James Downey
Birth Name:
James Downey
Profession
Actor, Writer, Producer, Script department
Fast Facts
- Received the Louis P․ and Evelyn Smith First Amendment Award in 2012
- Attended Harvard University, where he graduated in 1974
- Served as president of the satirical student newspaper The Harvard Lampoon
- As a head writer for "Late Night with David Letterman," he created David Letterman's famed "Top Ten List" segment
- Best known for creating political sketches for the series "Saturday Night Live․"
- Had one of his sketches referenced by Hillary Clinton during the 2008 presidential debates
- Was fired from "Saturday Night Live" for one season for writing too many jokes about O․J․ Simpson
Awards
- 1977Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Series:Winner
- 1978Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Series:Nominated
- 1979Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Writing in a Comedy or Comedy-Variety or Music Series:Nominated
- 1980Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program:Nominated
- 1984Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program:Nominated
- 1984Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program:Nominated
- 1987Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program:Nominated
- 1989Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program:Winner
- 1989Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program:Nominated
- 1990Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program:Nominated
- 1990Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series:Nominated
- 1991Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program:Nominated
- 1992Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing in a Variety or Music Program:Nominated
- 1993Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program:Nominated
- 1993Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series:Winner
- 1994Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series:Nominated
- 2001Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program:Nominated
- 2002Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program:Winner
- 2002WGA Award (TV) - Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) - Series:Nominated
- 2003Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program:Nominated
- 2003WGA Award (TV) - Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) - Series:Nominated
- 2008Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program:Nominated
- 2009Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series:Nominated
- 2009WGA Award (TV) - Comedy/Variety - (Including Talk) Series:Winner
- 2010Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series:Nominated
- 2010WGA Award (TV) - Comedy/Variety - (Including Talk) Series:Winner
- 2011Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series:Nominated
- 2012Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series:Nominated
- 2012WGA Award (TV) - Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) - Series:Nominated
- 2013Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series:Nominated
- 2013Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special:Nominated
- 2013WGA Award (TV) - Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) - Series:Nominated
- 2014WGA Award (TV) - Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) - Series:Nominated
- 2017WGA Award (TV) - Comedy/Variety Sketch Series:Winner
- 2023WGA Award (TV) - Comedy/Variety Sketch Series:Nominated
- 2025Primetime Emmy - Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special:Winner
- 2026WGA Award (TV) - Comedy/Variety Specials:Nominated