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Lawrence O'Donnell

Lawrence O’Donnell anchors "The Last Word," which airs on msnbc at 10p.m. ET. O'Donnell has been a msnbc political analyst since the network’s launch in 1996, and has served as the regular guest host for Countdown with Keith Olbermann. He has also been the guest host for Hardball with Chris Matthews, The Ed Show and The Rachel Maddow Show.
NBC News Correspondents
NBC NEWS CORRESPONDENTS -- PIctured: Lawrence O'Donnell, Host, \"The Lawrence O'Donnell Show\", Political Analyst, MSNBC -- Photo by: Virginia Sherwood/NBCVirginia Sherwood / Headshot
/ Source: msnbc.com

Lawrence O’Donnell is the host of “The Last Word with Lawrence O’Donnell” on MSNBC. O’Donnell brings his extraordinary background in politics, entertainment and news to the nightly program, providing the last word on the important issues and most compelling stories of the day.

O'Donnell was an MSNBC political analyst since the network’s launch in 1996 and had previously appeared as a frequent guest host on MSNBC’s primetime programs.

O’Donnell was an Emmy Award-winning executive producer and writer for the NBC series “The West Wing” and creator and executive producer of the NBC series, “Mister Sterling.”

From 1989 through 1992, O'Donnell served as Senior Advisor to Sen. Daniel Patrick Moynihan. In 1992, he was Chief of Staff to the Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works.  From 1993 through 1995 he was the Chief of Staff of the Senate Finance Committee.  He first began working with Sen. Moynihan as Director of Communications in the Senator's 1988 re-election campaign.

A writer prior to entering politics and government, O'Donnell published the book Deadly Force (1983), which was adapted as a CBS movie in 1986. He was a political columnist for New York magazine and has written essays and articles for several publications including The New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, People, Spy, and Boston Magazine. O'Donnell has also appeared on NBC News’ “Nightly News,” “Today,” “Good Morning America,” “Nightline,” “Charlie Rose,” and several other programs. Suffolk University awarded O'Donnell an honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters, in 2001.

Born in Boston, O'Donnell is a graduate of Harvard College.