Mikey Day

American actor and comedian

  • Actor
  • comedian
Years active1999–presentPartnerPaula ChristensenChildren1

Michael William Day (born March 20, 1980) is an American actor and comedian. Day was hired as a writer for the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live before its 39th season in 2013. He was then promoted to on-air cast status and became a featured player during the show's 42nd season in 2016, later being promoted to repertory status beginning with the 44th season in 2018.[1] He is also the host of the Netflix show Is It Cake? Day previously was an on-air correspondent for The Tonight Show with Jay Leno and The Jay Leno Show.[2]

Early life and education

Michael William Day was born March 20, 1980, in Orange, California.[3] He attended Panorama Elementary School[4] and later graduated from El Modena High School. There, he was involved in the drama program and the student government. He wrote comedic sketches for monthly assemblies and made the theme for his homecoming "Batman". Day graduated from the University of California, Los Angeles with a degree in theater in 2002.[5]

Career

Day began his career with the Groundlings, a Los Angeles–based improvisational theater group.[6] With the Groundlings, Day and Michael Naughton wrote and co-starred in David Blaine Street Magic, a parody of magician David Blaine, portrayed by Mitch Silpa. The video, posted to YouTube, was once one of the most-viewed videos on the site.[7]

Day was an original cast member on the improvisational comedy series Wild 'n Out on MTV.[4][6] He played various characters in the Groundling stage show Groundlings, In The Study, With The Candlestick in early 2009 and directed Groundlings Space Camp.[4] Day wrote for Showtime's The Underground in 2006.[8]

Day starred in NBC's Kath & Kim remake (2009),[6] wrote for and co-produced the Cartoon Network show Incredible Crew (2013),[9] and wrote for Adult Swim's Robot Chicken in 2014.[8] Day hosted a recurring segment parodying TMZ from 2010 to 2013 on The Jay Leno Show and The Tonight Show with Jay Leno.[5] Day was a featured cast member of NBC variety show Maya & Marty, alongside Maya Rudolph, Martin Short, and Kenan Thompson. He also served as one of the show's co-head writers.[10]

2013–present: Saturday Night Live

Day was hired as a writer for Saturday Night Live in 2013 for its 39th season.[9] He was recommended for the job by Nasim Pedrad, who had worked with him before and was a cast member of SNL at the time, appearing in her fifth and final season on the show.[11] On SNL he wrote many sketches featuring cast member & former Wild 'n Out co-star Taran Killam, with whom he wrote the screenplay to Brother Nature (2016).[12]

He was promoted to featured player for season 42 and was promoted to a repertory player in the beginning of season 44.[13] For his audition, he impersonated Donald Trump Jr. and SNL actor Kyle Mooney.[14] His debut appearance was in season 42's first episode, October 1, 2016, hosted by Margot Robbie.[8][15] Bobby Moynihan, Streeter Seidell, and Day wrote the sketch "Haunted Elevator" for the October 22, 2016 episode of SNL. Starring Tom Hanks as David S. Pumpkins, Day played one of two dancing skeletons in the sketch.[16] The sketch went viral, and he reprised the role for The David S. Pumpkins Halloween Special (2017).[17][18]

Celebrity impressions on Saturday Night Live
Recurring characters on Saturday Night Live
  • Greg Duncan, one half of a couple whose forays into spicing up their sex life leave Greg seriously and comically injured by his shy, yet intimidating wife Shelley Duncan (Leslie Jones)[35]
  • Mort Fellner, a supercentenarian who reports on the achievements and experiences of fellow supercentenarians; however, each report culminates in revealing that the achievement is due to the subject dying.
  • Nico Slobkin, one half a shallow couple always on the brink of an argument, who runs a relationship-themed Instagram account with his girlfriend Brie Bacardi (Heidi Gardner).[36]
  • Matt Schatt, one half of a couple, who is so disproportionately unexceptional compared to his exceptionally attractive partner that others can't help but question how their relationship exists.[37]
  • Josh, one of the two unintelligent kids (the other being Lonnie, played by Cecily Strong) in the Science Room sketches.[38][39]

Disney

Day and his writing partner Streeter Seidell have completed one project and have two projects in development for Disney. The first of these, Home Sweet Home Alone, the sixth film in the Home Alone franchise, was released on Disney+ on November 12, 2021.[40] A live-action Inspector Gadget film is in pre-production.[41] Walt Disney Pictures is also planning to produce a remake of SpaceCamp.[42]

Personal life

Day dated Selma Blair, whom he met on the set of Kath and Kim, from 2008 to 2010.[43]

Day is in a relationship with actress Paula Christensen. Their son was born in August 2012.[44]

Filmography

Film

Year Title Role Notes
2007 American Hustle: The Movie Power Agent
2016 Brother Nature Thomas Jefferson Also writer
2019 Brittany Runs a Marathon Dev
Little Connor
2020 Hubie Halloween[45] Axehead
2021 Home Sweet Home Alone Priest Also writer
2023 Good Burger 2 Himself Cameo appearance

