Dana Carvey

Dana Thomas Carvey (born June 2, 1955) is an American stand-up comedian, actor, podcaster, screenwriter and producer. Carvey is best known for his seven seasons on Saturday Night Live, from 1986 to 1993, which earned him five consecutive Primetime Emmy Award nominations. He returned to the show during and immediately after the 2024 presidential election to impersonate outgoing US President Joe Biden as well as Trump advisor, businessman, and billionaire Elon Musk. Carvey is also known for his film roles in comedies such as Moving (1988), Opportunity Knocks (1990), Trapped in Paradise (1994), and The Master of Disguise (2002), as well as reprising his role of Garth Algar in the SNL spin-off film Wayne's World (1992) and its sequel Wayne's World 2 (1993).

Infobox

Born

Dana Thomas Carvey (1955-06-02) June 2, 1955 (age 70)Missoula, Montana, U.S.

Education

College of San MateoSan Francisco State University (BA)

Occupations

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Spouse

mw- Paula Zwagerman (m. 1983)

Children

2[a]

Relatives

Brad Carvey (brother)

Years active

1978–present

Medium

Stand-up, television, film

Genres

Improvisational comedysketch comedycharacter comedyimpressionssurreal humorsatire

Website

danacarvey.com

Tables

· Filmography › Comedy specials

1995

Dana Carvey: Critics' Choice

Role(s)

Himself

Notes

Stand-up special

2008

Dana Carvey: Squatting Monkeys Tell No Lies

Role(s)

Stand-up special

2016

Dana Carvey: Straight White Male, 60

Role(s)

Stand-up special

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1995	Dana Carvey: Critics' Choice	Himself	Stand-up special
2008	Dana Carvey: Squatting Monkeys Tell No Lies		Stand-up special
2016	Dana Carvey: Straight White Male, 60		Stand-up special

· Filmography › Film

1981

Halloween II

Role(s)

Assistant Barry McNichol

1984

This Is Spinal Tap

Role(s)

Mime Waiter

Racing with the Moon

Role(s)

Baby Face

1986

Tough Guys

Role(s)

Richie Evans

1988

Moving

Role(s)

Brad Williams

1990

Opportunity Knocks

Role(s)

Eddie Farrell

1992

Wayne's World

Role(s)

Garth Algar

1993

Wayne's World 2

Role(s)

Garth Algar

1994

Clean Slate

Role(s)

Maurice L. Pogue

The Road to Wellville

Role(s)

George Kellogg

Trapped in Paradise

Role(s)

Alvin Firpo

1996

The Shot

Role(s)

Himself

Notes

Cameo

Fire on the Track: The Steve Prefontaine Story

Role(s)

Documentary

2000

Little Nicky

Role(s)

Referee

2002

The Master of Disguise

Role(s)

Pistachio Disguisey

Notes

Also co-writer

2010

Presidential Reunion

Role(s)

George H. W. Bush

Notes

Short film

2011

Jack and Jill

Role(s)

Crazy Puppeteer

Notes

Cameo

2015

Hotel Transylvania 2

Role(s)

Dana the Camp Director

Notes

Voice

2016

The Secret Life of Pets

Role(s)

Pops

2017

Sandy Wexler

Role(s)

Himself

Becoming Bond

Role(s)

Johnny Carson

Notes

Documentary

Too Funny to Fail

Role(s)

Himself

2019

The Secret Life of Pets 2

Role(s)

Pops

Notes

Voice

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1981	Halloween II	Assistant Barry McNichol
1984	This Is Spinal Tap	Mime Waiter
1984	Racing with the Moon	Baby Face
1986	Tough Guys	Richie Evans
1988	Moving	Brad Williams
1990	Opportunity Knocks	Eddie Farrell
1992	Wayne's World	Garth Algar
1993	Wayne's World 2	Garth Algar
1994	Clean Slate	Maurice L. Pogue
	The Road to Wellville	George Kellogg
	Trapped in Paradise	Alvin Firpo
1996	The Shot	Himself	Cameo
1996	Fire on the Track: The Steve Prefontaine Story	Himself	Documentary
2000	Little Nicky	Referee
2002	The Master of Disguise	Pistachio Disguisey	Also co-writer
2010	Presidential Reunion	George H. W. Bush	Short film
2011	Jack and Jill	Crazy Puppeteer	Cameo
2015	Hotel Transylvania 2	Dana the Camp Director	Voice
2016	The Secret Life of Pets	Pops	Voice
2017	Sandy Wexler	Himself
	Becoming Bond	Johnny Carson	Documentary
	Too Funny to Fail	Himself	Documentary
2019	The Secret Life of Pets 2	Pops	Voice

· Filmography › Television

1982

One of the Boys

Role(s)

Adam Shields

Notes

Main cast

1984

Blue Thunder

Role(s)

Clinton Wonderlove

1986–1993

Role(s)

Saturday Night Live

Notes

Various Roles

1988

Superman's 50th Anniversary

Role(s)

Host/Himself

Notes

Special

1992

64th Academy Awards

Role(s)

Garth Algar

1992 MTV Video Music Awards

Role(s)

Host

1992, 19931997

Role(s)

The Larry Sanders Show

Notes

Himself

1994, 19962000, 2011

Role(s)

Saturday Night Live

Notes

Himself (host)

1996

The Dana Carvey Show

Role(s)

Himself / various roles

Notes

Title role; also co-creator, writer and executive producer

1998

Just Shoot Me!

