Jim Downey

Biography

James Woodward Downey (born 1952) is an American comedy writer, producer and actor. Downey wrote for over 30 seasons of Saturday Night Live, making him the longest tenured writer in the show's history. SNL creator Lorne Michaels called Downey the "best political humorist alive" while Conan O'Brien said he is "the great comedy writer that we all revere."

Career Overview

Jim Downey has 30 screen credits in a career dating back to 1975. Their work spans 2 cinematic universes — most prominently Happy Gilmore with 1 titles. Signature works include One Battle After Another, Downey Wrote That, Saturday Night Live in the '90s: Pop Culture Nation. Explore the interactive character relationship maps on each title page to trace how their roles connect across franchises.

Personal Facts

Known For

Acting

Gender

male

Known Credits

30

Birth Date

1952-10-06 00:00:00

Birth Place

Berkeley, California, USA

Known For

• 

  One Battle After Another
• 

  Downey Wrote That
• 

  Saturday Night Live in the '90s: Pop Culture Nation
• 

  There Will Be Blood
• 

  Bum Rap
• 

  Lorne

Associated Universes

Universe traveler — spans 2 universes

• Happy Gilmore (1 titles)
• Wayne's World (1 titles)

Frequent Collaborators

• Dana Carvey (4 collaborations)
• Al Franken (3 collaborations)
• Lorne Michaels (3 collaborations)
• Robert Smigel (3 collaborations)
• Adam Sandler (3 collaborations)
• Fred Armisen (2 collaborations)
• Bill Hader (2 collaborations)
• Darrell Hammond (2 collaborations)
• Seth Meyers (2 collaborations)
• John Mulaney (2 collaborations)

Credits

• actors (24 credits)

  • Lorne

    Self / Irwin Segelstein (voice)

    actor

    actors
    2026
  • Downey Wrote That

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2025
  • One Battle After Another

    Sandy Irvine

    actor

    actors
    2025
  • Happy Gilmore 2

    Championship Tour Starter

    actor

    actors
    2025
  • SNL50: The Homecoming Concert

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2025
  • The Chair Company

    - Minnie Mouse coming back wasn't on my bingo card. (2025) ... Douglas actor actors

    - Happy Birthday, a friend. (2025) ... Douglas actor actors

    - I won. Zoom in. (2025) ... Douglas actor actors

    - Bahld Harmon birthplace (disputed) (2025) ... Douglas actor actors

    - @BrownDerbyHistoricVids Little bit of Hollywood? Okayyy. (2025) ... Douglas actor actors
    2025
  • Live from New York!

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2015
  • The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon

    - PEOPLE's Sexiest Man Alive, Jimmy Carr, The Winner of On Brand, I'm With Her (2025) ... Self - Guest actor actors

    - Jesse Eisenberg, Brittany Snow, Jim Downey, Steve Martin and Alison Brown (2025) ... Self - Guest actor actors
    2014
  • Veep

    - Groundbreaking (2017) ... Jim Caldwell actor actors
    2012
  • Saturday Night

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2010
  • There Will Be Blood

    Al Rose

    actor

    actors
    2007
  • Saturday Night Live in the '90s: Pop Culture Nation

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2007
  • 30 Rock

    - Hogcock! (2013) ... Downey actor actors
    2006
  • Live from New York: The First 5 Years of Saturday Night Live

    Self

    actor

    actors
    2005
  • Curb Your Enthusiasm

    - Larry vs. Michael J. Fox (2011) ... Board Member #1 actor actors
    2000
  • Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary Special

    Self

    actor

    actors
    1999
  • Dirty Work

    Martin / Homeless Guy

    actor

    actors
    1998
  • The Little Patriot

    Adjutant

    actor

    actors
    1995
  • Billy Madison

    Principal

    actor

    actors
    1995
  • Wayne's World 2

    Jeff Wong (voice, uncredited)

    actor

    actors
    1993
  • Saturday Night Live: 15th Anniversary

    Self

    actor

    actors
    1989
  • Bum Rap

    Steg

    actor

    actors
    1988
  • Steve Martin's Best Show Ever

    actor

    actors
    1981
  • Saturday Night Live

    - Zac Efron/Yeah Yeah Yeahs (2009) ... Announcer (voice) (uncredited) actor actors

    - Hugh Laurie/Kanye West (2008) ... C-Span Announcer (voice) (uncredited) actor actors

    - Tim McGraw/Ludacris/T-Pain (2008) ... C-Span Announcer (voice) (uncredited) actor actors

    - Jon Hamm/Coldplay (2008) ... C-Span Announcer (voice) (uncredited) actor actors

    - James Franco/Kings of Leon (2008) ... New York Times Narrator (voice) (uncredited) actor actors
    1975

• production (2 credits)

  • Saturday Night Live: The Best of Phil Hartman

    producer

    production
    1998
  • Saturday Night Live

    - Mick Jagger with Arcade Fire, Jeff Beck, Foo Fighters (2012) ... producer production

    - Will Ferrell with Usher (2012) ... producer production

    - Eli Manning with Rihanna (2012) ... producer production

    - Josh Brolin with Gotye (2012) ... producer production

    - Sofia Vergara with One Direction (2012) ... producer production
    1975

• writing (4 credits)

  • Saturday Night Live: The Best of Phil Hartman

    writer

    writing
    1998
  • Late Night with David Letterman

    writer

    writing

    - Show #1810 (1993) ... writer writing

    - Show #1809 (1993) ... writer writing

    - Show #1808 (1993) ... writer writing

    - Show #1807 (1993) ... writer writing

    - Show #1806 (1993) ... writer writing
    1982
  • Steve Martin's Best Show Ever

    writer

    writing
    1981
  • Saturday Night Live

    - SNL50: The Anniversary Special (2025) ... writer writing

    - Megan Fox / U2 (2009) ... writer writing

    - Will Ferrell/Green Day (2009) ... writer writing

    - Justin Timberlake/Ciara (2009) ... writer writing

    - Zac Efron/Yeah Yeah Yeahs (2009) ... writer writing
    1975