Biography
Jim Downey — writer with roots in the Russian Empire/USSR
Jim Downey (born James Woodward Downey in Berkeley, California, in 1952) is an American comedy writer who wrote for Saturday Night Live for 30 non-consecutive years between 1976 and 2013, much of it political satire, including presidential debate parodies. Lorne Michaels called him the 'best political humorist alive'.
Russian Connection
Tracing the roots — Unspecified
Born James Woodward Downey in Berkeley, California, in 1952. His parents and ancestry are not recorded.
Family Tree
Subject
Jim Downey🇺🇸 USA
↑
Origin
Unspecified🇷🇺 Russian Empire/USSR
Historical context
Russian Empire · c. 1721–1917
.svg?width=900)
Unspecified. At the time, this region lay within the Russian Empire, which spanned from Poland to the Pacific.
Map: Wikimedia Commons (CC BY-SA)
Key Achievements
A career defined by ambition
01
Writer for Saturday Night Live for 30 non-consecutive years between 1976 and 2013
02
Wrote many of SNL's political sketches
03
Presidential debate parodies on SNL
Sources