Lorne Michaels CC is a Canadian-American television screenwriter and producer best known for creating and producing Saturday Night Live and producing the Late Night series, The Kids in the Hall and The Tonight Show.

Born on November 17, 1944 (age 77 years), Toronto, Canada Lorne has received 20 Primetime Emmy Awards from 94 nominations, holding the record for being the most nominated individual in the award show’s history.

Michaels and his two younger siblings were raised in Toronto; he attended Forest Hill Collegiate Institute. He graduated from University College, Toronto, where he majored in English, in 1966.

He is said to be a father of three children and has been married three times.

Career History

Film

Year Title Role Notes
1979 Mr. Mike’s Mondo Video Executive producer
1980 Gilda Live Producer, writer
1984 Nothing Lasts Forever Producer
1986 Three Amigos Producer, writer
1992 Wayne’s World Producer
1993 Coneheads Producer
1993 Wayne’s World 2 Producer
1994 Lassie Producer
1995 Tommy Boy Producer
1995 Stuart Saves His Family Producer
1996 Black Sheep Producer
1996 Kids in the Hall: Brain Candy Producer
1998 A Night at the Roxbury Producer
1999 Superstar Producer
1999 Man on the Moon Cameo as himself
2000 The Ladies Man Producer
2001 Enigma Producer
2004 Mean Girls Producer
2007 Hot Rod Producer
2008 Baby Mama Producer
2010 MacGruber Producer
2012 The Guilt Trip Producer
2015 Staten Island Summer Producer
2016 Whiskey Tango Foxtrot Producer
2016 Brother Nature Producer
2016 Masterminds Producer
2017 Sandy Wexler Cameo as himself

Television[edit]

Year Title Role Notes
1970–1971 The Hart and Lorne Terrific Hour Costar, writer, producer Variety sketch series, CBC
1975–1980;
1985–present		 Saturday Night Live Executive producer, creator Variety sketch series, NBC
1978 All You Need is Cash: The Rutles Executive producer Television movie
1982 The Concert in Central Park Executive producer Concert special, HBO
1984 The New Show Producer Variety sketch series, NBC
1988–1990 Sunday Night Executive producer Late night television, NBC
1988 40th Primetime Emmy Awards Executive producer Awards ceremony, NBC
1988–1995 The Kids in the Hall Executive producer Variety sketch series, CBC
1993–2009 Late Night with Conan O’Brien Executive producer Variety talk series, NBC
2002 The Rutles 2: Can’t Buy Me Lunch Executive producer Television film
2002 The Colin Quinn Show Executive producer Variety talk series, NBC
2006 Sons and Daughters Producer Television series, ABC
2006–2013 30 Rock Executive producer Television series, NBC
2009–2014 Late Night with Jimmy Fallon Executive producer Variety talk series, NBC
2011–2018 Portlandia Executive producer Variety sketch series, IFC
2011–2013 Up All Night Executive producer Television series, NBC
2013–2015 The Awesomes Executive producer Television series, Hulu
2014–present The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon Executive producer Variety talk series, NBC
2014–present Late Night with Seth Meyers Executive producer Variety talk series, NBC
2014 Howard Stern Birthday Bash Himself Television special
2014–2015 Mulaney Executive producer Television series, Fox
2014 The Maya Rudolph Show Executive producer Variety talk series, IFC
2015–2017 Man Seeking Woman Executive producer Variety sketch series, FX
2015–present Documentary Now! Executive producer Variety sketch series, IFC
2015 Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special Executive producer, himself Television special, NBC
2015 Adele Live in New York City Executive producer Television special, NBC
2016 Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee Guest – Himself Episode: “Everybody Likes to See the Monkeys”, Netflix
2016 Maya & Marty Executive producer Variety sketch series, NBC
2017–2018 Detroiters Executive producer Television series, Comedy Central
2017 The David S. Pumpkins Halloween Special Executive producer Television special, NBC
2018–2021 A.P. Bio Executive producer Television series, NBC/Peacock
2018 70th Primetime Emmy Awards Executive producer Awards ceremony, NBC
2018 Love, Gilda Himself Documentary, HBO
2018 Norm Macdonald Has a Show Guest – Himself Episode: “Lorne Michaels”, Netflix
2019–2021 Shrill Executive producer Television series, Hulu
2019–present Miracle Workers Executive producer Television series, TBS
2019–present The Other Two Executive producer Television series, Comedy Central/HBO Max
2019–present Los Espookys Executive producer Television series, HBO
2020 Mark Twain Prize: Dave Chappelle Himself Awards ceremony, PBS
2020 Mapleworth Murders[24] Executive producer Television series, Quibi
2021-present Kenan Executive producer Television series, NBC
2021-present That Damn Michael Che Executive producer Television series, HBO Max
2021-present Schmigadoon! Executive producer Television series, Apple TV+
2021 Saturday Morning All Star Hits! Executive producer Television series, Netflix

Stage

Year Title Role Theatre Notes
1979 Gilda Radner: Live From New York Producer, director, and writer Winter Garden Theatre
1998 Colin Quinn — An Irish Wake Producer Helen Hayes Theatre Straight Play
2018 Mean Girls Producer August Wilson Theatre Broadway and North American tour

Why did Lorne Michaels Change his Name?

After his father died when he was 14, young Lorne sought father figures and was persuaded to change his surname at the urging of Rosie’s parents, who told him that they could not envisage a Lorne Lipowitz making it big in Hollywood.