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Lorne Michaels Biography

Birth Name:Lorne Michael Lipowitz

Birth Place:Toronto, Ontario, Canada

Profession Producer, Writer, Actor, Soundtrack, Director

Fast Facts

  • Was honored by the Lincoln Center for the Performing Arts in 2016
  • His show "SNL" has been one of the highest rated late night TV programs consistently, receiving more than 120 Emmy nominations and breaking the record for most wins for a single program in 2013 by racking up 40 total
  • In 2002 he was inducted and made a member of the Order of Canada, the second highest honor for merit
  • Received the Costume Designers Guild Distinguished Collaborator Award in 2013
  • The John F․ Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts awarded him with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor in 2004, with original "SNL" cast member Dan Aykroyd speaking at the event
  • Attended the University of Toronto, where he received an honorary degree in 2002
  • Moved to Los Angeles in 1968 to write for "Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In․"
  • Worked at CBC Radio as a writer and broadcaster early in his career
  • Quote: "[on "Saturday Night Live"] "We don't go on because we're ready․ We go on because it's 11:30․""
  • Created the long-running, iconic, comedy show "Saturday Night Live" in 1975
  • Is the inspiration for the voice of the Mike Myers character Dr․ Evil
  • Was Steve Martin's best man at his 2007 wedding to Anne Stringfield