Role(s)

Oskar Milos

Notes

Episode: "The Emperor"

1998–1999

Role(s)

LateLine

Notes

Senator Crowl Pickens

2010

The Fairly OddParents

Role(s)

Schnozmo Cosma

Notes

Voice; Episode: "Double Oh Schnozmo"

2011

Good Vibes

Role(s)

Claw Jones

Notes

Voice; Episode: "Tech Rehab"

Spoof

Role(s)

Various

Notes

Pilot

2012

Live with Kelly

Role(s)

Himself (guest host)

Notes

3 episodes

2013

Rick and Morty

Role(s)

Leonard

Notes

Voice; Episode: "Anatomy Park"

2014

The Birthday Boys

Role(s)

Laurence Eastman

Notes

Episode: "Snobs and Slobs"

2016

First Impressions

Role(s)

Himself

Notes

Host

2018

Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee

Role(s)

Episode: "Na.. Ga.. Do.. It"

2019

Bajillion Dollar Propertie$

Role(s)

Prince Borislav

Notes

Episode: "Royale Pains"

2023

Mulligan

Role(s)

Senator Cartwright LaMarr

Notes

Voice; Main Cast

2024

Saturday Night Live

Role(s)

Joe Biden / various roles

Notes

Guest role (9 episodes)

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1982	One of the Boys	Adam Shields	Main cast
1984	Blue Thunder	Clinton Wonderlove	Main cast
1986–1993	Saturday Night Live	Various Roles	Main castPrimetime Emmy Award for Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program (1993)Nominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program (1989–1992)
1988	Superman's 50th Anniversary	Host/Himself	Special
1992	64th Academy Awards	Garth Algar	Special
1992	1992 MTV Video Music Awards	Host
1992, 19931997	The Larry Sanders Show	Himself	3 episodesNominated – Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Guest Actor in a Comedy Series
1994, 19962000, 2011	Saturday Night Live	Himself (host)	4 episodes
1996	The Dana Carvey Show	Himself / various roles	Title role; also co-creator, writer and executive producer
1998	Just Shoot Me!	Oskar Milos	Episode: "The Emperor"
1998–1999	LateLine	Senator Crowl Pickens	2 episodes
2010	The Fairly OddParents	Schnozmo Cosma	Voice; Episode: "Double Oh Schnozmo"
2011	Good Vibes	Claw Jones	Voice; Episode: "Tech Rehab"
2011	Spoof	Various	Pilot
2012	Live with Kelly	Himself (guest host)	3 episodes
2013	Rick and Morty	Leonard	Voice; Episode: "Anatomy Park"
2014	The Birthday Boys	Laurence Eastman	Episode: "Snobs and Slobs"
2016	First Impressions	Himself	Host
2018	Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee	Himself	Episode: "Na.. Ga.. Do.. It"
2019	Bajillion Dollar Propertie$	Prince Borislav	Episode: "Royale Pains"
2023	Mulligan	Senator Cartwright LaMarr	Voice; Main Cast
2024	Saturday Night Live	Joe Biden / various roles	Guest role (9 episodes)

· Filmography › Video games

1996

You Don't Know Jack Volume 2

Role(s)

Himself

Year	Title	Voice
1996	You Don't Know Jack Volume 2	Himself

· Filmography › Web

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2021–present	Fantastic! with Dana Carvey	Himself/Host
2022–present	Fly on the Wall		Co-host with David Spade
2024–present	Superfly		Co-host with David Spade

