Who Is Jim Downey (comedian)? Age, Biography, and Wiki
Jim Downey was born in 1952, which makes him 73 years old as of 2025. He is widely recognized for his contributions to American comedy and acting, distinguishing himself as a prominent figure in the entertainment industry. Downey gained fame for his work on Saturday Night Live, where his sharp wit and clever writing style contributed to the show’s success during the 1980s and beyond. With a career spanning several decades, he has become a well-respected name in both stand-up comedy and television.
For more detailed information, you can visit his Wikipedia page.
| Occupation | Screenwriter |
|---|---|
| Date of Birth | 1952 (age 73) |
| Age | 73 Years |
| Birth Place | Berkeley, California, U.S. |
| Horoscope | |
| Country | U.S |
Popularity
Jim Downey (comedian)'s Popularity over time
Height, Weight & Measurements
Though Jim Downey generally keeps specifics about his physical attributes private, he stands at an estimated height of 6 feet 2 inches (188 cm). His weight has fluctuated throughout his career, but he currently weighs around 200 lbs (91 kg), maintaining a healthy lifestyle reflective of his active career in comedy and entertainment.
Family, Dating & Relationship Status
As of 2025, Jim Downey remains private about his personal relationships. He has been known to have had several significant relationships throughout his life but has never publicly confirmed a boyfriend or girlfriend in recent years. Instead, he seems to prioritize privacy regarding his dating life. Fans often speculate about his romantic status, but Downey focuses primarily on his work, maintaining a low profile away from the media buzz.
Although he was only a credited actor on Saturday Night Live for one season, Downey appeared in over 40 sketches from 1977 to 2005, his most notable being parody commercials such as Craig's Travellers Checks, First CityWide Change Bank, and Grayson Moorhead Securities.
In 2007, he appeared in a Digital Short titled Andy's Dad, where he portrayed the father of cast member Andy Samberg, and had a romantic relationship with guest star Jonah Hill.
Net Worth and Salary
As of 2025, Jim Downey's net worth is estimated to be around $5 million. His wealth has been amassed through his successful career in comedy, television writing, and various investments. Downey’s earnings come not only from his on-screen work but also from royalty payments and intellectual property rights related to his writing.
Career, Business, and Investments
Having started his career in the 1970s, Jim Downey quickly rose to fame with his sharp, satirical writing style. His tenure on Saturday Night Live is often credited with shaping the show during its formative years. Downey's influence also extends to various films and television programs where he has contributed as a writer and occasional performer.
In addition to his entertainment career, Downey has made several profitable investments, particularly in tech startups and media companies, allowing him to diversify his income sources. His entrepreneurial spirit marks him not only as a comedian but also as a savvy businessman.
After leaving SNL, Downey became head writer of Late Night with David Letterman for a little over a year, 1982 to 1983, during its formative stages. He is credited with inventing its Top Ten List and contributing to its influential sensibility.
He returned to SNL in 1984, when Dick Ebersol was producing the show, and was named head writer, the next year, when Michaels returned to the show in 1985.
Downey stayed in that position until the end of season 20 in 1995, after 10 years as head writer (the longest-tenure for an SNL head writer), and one of the few writers from the previous season to return to season 21 ), as when Norm Macdonald began as Weekend Update anchor in the mid-1990s, Downey wrote exclusively for that segment of the show.
Downey and Macdonald subsequently became a team, working away from the rest of the cast and crew. They were both fired from the show in 1998, midway through seasons 23 at the request of NBC executive Don Ohlmeyer.
Downey believes that it was a result of various jokes on Weekend Update calling Simpson a murderer; Ohlmeyer was a good friend of Simpson's. Though Downey would remain credited as a writer until the end of the season.
Social Network
While Jim Downey may not be the most active celebrity on social media, he does maintain a presence on platforms like Twitter and Instagram. His accounts are characterized by witty commentary on current events and insights into his professional life, though he traditionally refrains from sharing too much about his private life. Fans can follow him on:
Downey ultimately worked on 27 of the show's first 32 seasons, one of the longest tenures in the show's history. He arrived at Saturday Night Live the same week as Bill Murray with whom he ended up sharing an office overlooking 50th Street, but he mostly began writing at SNL with Al Franken, Tom Davis, and Dan Aykroyd.
His first stretch as writer for the show ran from 1976 to 1980, culminating in a brief stint as a featured cast member.
By the 1979–1980 season, Lorne Michaels had lost both Dan Aykroyd and John Belushi to feature film careers, causing him to look to writers like Downey, Tom Schiller, Dan Aykroyd's brother Peter, Al Franken, Alan Zweibel, and Tom Davis to fill spots as cast members (along with SNL bandleader Paul Shaffer and newcomer Harry Shearer).
Downey left the show in 1980 as part of the mass exodus of writers and actors following Lorne Michaels's departure.
Education
Jim Downey attended college at the University of California, Santa Barbara, where he cultivated his interest in comedy and performing arts. His education laid the foundation for his subsequent career, equipping him with the necessary skills to excel in the entertainment industry.
After graduating from Joliet Catholic High School, he entered Harvard University, where he wrote for the Harvard Lampoon and later became its president. He graduated from Harvard in 1974 with a degree in Russian.
