Saturday Night Live Wiki
Don't have an account?
Register
Register
Saturday Night Live Wiki
Saturday Night Live Wiki
3,334
pages
in: Writers, Cast, 1980s Cast Members,
and 3 more

Changes: Jim Downey

Back to page
Edit
(Fixed broken links, added birth date, changed start date from 1977 to the correct 1976.)
Tag: rte-wysiwyg
No edit summary
Tag: Source edit
 
(12 intermediate revisions by 6 users not shown)
Line 2: Line 2:
 
|image = [[File:L2ltYWdlcy9ndWVzdHMvSmltRG93bmV5XzA2MTcxMS5qcGc=_H_SW469.jpeg|250px]]
  
|image = [[File:L2ltYWdlcy9ndWVzdHMvSmltRG93bmV5XzA2MTcxMS5qcGc=_H_SW469.jpeg|250px]]
 
|date of birth = October 6, 1952
  
|date of birth = October 6, 1952
  +
|years on SNL = '''As writer:'''<br>[[Season 2|1977]]-[[Season 5|1980]]; [[Season 10|1984]]-[[Season 23|1998]]; [[Season 26|2001]]-[[Season 31|2005]]; [[Season 32|2006]]-[[Season 38|2013]]<br>'''As cast member:''' [[Season 5|1980]].
−
|years on SNL = 1976-present}}
  
  +
}}
   
−
'''Jim Downey''' is one of the most long-standing writers of ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'', from 1976 to 2013; he served as [[head writer]] from [[season 12]] to [[season 20]]. He is the brother of Robert Downey, Sr., and uncle of [[Robert Downey, Jr.]].
 +
'''Jim Downey''' is one of the most long-standing writers of ''[[Saturday Night Live]]'', writing 30 seasons between 1977 and 2013; he served as [[head writer]] from [[season 11]] to [[season 20]].
   
−
Downey joined SNL for [[season 3]], and was one of several writers promoted to the new [[cast|featured players]] cast category when it was created for [[season 5]]. When [[Lorne Michaels]] quit as producer at the end of that season, Downey left as well, and shortly thereafter became head writer for ''Late Night with David Letterman'' when the show was created. He returned to SNL a few years later, during the [[Dick Ebersol]] years (and can be seen in the sketch ''White Like Eddie'', from Eddie Murphy's hosting gig in [[season 10]].) When Lorne Michaels returned to SNL in [[season 11]], Downey was promoted to head writer.
 +
Downey joined SNL in the second-half of [[season 2]], and was one of several writers promoted to the new [[cast|featured players]] cast category when it was created for [[season 5]]. When [[Lorne Michaels]] quit as producer at the end of that season, Downey left as well, and shortly thereafter became head writer for ''[[Late Night|Late Night with David Letterman]]'' when the show was created. He returned to SNL a few years later, during the [[Dick Ebersol]] years, in [[Season 10]] (and can be seen in the sketch "[[White Like Eddie]]", from Eddie Murphy's hosting gig in during said season.) When Lorne Michaels returned to SNL in [[season 11]], Downey was promoted to head writer.[[file:Billy Madison insult full length|thumb|right|250px|Downey as the moderator in ''Billy Madison'']]
  ⚫
He was eventually forced out has head writer with the massive cast changeover following [[season 20]], but remained, credited as "Weekend Update Producer" and writing exclusively for [[Norm MacDonald]]'s ''[[Weekend Update]]''. When MacDonald was forced off ''Update'' in [[season 23]], Downey was fired; he has later recounted in interviews being told of his firing at the same time he was informed of the death of [[Chris Farley]]. He returned midway through the show's [[Season 26|26th season]] in [[January 20, 2001|2001]], and (aside from a break in 2005 to act in the movie ''There Will Be Blood'') remained at SNL until retiring after [[season 38]], after 30 accumulative years with the show, though much of his writing in his last few years was done at home.<ref>http://www.dennismillerradio.com/b/Up-To-a-Point/-869739034683769013.html</ref>
−
[[file:Billy Madison insult full length|thumb|right|250px|Downey as the moderator in ''Billy Madison'']]
  