References

The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/2024/10/23/movies/dana-carvey-joe-biden-snl-trump.html
EW.com
https://ew.com/dana-carvey-returning-to-snl-december-2024-8750402
Carlmont High School - Yearbook (Belmont, CA), Class of 1976
https://www.e-yearbook.com/yearbooks/Carlmont_High_School_Yearbook/1976/Page_1.html
smdailyjournal.com
http://www.smdailyjournal.com/articles/obituaries/2014-09-03/billie-dahl-carvey/1776425129443.html
Mercury News
http://www.legacy.com/obituaries/mercurynews/obituary.aspx?n=billie-dahl-carvey&pid=172327882&fhid=26208
San Mateo Daily Journal
https://www.smdailyjournal.com/obituaries/william-john-bud-carvey/article_c2bc83f2-ee20-5b57-a725-8856f41485f9.html
ilasting.com
https://web.archive.org/web/20200214215904/http://www.ilasting.com/williambudcarvey.php
smdailyjournal.com
http://www.smdailyjournal.com/articles/obituaries/2016-05-05/william-john-bud-carvey/1776425162849.html
"Dana Carvey Biography (1955-)"
http://www.filmreference.com/film/39/Dana-Carvey.html
"As someone from Irish ancestry: Happy St. Patricks Day!"
https://x.com/danacarvey/status/1636841880947396610
CNN
https://web.archive.org/web/20161006234020/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0006/29/lkl.00.html
Chicago Sun-Times
https://web.archive.org/web/20220611031608/http://nl.newsbank.com/nl-search/we/Archives?p_product=CSTB&p_theme=cstb&p_action=search&p_maxdocs=200&p_topdoc=1&p_text_direct-0=0EB372DCEA09C48E&p_field_direct-0=document_id&p_perpage=10&p_sort=YMD_date:D&s_trackval=GooglePM
Crippen & Flynn Woodside Chapel (FD879)
https://www.crippenandflynnchapels.com/obituary/4641094
SFGATE
https://www.sfgate.com/bayarea/article/Dana-Carvey-Joe-Biden-impersonation-president-16052651.php
"CCS Finals – 1971"
https://web.archive.org/web/20131203221454/http://archive.dyestat.com/ATHLETICS/XC/1971/ccsres.htm
Montana Kids
http://montanakids.com/cool_stories/famous_montanans/Carvey.htm
The Berkeley Gazette
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-berkeley-gazette-dana-carvey-wins-st/118719048/
The San Francisco Examiner
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-comic-champ-c/118717990/
The Pantagraph
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-pantagraph-bluethunderseriestost/21731813/
The San Francisco Examiner
https://www.newspapers.com/article/the-san-francisco-examiner-comic-champ-c/118717990/
The New York Times
https://www.nytimes.com/1991/05/23/movies/review-television-a-salute-to-kirk-douglas-for-his-life.html
Thrillist
https://www.thrillist.com/entertainment/nation/an-oral-history-of-nickelodeons-double-dare
Saturday Night Live
"You Made It Weird Episode 239"
https://web.archive.org/web/20141217225633/http://www.nerdist.com/pepisode/you-made-it-weird-239-dana-carvey/
Newsday
https://www.newsday.com/entertainment/celebrities/dana-carvey-does-stand-up-at-the-paramount-g96215
"Dana Carvey Emmy Nominated"
http://www.emmys.com/celebrities/dana-carvey
New York Magazine
http://nymag.com/arts/tv/features/47548/
HuffPost
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/dana-carvey-elon-musk-snl-impersonation-criticism_n_674360a6e4b04cfaefbbbd93
Rotten Tomatoes
http://www.rottentomatoes.com/m/master_of_disguise/
Cracked
http://www.cracked.com/article_15047_inoperable-humor-5-worst-comedies-all-time.html
"Comedy Central's 100 Greatest Stand-Ups of all Time"
http://www.everything2.com/title/Comedy+Central%2527s+100+Greatest+Stand-Ups+of+all+Time
marksfriggin.com
http://marksfriggin.com/news16/10-31.htm#wed
gq.com
https://www.gq.com/story/dana-carvey-oral-history-dana-carvey-show
"Dana Carvey is "DARWIN""
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Odsuv8x67dk
"Dana Carvey's LOST Spin-off"
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XQB0NqRNCCo
earwolf.com
https://www.earwolf.com/episode/dana-carvey-2
"Conan O'Brien and Dana Carvey dropping new podcast series this summer"
https://www.avclub.com/conan-obrien-and-dana-carvey-dropping-new-podcast-serie-1835324305
Ad Age
https://adage.com/SuperBowl2021Reviews
Deadline
https://deadline.com/2022/01/dana-carvey-david-spade-launch-weekly-snl-talk-show-podcast-1234907738/
audacyinc.com
https://audacyinc.com/press/audacy-expands-partnership-with-dana-carvey-and-david-spade-with-the-launch-of-superfly/
Hear & Now
https://blog.siriusxm.com/why-dana-carvey-started-working-with-his-aspiring-comic-sons-they-had-this-bullseye-on-their-back/
Good Morning America
https://www.goodmorningamerica.com/culture/story/dana-carvey-32-year-son-dex-died-accidental-104976259
The Daily Beast
https://www.thedailybeast.com/dex-carvey-snl-alum-and-son-of-dana-carvey-dies-of-overdose-at-32
Los Angeles Times
https://www.latimes.com/archives/la-xpm-1995-10-29-re-62614-story.html
People mag
https://people.com/archive/cover-story-the-heart-of-the-matter-vol-53-no-22/
USA Today
http://usatoday30.usatoday.com/news/health/spotlight/2001-11-05-carvey-heart.htm
ABC News
https://abcnews.go.com/Primetime/story?id=132097&page=1
People
http://people.com/archive/cover-story-the-heart-of-the-matter-vol-53-no-22/
People mag
https://people.com/movies/why-dana-carvey-left-hollywood/
SiriusXM
https://blog.siriusxm.com/why-dana-carvey-started-working-with-his-aspiring-comic-sons-they-had-this-bullseye-on-their-back/
corporateverify.com
https://web.archive.org/web/20230312050604/https://corporateverify.com/ca/01630524
"Dana Carvey to Make His Comeback in Jack and Jill?"
https://web.archive.org/web/20140407073423/http://www.comingsoon.net/news/movienews.php?id=70346
Carvey's oldest son, Dex Carvey, died in November 2023.