Jim Downey
Acting·October 6, 1952 — 73 years old·Berkeley, California, USA
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."
Known For
There Will Be Blood
2007·8.1
One Battle After Another
2025·7.3
Billy Madison
1995·6.2
Wayne's World 2
1993·6.1
Happy Gilmore 2
2025·6.5
Curb Your Enthusiasm
2000·8.0
30 Rock
2006·7.5
Veep
2012·7.5
Saturday Night Live
1975·6.9
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon
2014·5.8
Dirty Work
1998·6.2
White House Plumbers
2023·6.2
Filmography · 29
2026LorneSelf / Irwin Segelstein (voice)2025Downey Wrote ThatSelf2025The Chair CompanyTVDouglas2025One Battle After AnotherSandy Irvine2025Happy Gilmore 2Championship Tour Starter2025SNL50: The Homecoming ConcertSelf2025SNL50: Beyond Saturday NightTVSelf2023White House PlumbersTVSpencer Oliver2015Live from New York!Self2014The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy FallonTVSelf - Guest2012VeepTVJim Caldwell2010Saturday NightSelf2007There Will Be BloodAl Rose2007Saturday Night Live in the '90s: Pop Culture NationSelf200630 RockTVDowney2005Live from New York: The First 5 Years of Saturday Night LiveSelf2000Curb Your EnthusiasmTVBoard Member #11999Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary SpecialSelf1998Dirty WorkMartin / Homeless Guy1998Saturday Night Live: The Best of Phil HartmanProducer · Writer1995The Little PatriotAdjutant1995Billy MadisonPrincipal1993Wayne's World 2Jeff Wong (voice, uncredited)1989Saturday Night Live: 15th AnniversarySelf1988Bum RapSteg1984Kate & AllieTV1982Late Night with David LettermanTVWriter1981Steve Martin's Best Show EverWriter1975Saturday Night LiveTVSelf - Cameo (uncredited) · Football Player (uncredited) · Celebrity (uncredited) · Burger Master Customer (uncredited) · Various (uncredited) · Hugh (uncredited) · Guard / Patron / Extra / Moonie (uncredited) · Self (uncredited) · Contestant (uncredited) · Reporter (uncredited) · Guest (uncredited) · Priest (uncredited) · Tatum O'Neal's Uncle (uncredited) · Yakov / Officer (uncredited) · Spectator (uncredited) · Knight of Columbus (uncredited) · Guard (uncredited) · Tourist (uncredited) · Student (uncredited) · Cleaner / Craig / Soldier (uncredited) · Dave Powers (uncredited) · Brundidge Bailey (uncredited) · Son / Soldier (uncredited) · Shepherd (uncredited) · Caller (voice) (uncredited) · Craig / Juror (uncredited) · Juror (uncredited) · Store Clerk (uncredited) · Referee (uncredited) · Reporter / Sherlock Holmes (uncredited) · Makeup Artist (uncredited) · Convention Announcer (voice) (uncredited) · Hercules (voice) (uncredited) · Paul McElroy (uncredited) · Sketch Announcer (voice) (uncredited) · Word Busters Announcer (voice) (uncredited) · Sheriff (uncredited) · Parent (uncredited) · Arthur Kent (voice) (uncredited) · C-Span announcer (voice) (uncredited) · C-SPAN Announcer (voice) (uncredited) · Victor Devereaux (voice) (uncredited) · Audience Member (uncredited) · Announcer (voice) (uncredited) · Narrator (voice) (uncredited) · Arthur Grayson (uncredited) · Audience Member / Arthur Grayson (uncredited) · Self - Various Characters · The Cheese Game Announcer (voice) (uncredited) · Lawyer in Audience (uncredited) · Big N' Tasty Announcer (voice) (uncredited) · Global Century Investments Audience Member (uncredited) · Chile Delegate Translator (uncredited) · Reporter (voice) (uncredited) · Translator (voice) (uncredited) · Grayson Moorhead (uncredited) · Writer · Producer