
Biography
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."
Acting · 27
Lorne
2026
Happy Gilmore 2
2025
Veep
2012
Saturday Night
2010
30 Rock
2006
Dirty Work
1998
Billy Madison
1995
Wayne's World 2
1993
Bum Rap
1988
Kate & Allie
1984
Writing · 4
Production · 2




