  +
⚫
He was eventually forced out has head writer with the massive cast changeover following [[season 20]], but remained, credited as "Weekend Update Producer" and writing exclusively for [[Norm MacDonald]]'s ''[[Weekend Update]]''. When MacDonald was forced off ''Update'' in [[season 23]], Downey was fired; he has later recounted in interviews being told of his firing at the same time he was informed of the death of [[Chris Farley]]. He returned in 2000, and (aside from a break in 2005 to act in the movie ''There Will Be Blood'') remained at SNL until retiring after [[season 38]], though much of his writing in his last few years was done at home.<ref>http://www.dennismillerradio.com/b/Up-To-a-Point/-869739034683769013.html</ref> During his time on SNL, he was often seen in cameos and voiceovers.
  
  +
Downey retired from SNL the same year that longtime cast members such as [[Fred Armisen]], [[Bill Hader]], and [[Jason Sudeikis]] decided to leave the show.
  +
During his time on SNL, he was often seen in cameos and voiceovers.
  +
  ⚫
Outside of SNL, he is best known for delivering the "ultimate insult" in the [[Adam Sandler]] movie ''[[Billy Madison]]''.
  +
  +
== SNL Career ==
  +
*1977-1980; 1984-1998; 2001-2005; 2006-2013: Writer (started: January 15, 1977)
  +
**1985-1995: Head Writer
  +
*1980: Featured Player (first: January 26, 1980; last: May 24, 1980)
   
⚫
Outside of SNL, he is best known for delivering the "ultimate insult" in the [[Adam Sandler]] movie ''Billy Madison''.
  
 
==References==
  
==References==
 
<references />
  
<references />
Line 17: Line 26:
 
[[Category:Writers]]
  
[[Category:Writers]]
 
[[Category:Cast]]
  
[[Category:Cast]]
⚫
[[Category:1970s Cast Members]]
  
 
[[Category:1980s Cast Members]]
  
[[Category:1980s Cast Members]]
 
[[Category:Season 5 Cast]]
  
[[Category:Season 5 Cast]]
  ⚫
[[Category:Featured Cast Members]]
  +
[[Category:Head Writers]]

Latest revision as of 00:31, 24 December 2023

Jim Downey is one of the most long-standing writers of Saturday Night Live, writing 30 seasons between 1977 and 2013; he served as head writer from season 11 to season 20.

Downey joined SNL in the second-half of season 2, and was one of several writers promoted to the new featured players cast category when it was created for season 5. When Lorne Michaels quit as producer at the end of that season, Downey left as well, and shortly thereafter became head writer for Late Night with David Letterman when the show was created. He returned to SNL a few years later, during the Dick Ebersol years, in Season 10 (and can be seen in the sketch "White Like Eddie", from Eddie Murphy's hosting gig in during said season.) When Lorne Michaels returned to SNL in season 11, Downey was promoted to head writer.

Billy_Madison_insult_full_length

Billy Madison insult full length

Downey as the moderator in Billy Madison

He was eventually forced out has head writer with the massive cast changeover following season 20, but remained, credited as "Weekend Update Producer" and writing exclusively for Norm MacDonald's Weekend Update. When MacDonald was forced off Update in season 23, Downey was fired; he has later recounted in interviews being told of his firing at the same time he was informed of the death of Chris Farley. He returned midway through the show's 26th season in 2001, and (aside from a break in 2005 to act in the movie There Will Be Blood) remained at SNL until retiring after season 38, after 30 accumulative years with the show, though much of his writing in his last few years was done at home.[1]

Downey retired from SNL the same year that longtime cast members such as Fred Armisen, Bill Hader, and Jason Sudeikis decided to leave the show. During his time on SNL, he was often seen in cameos and voiceovers.

Outside of SNL, he is best known for delivering the "ultimate insult" in the Adam Sandler movie Billy Madison.

SNL Career[]

  • 1977-1980; 1984-1998; 2001-2005; 2006-2013: Writer (started: January 15, 1977)
    • 1985-1995: Head Writer
  • 1980: Featured Player (first: January 26, 1980; last: May 24, 1980)

References[]

  1. ↑ http://www.dennismillerradio.com/b/Up-To-a-Point/-869739034683769013.html

External Links[]

Community content is available under CC-BY-SA unless otherwise noted.