Awards

  • 1969Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing Achievement in Comedy, Variety or Music: nominated
  • 1976Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Series: winner
  • 1976Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy-Variety or Music Series: winner
  • 1977Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy-Variety or Music Series: nominated
  • 1977Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Series: winner
  • 1977Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Series: nominated
  • 1978Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy-Variety or Music Series: nominated
  • 1978Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing in a Comedy-Variety or Music Series: nominated
  • 1979Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy-Variety or Music Program: 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
  • 1987Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program: nominated
  • 1989Gemini-Best Variety Program: winner
  • 1989Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program: winner
  • 1989Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Program: nominated
  • 1990Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1990Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program: nominated
  • 1991Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program: nominated
  • 1992Gemini-Best Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1992Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Individual Achievement in Writing in a Variety or Music Program: nominated
  • 1993CableACE-Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1993Gemini-Best Comedy Series: winner
  • 1993Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program: nominated
  • 1993Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series: winner
  • 1993Stinker Award-Worst Sequel: nominated
  • 1993Stinker Award-Worst Resurrection of a TV Show: nominated
  • 1994CableACE-Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1994Gemini-Best Comedy Series: winner
  • 1994Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1995Gemini-Best Comedy Series: nominated
  • 1995Stinker Award-Most Painfully Unfunny Comedy: nominated
  • 1996Gemini-Best Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2001Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program: nominated
  • 2001Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2001WGA Award (TV)-Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) - Series: nominated
  • 2002Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program: winner
  • 2002Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2002WGA Award (TV)-Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) - Series: nominated
  • 2003Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2003Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2003Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program: nominated
  • 2003WGA Award (TV)-Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) - Series: nominated
  • 2004Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2004Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2005PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Variety Television: nominated
  • 2005Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2006PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Variety Television: nominated
  • 2006Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2007PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Variety Television: nominated
  • 2007Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: winner
  • 2007Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2007WGA Award (TV)-Comedy/Variety - (Including Talk) Series: winner
  • 2008PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy: winner
  • 2008PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy: nominated
  • 2008Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2008Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: winner
  • 2008Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program: nominated
  • 2009PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy: winner
  • 2009Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2009Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2009Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: winner
  • 2009WGA Award (TV)-Comedy/Variety - (Including Talk) Series: winner
  • 2010PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy: winner
  • 2010Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2010Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2010Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2010WGA Award (TV)-Comedy/Variety - (Including Talk) Series: winner
  • 2011PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy: nominated
  • 2011Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2011Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music Or Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2011Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety, Music Or Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2011Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2012Golden Nymph-Outstanding International Producer (Comedy Series): nominated
  • 2012PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy: nominated
  • 2012PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Live Entertainment & Talk Television: nominated
  • 2012Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety Series: nominated
  • 2012Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety Series: nominated
  • 2012Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2012Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series: nominated
  • 2012WGA Award (TV)-Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) - Series: nominated
  • 2013PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy: nominated
  • 2013PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Live Entertainment & Talk Television: nominated
  • 2013PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Live Entertainment & Talk Television: nominated
  • 2013Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special: nominated
  • 2013Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety Series: nominated
  • 2013Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series: nominated
  • 2013Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Comedy Series: nominated
  • 2013Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety Special: nominated
  • 2013Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety Series: nominated
  • 2013WGA Award (TV)-Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) - Series: nominated
  • 2014PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Live Entertainment & Talk Television: nominated
  • 2014PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Episodic Television, Comedy: nominated
  • 2014PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Live Entertainment & Talk Television: nominated
  • 2014Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety Series: nominated
  • 2014Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety Series: nominated
  • 2014WGA Award (TV)-Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) - Series: nominated
  • 2015PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Live Entertainment & Talk Television: winner
  • 2015Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety Talk Series: nominated
  • 2015Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety Sketch Series: nominated
  • 2015Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety Sketch Series: nominated
  • 2015WGA Award (TV)-Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) - Series: nominated
  • 2016PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Live Entertainment & Talk Television: nominated
  • 2016Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety Sketch Series: nominated
  • 2016Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety Special: nominated
  • 2016Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety Sketch Series: nominated
  • 2016Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety Sketch Series: nominated
  • 2016Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety Talk Series: nominated
  • 2016Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series: nominated
  • 2016WGA Award (TV)-Comedy/Variety - Sketch Series: nominated
  • 2017PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Live Entertainment & Talk Television: nominated
  • 2017Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety Sketch Series: nominated
  • 2017Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety Sketch Series: nominated
  • 2017Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety Sketch Series: winner
  • 2017Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series: nominated
  • 2017WGA Award (TV)-Comedy/Variety Sketch Series: winner
  • 2018Legacy Award-Best Political Comedy Writer: nominated
  • 2018PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Live Entertainment & Talk Television: nominated
  • 2018Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series: nominated
  • 2018Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety Sketch Series: nominated
  • 2018Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety Sketch Series: winner
  • 2018WGA Award (TV)-Comedy/Variety – Sketch Series: winner
  • 2019PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Live Entertainment & Talk Television: nominated
  • 2019Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety Sketch Series: winner
  • 2019Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety Sketch Series: nominated
  • 2019Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series: nominated
  • 2019WGA Award (TV)-Comedy/Variety Sketch Series: nominated
  • 2020PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Live Entertainment & Talk Television: nominated
  • 2020Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety Sketch Series: winner
  • 2020WGA Award (TV)-Comedy/Variety Sketch Series: nominated
  • 2021PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Live Entertainment & Talk Television: nominated
  • 2021Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series: nominated
  • 2021Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety Sketch Series: winner
  • 2022Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety Sketch Series: winner
  • 2022Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series: nominated
  • 2022Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety Talk Series: nominated
  • 2022Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series: nominated
  • 2022WGA Award (TV)-Comedy/Variety Sketch Series: nominated
  • 2023PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Live Entertainment, Variety, Sketch, Standup & Talk Television: nominated
  • 2023Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Scripted Variety Series: nominated
  • 2023Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series: nominated
  • 2023Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series: nominated
  • 2023WGA Award (TV)-Comedy/Variety Sketch Series: nominated
  • 2024PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Live Entertainment, Variety, Sketch, Standup & Talk Television: nominated
  • 2024Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Scripted Variety Series: nominated
  • 2024Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Talk Series: nominated
  • 2024Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series: nominated
  • 2024Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Short Form Nonfiction or Reality Series: nominated
  • 2024WGA Award (TV)-Comedy/Variety Sketch Series: nominated
  • 2025PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Live Entertainment, Variety, Sketch, Standup & Talk Television: winner
  • 2025Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Scripted Variety Series: nominated
  • 2025Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special: winner
  • 2025Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Emerging Media Program: winner
  • 2025Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Variety Special (Live): winner
  • 2025Primetime Emmy-Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series: nominated
  • 2025WGA Award (TV)-Comedy/Variety Series – Talk or Sketch: nominated
  • 2026PGA Award-Outstanding Producer of Live Entertainment, Variety, Sketch, Standup & Talk Television: nominated
  • 2026WGA Award (TV)-Comedy/Variety Specials: nominated
  • 2026WGA Award (TV)-Comedy/Variety Series – Talk or Sketch: nominated