, as well as to support candidates who hold positions consistent with that goal.”
Norley was at the convention where she met her husband, Oliver, to advocate for veterans. Kate’s work for veterans has landed her on multiple news outlets, including Fox News.
The former medic from Virginia has spoken to numerous media outlets and appeared on Fox News to advocate for increased funding for veterans. The former military medical aid is still advocating for veterans’ rights in the country and is a member of Vets for Freedom.
Kate is also a strong advocate for women’s empowerment. Norley has been working with non-profit organizations since the end of her military service in the hopes of making a difference by empowering other women.
Her ultimate life mission, she once stated, is “to send American women to the third world so other women can see what it’s like to have rights and power.” Norley also served as a first responder in the Philippines following Typhoon Haiyan in November 2013.
Is Kate Norley a Republican Conservative?
While Kate supports the right wing, it is unclear whether she supports the conservative aspects of it. So far, she has discussed women’s rights and veteran rights. It is unclear, however, what her positions are on these issues.
However, there appears to be a radio interview with Oliver in which the interviewer asked if Kate was a conservative, which he denied. Norley is a Republican, but she is in the ideological minority, presumably to the left of Republican ideologies.
Is Norley active on social media?
Unlike her comedian/host husband, Oliver, Kate is not overt on social media platforms such as Facebook, Instagram, or Twitter.
Norley’s spouse, on the other hand, is quite active on Facebook and Twitter; the investigative journalist keeps his followers up to date with his hilarious take on various political and similar issues. He does not, however, have a personal Instagram account.
Other Information
Norley reportedly has an acting credit, as she appears in the 2009 short film Tran.si.tions.
Kate’s husband, Oliver, reportedly has a net worth of $30 million, with an annual salary of $8 million for Last Week Tonight.