Dana Carvey is an Emmy Award-winning American comedian, actor, writer, and impressionist who featured as a cast member on "Saturday Night Live (SNL)." He was born in Missoula, Montana but grew up in California after his family moved there when he was three. With a desire to become a comedian, he performed stand-up comedy at several Bay Area clubs after graduating from San Francisco State University. He then moved to Hollywood to pursue his comedy career. After the initial failure of his early television roles and minor appearances in a few movies, he joined the "SNL" cast in 1986. There, he brilliantly impersonated famous people and created some of the show's most memorable characters, including "Church Lady," "Garth" of Wayne & Garth fame, Grumpy Old Man, and bodybuilding "Hans" of Hans & Franz. He starred in the 1992 hit Wayne's World with Mike Myers. In 1993, he departed SNL after spending seven years on the show. Subsequently, he starred in several movies but failed to create an impact comparable to his stature as a stand-up comedian. In recent years, he has limited his appearances on entertainment platforms, both in television and films, but is still remembered for his immensely popular sketches on the SNL show. In 1983, Dana married Paula Zwagerman, and they have two sons, Dex and Thomas.
Known For
Credits
Cast Credits
Mulligan (2023)
Starring as Senator Cartwright LaMarr
(10 episodes)
- Episode 1x10: The Love Choice (May 12, 2023)
- Episode 1x09: Not My President (May 12, 2023)
- Episode 1x08: Matty's Treasure: Book of Seeds (May 12, 2023)
- Episode 1x07: The Egg Hunt (May 12, 2023)
- Episode 1x06: Opening Day (May 12, 2023)
- Episode 1x05: The Stench (May 12, 2023)
- Episode 1x04: The Stamp Act (May 12, 2023)
- Episode 1x03: Grand Old Party (May 12, 2023)
- Episode 1x02: Morning in America (May 12, 2023)
- Episode 1x01: The Great Mulligan (May 12, 2023)
Lights Out with David Spade (2019)
Guest starring as Dana Carvey
- Episode 1x04: Dana Carvey, Al Madrigal & Sarah Tiana (Aug 1, 2019)
The Gong Show (2017)
Guest starring as Judge
- Episode 1x03: Dana Carvey, Tracee Ellis Ross, Anthony Anderson (Jul 6, 2017)
First Impressions (2016)
Starring as Expert in Residence
(6 episodes)
- Episode 1x06: Tom Arnold (Jun 14, 2016)
- Episode 1x05: Yvette Nicole Brown (Jun 7, 2016)
- Episode 1x04: Kate Flannery (May 31, 2016)
- Episode 1x03: Kevin Nealon (May 24, 2016)
- Episode 1x02: Jon Lovitz (May 17, 2016)
- Episode 1x01: Steve Carell (May 10, 2016)
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert (2015)
Guest starring as Dana Carvey
(2 episodes)
- Episode 2021-03-23: Dana Carvey, Imagine Dragons (Mar 23, 2021)
- Episode 2018-03-28: Dana Carvey, Simon Pegg (Mar 28, 2018)
Guest starring as John Bolton
- Episode 2020-01-30: Samantha Bee, Michael Stipe, Dana Carvey (Jan 30, 2020)
Guest starring as U.S. President Joe Biden
- Episode 2021-06-14: Jon Stewart, Jon Batiste, Dana Carvey (Jun 14, 2021)
The Late Late Show with James Corden (2015)
Guest starring as Dana Carvey
(2 episodes)
- Episode 2017-09-07: Dana Carvey, Lake Bell, The All-American Rejects (Sep 7, 2017)
- Episode 2015-05-06: Dana Carvey & Elizabeth Olsen (May 6, 2015)
Late Night with Seth Meyers (2014)
Guest starring as Dana Carvey
- Episode 2016-05-05: Dana Carvey, Cyndi Lauper, Mark Guiliana (May 5, 2016)
The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon (2014)
Guest starring as Dana Carvey
(5 episodes)
- Episode 2021-02-04: Mike Myers & Dana Carvey, Camila Mendes, Olivia Rodrigo (Feb 4, 2021)
- Episode 2019-05-24: Dana Carvey, Emily Ratajkowski, Chloe Hilliard (May 24, 2019)
- Episode 2016-11-04: Dana Carvey, Alicia Keys, Young M.A. (Nov 4, 2016)
- Episode 2015-10-30: Dana Carvey, Demi Lovato (Oct 30, 2015)
- Episode 2014-07-10: Dana Carvey, Hailee Steinfeld, MAGIC! (Jul 10, 2014)
@midnight (2013)
Guest starring as Dana Carvey
- Episode 2016-11-29: Chelsey Crisp, Dana Carvey, Scott Aukerman (Nov 29, 2016)
Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee (2012)
Guest starring as Dana Carvey
- Episode 10x06: Dana Carvey: Na.. Ga.. Do.. It (Jul 6, 2018)
Conan (2010)
Guest starring as Dana Carvey
(5 episodes)
- Episode 2021-06-23: Dana Carvey (Jun 23, 2021)
- Episode 2019-06-06: Dana Carvey (Jun 6, 2019)
