Lawrence O'Donnell

Lawrence O'Donnell hosts "The Last Word with Lawrence O'Donnell" at 10 p.m. on MSNBC. Each night, O'Donnell relies on his extensive background in politics, entertainment, and news to provide insight into the biggest issues and most compelling stories of the day.

O'Donnell joined MSNBC as a political analyst in 1996. He is 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." Additionally, he is the author of "Playing with Fire: The 1968 Election and the Transformation of American Politics," a book that examines the impactful presidential election of that year.

From 1989 through 1992, O'Donnell served as Senior Advisor to Senator Daniel Patrick Moynihan. In 1992, he was Chief of Staff to the Senate Committee on the Environment and Public Works, and from 1993 through 1995, he served as the Chief of Staff of the Senate Finance Committee. O'Donnell's political experience is complemented by his roles as a political columnist and writer for various prestigious publications, including The New York Times and The Washington Post. He has been involved in significant charitable efforts, such as partnering with MSNBC and UNICEF on the K.I.N.D. project, which provides desks and scholarships to students in Malawi.

Born in Boston, O'Donnell is a graduate of Harvard College. His early career included publishing the book "Deadly Force" (1983), which was adapted into a CBS movie in 1986. He has written essays and articles for several publications including The New York Times, Washington Post, Los Angeles Times, New York Magazine, People, Spy, and Boston Magazine. O'Donnell has also appeared on numerous television programs, including NBC News’ “Today,” “Good Morning America,” “Nightline,” and “Charlie Rose.” In 2001, Suffolk University awarded him an honorary degree, Doctor of Humane Letters.