Oct 6, 1952 - 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."
Media | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Movie | 1998 | Dirty Work | Martin / Homeless Guy | |
| Movie | 2007 | There Will Be Blood | Al Rose | |
| Movie | 1988 | Bum Rap | Steg | |
| Movie | 1995 | Billy Madison | Principal | |
| Movie | 1981 | Steve Martin's Best Show Ever | ||
| Movie | 1995 | The Little Patriot | Adjutant | |
| Movie | 2025 | Happy Gilmore 2 | Championship Tour Starter | |
| Movie | 2025 | One Battle After Another | Sandy Irvine | |
| Movie | 1993 | Wayne's World 2 | Jeff Wong (voice, uncredited) | |
| Movie | 2025 | SNL50: The Homecoming Concert | Self | |
| Movie | 2015 | Live from New York! | Self | |
| Movie | 2010 | Saturday Night | Self | |
| Movie | 1989 | Saturday Night Live: 15th Anniversary | Self | |
| Movie | 1999 | Saturday Night Live: 25th Anniversary Special | Self | |
| Movie | 2005 | Live from New York: The First 5 Years of Saturday Night Live | Self | |
| Movie | 2025 | Downey Wrote That | Self | |
| Movie | 2007 | Saturday Night Live in the '90s: Pop Culture Nation | Self | |
| TV Show | 2000 | Curb Your Enthusiasm | Board Member #1 | 1 |
| TV Show | 2006 | 30 Rock | Downey | 1 |
| TV Show | 1984 | Kate & Allie | 1 | |
| TV Show | 2012 | Veep | Jim Caldwell | 1 |
| TV Show | 1975 | Saturday Night Live | Self - Cameo (uncredited) | 1 |
| TV Show | 2014 | The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon | Self - Guest | 1 |
| TV Show | 1975 | Saturday Night Live | Football Player (uncredited) | 1 |
| TV Show | 1975 | Saturday Night Live | Celebrity (uncredited) | 1 |
| TV Show | 1975 | Saturday Night Live | Burger Master Customer (uncredited) | 1 |
| TV Show | 1975 | Saturday Night Live | Various (uncredited) | 4 |
| TV Show | 1975 | Saturday Night Live | Hugh (uncredited) | 1 |
| TV Show | 1975 | Saturday Night Live | Guard / Patron / Extra / Moonie (uncredited) | 1 |
| TV Show | 1975 | Saturday Night Live | Self (uncredited) | 1 |
| TV Show | 1975 | Saturday Night Live | Contestant (uncredited) | 1 |
| TV Show | 1975 | Saturday Night Live | Reporter (uncredited) | 1 |
| TV Show | 1975 | Saturday Night Live | Guest (uncredited) | 1 |
| TV Show | 1975 | Saturday Night Live | Priest (uncredited) | 1 |
| TV Show | 1975 | Saturday Night Live | Tatum O'Neal's Uncle (uncredited) | 1 |
| TV Show | 1975 | Saturday Night Live | Yakov / Officer (uncredited) | 1 |
| TV Show | 1975 | Saturday Night Live | Spectator (uncredited) | 1 |
| TV Show | 1975 | Saturday Night Live | Knight of Columbus (uncredited) | 2 |
| TV Show | 1975 | Saturday Night Live | Guard (uncredited) | 1 |
| TV Show | 1975 | Saturday Night Live | Tourist (uncredited) | 1 |
| TV Show | 1975 | Saturday Night Live | Student (uncredited) | 1 |
| TV Show | 1975 | Saturday Night Live | Cleaner / Craig / Soldier (uncredited) | 1 |
| TV Show | 1975 | Saturday Night Live | Dave Powers (uncredited) | 1 |
| TV Show | 1975 | Saturday Night Live | Brundidge Bailey (uncredited) | 1 |
| TV Show | 1975 | Saturday Night Live | Son / Soldier (uncredited) | 1 |
| TV Show | 1975 | Saturday Night Live | Shepherd (uncredited) | 1 |
| TV Show | 1975 | Saturday Night Live | Various | 2 |
| TV Show | 2025 | The Chair Company | Douglas | 6 |
| TV Show | 1975 | Saturday Night Live | Caller (voice) (uncredited) | 1 |
| TV Show | 1975 | Saturday Night Live | Craig / Juror (uncredited) | 1 |
| TV Show | 1975 | Saturday Night Live | George Bush / Lord Worcestershire / Hunter | 1 |
| TV Show | 2025 | SNL50: Beyond Saturday Night | Self | 2 |
Media | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Movie | 1998 | Saturday Night Live: The Best of Phil Hartman | Producer | Production |
| Movie | 1998 | Saturday Night Live: The Best of Phil Hartman | Writer | Writing |
| Movie | 1981 | Steve Martin's Best Show Ever | Writer | Writing |
| TV Show | 1975 | Saturday Night Live | Producer | Production |
| TV Show | 1982 | Late Night with David Letterman | Writer | Writing |
| TV Show | 1975 | Saturday Night Live | Writer | Writing |