- Episode 2018-04-23: Dana Carvey, Nicolle Wallace (Apr 23, 2018)
- Episode 2017-04-20: Dana Carvey, Claudia O'Doherty (Apr 20, 2017)
- Episode 2016-06-07: Dana Carvey, Deon Cole, Unknown Mortal Orchestra (Jun 7, 2016)
The Late Late Show with Craig Ferguson (2005)
Guest starring as Dana Carvey
- Episode 2014-07-30: Dana Carvey, Brit Marling (Jul 30, 2014)
The Ellen DeGeneres Show (2003)
Guest starring as Dana Carvey
- Episode 2007-10-11: Dana Carvey, Miley Cyrus, Billy Ray Cyrus (Oct 11, 2007)
Jimmy Kimmel Live (2003)
Guest starring as Dana Carvey
(2 episodes)
- Episode 2022-11-07: Dana Carvey, Jonathan Majors, SoFaygo (Nov 7, 2022)
- Episode 2022-05-11: Dana Carvey, Bob Pflugfelder (May 11, 2022)
Guest starring as Guest Host
(2 episodes)
- Episode 2022-07-19: David Spade, Maria Bakalova, Whitney, guest host Dana Carvey (Jul 19, 2022)
- Episode 2022-07-18: Quentin Tarantino, Julia Garner, DOMi, JD BECK, Anderson .Paak, guest host Dana Carvey (Jul 18, 2022)
The Rosie O'Donnell Show (1996)
Guest starring as Dana Carvey
- Episode 1x07: Dana Carvey, Rosanne Cash, Janeane Garofalo (Jun 18, 1996)
The Late Show with David Letterman (1993)
Guest starring as Dana Carvey
(6 episodes)
- Episode 2000-03-09: Dana Carvey, Jon Lovitz, Cindy Margolis, Al Frankin, Rocco DiSpirito (Mar 9, 2000)
- Episode 1996-11-01: Stupid Human Tricks, Dana Carvey, Steven Wright (Nov 1, 1996)
- Episode 1996-04-26: Dana Carvey, Robin Quivers, Afghan Wigs (Apr 26, 1996)
- Episode 1996-03-08: Dana Carvey, Riverdance (Mar 8, 1996)
- Episode 1994-12-01: Dana Carvey, Toad The Wet Sprocket (Dec 1, 1994)
- Episode 1993-11-19: Dana Carvey, Meat Loaf, Joan Cusack (Nov 19, 1993)
The Tonight Show with Jay Leno (1992)
Guest starring as Dana Carvey
- Episode 2014-02-06: Billy Crystal & Garth Brooks (Feb 6, 2014)
Blue Thunder (1984)
Starring as Clinton 'JAFO' Wonderlove
- Episode 1x09: The Long Flight (Mar 16, 1984)
One of the Boys (1982)
Starring as Adam Shields
(12 episodes)
- Episode 1x12: Don't Bank on It: Part 2 (Apr 17, 1982)
- Episode 1x11: Don't Bank on It: Part 1 (Apr 10, 1982)
- Episode 1x10: On the Rebound (Mar 27, 1982)
- Episode 1x09: Extracurricular Activities (Mar 20, 1982)
- Episode 1x08: His Old Flame (Mar 13, 1982)
- Episode 1x07: The Lass Is Always Greener (Mar 6, 1982)
- Episode 1x06: Double Date (Feb 27, 1982)
- Episode 1x05: Too Much to Lose (Feb 20, 1982)
- Episode 1x04: His Cheatin' Heart (Feb 13, 1982)
- Episode 1x03: Double Trouble (Feb 6, 1982)
- Episode 1x02: Parents' Weekend (Jan 30, 1982)
- Episode 1x01: Too Young or Too Old (Jan 23, 1982)
Saturday Night Live (1975)
Starring as Dana Carvey
(7 episodes)
- Episode 16x08: Tom Hanks / Edie Brickell & New Bohemians (Dec 8, 1990)
- Episode 16x07: John Goodman / Faith No More (Dec 1, 1990)
- Episode 14x17: Dolly Parton (Apr 15, 1989)
- Episode 14x10: John Malkovich / Anita Baker (Jan 21, 1989)
- Episode 14x03: John Larroquette / Randy Newman & Mark Knopfler (Oct 22, 1988)
- Episode 14x02: Matthew Broderick / The Sugarcubes (Oct 15, 1988)
- Episode 14x01: Tom Hanks / Keith Richards (Oct 8, 1988)
Guest starring as Dana Carvey
(9 episodes)
- Episode 42x05: Benedict Cumberbatch / Solange (Nov 5, 2016)
- Episode 41x19: Brie Larson / Alicia Keys (May 7, 2016)
- Episode S40 Special: Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary (Feb 15, 2015)
- Episode 36x14: Dana Carvey / Linkin Park (Feb 5, 2011)
- Episode 26x03: Dana Carvey / The Wallflowers (Oct 21, 2000)
- Episode 22x04: Dana Carvey / Dr. Dre (Oct 26, 1996)
- Episode 20x04: Dana Carvey / Edie Brickell (Oct 22, 1994)
- Episode 19x07: Nicole Kidman / Stone Temple Pilots (Nov 20, 1993)
- Episode S44 Special: A Saturday Night Live Christmas Special (Dec 4, 2018)
Oscars (1953)
Guest starring as Dana Carvey
(2 episodes)
- Episode 2019-02-24: The 91st Annual Academy Awards (Feb 24, 2019)
- Episode 1992-03-30: The 64th Annual Academy Awards (Mar 30, 1992)
Crew Credits
First Impressions (2016)
Show crew as Executive Producer
(6 episodes)
- Episode 1x06: Tom Arnold (Jun 14, 2016)
- Episode 1x05: Yvette Nicole Brown (Jun 7, 2016)
- Episode 1x04: Kate Flannery (May 31, 2016)
- Episode 1x03: Kevin Nealon (May 24, 2016)
- Episode 1x02: Jon Lovitz (May 17, 2016)
- Episode 1x01: Steve Carell (May 10, 2016)