Television

Year Title Role Notes
1999 The Mike & Ben Show Various
2004 Angel O'Shea Episode: "Why We Fight"
Faking the Video Fake PA
World Cup Comedy Himself
2005–2014, 2018 Wild 'n Out Himself Also consulting producer
2005 Reno 911! School Guy Episode: "The Prefect of Wanguani"
2006 Totally Awesome Charlie TV movie
The Underground Various 11 episodes; also writer
2007 Nick Cannon Presents: Short Circuitz Himself Also consultant writer
Say What? Karaoke 2.0 Himself
Online Nation Dave
2008 Bar Starz Cole
Kath & Kim Craig 17 episodes
2010 Nathan vs. Nurture Daniel Bennett TV movie
2010–2013 Mad Various voices 27 episodes
2011 Friends with Benefits Derek Episode: "The Benefit of Forgetting"
2012 Animation Domination High-Def Professor Oak (voice) 2 episodes; TV mini-series
2013 Incredible Crew Cosmos Megahead/Fred Johnson/Lifeguard Also supervising producer, writer
2014–present Robot Chicken Various voices 14 episodes; also writer
2016 Idiotsitter Episode: "Ex-Boyfriend"
Maya & Marty Himself/Various 6 episodes; also co-head writer
2016–present Saturday Night Live Himself/Various Also writer
2017 The David S. Pumpkins Halloween Special Left Skeleton (voice) TV movie; also writer
2022– present Is It Cake? Host

References

  1. ^ Kohn, Daniel (September 17, 2018). "'SNL' Promotes Mikey Day, Melissa Villaseñor and Alex Moffat to Full Castmembers". Laredo Morning Times. Archived from the original on December 28, 2018. Retrieved September 18, 2018.
  2. ^ "SNL Scribe Mikey Day Joins Cast". TVLine. September 10, 2016.
  3. ^ "Michael William Day, Born 03/20/1980 in California | CaliforniaBirthIndex.org". www.californiabirthindex.org. Retrieved April 13, 2023.
  4. ^ a b c Larsen, Peter (July 31, 2009). "Comic actor Mikey Day wants to make you laugh". Orange County Register. Irvine. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  5. ^ a b DeLillo, Joe (April 1, 2014). "Writer gives 'SNL' some Orange flavor". Orange County Register. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  6. ^ a b c Fox, Jesse David (September 9, 2016). "Writer Mikey Day to Join Saturday Night Live Cast". Vulture. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  7. ^ Lynch, Rene (June 22, 2008). "Like magic, Groundlings turn viral". Los Angeles Times. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  8. ^ a b c d Baysinger, Tim (October 1, 2016). "Meet the New 'SNL' Castmembers: Who are Mikey Day, Alex Moffat and Melissa Villasenor?". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  9. ^ a b Evans, Bradford (August 23, 2013). "'Wild N Out's Mikey Day Hired to Write for 'SNL'". Splitsider. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  10. ^ "NBC tries for a little (more) variety with 'Maya & Marty'". Los Angeles Times. June 1, 2016. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  11. ^ Jost, Colin (2020). A Very Punchable Face (ebook ed.). New York: Penguin Random House LLC. p. 226. ISBN 978-1-1019-0633-0.
  12. ^ Maglio, Tony (September 9, 2016). "'SNL' Adds 'Wild 'N Out' Alum Mikey Day to Cast". TheWrap. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  13. ^ O'Keefe, Meghan (September 9, 2016). "'Saturday Night Live' Reportedly Adds 2 New Castmembers: Chris Redd & Mikey Day". Decider. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  14. ^ Ryan, Mike (May 16, 2017). "Inside The Delightfully Weird Mind Of Mikey Day". Uproxx. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  15. ^ Evans, Greg (October 2, 2016). "'SNL' Surprise: Newcomers Mikey Day, Alex Moffat & Melissa Villaseñor Actually Make Good, Strong Impressions". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  16. ^ Fox, Jesse David (October 23, 2017). "An Oral History of 'David Pumpkins'". Vulture. Retrieved October 31, 2017.
  17. ^ Love, Matthew (June 1, 2017). "The Rapid Rise of Mikey Day on Saturday Night Live". Vulture. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  18. ^ Larsen, Peter (October 24, 2017). "How a Disney attraction inspired a viral 'Saturday Night Live' sketch, and other strange facts about that weird Tom Hanks-starring David S. Pumpkins bit". Orange County Register. Retrieved December 3, 2017.
  19. ^ Robinson, Joanna (February 5, 2017). "S.N.L.: Watch Alec Baldwin's Trump and a Ghoulish Steve Bannon Go to War". Vanity Fair.
  20. ^ Anderton, Ethan (October 9, 2016). "LOL: 'Saturday Night Live' Gives A Sneak Peek At 'Stranger Things' Season 2". /Film. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  21. ^ Izadi, Elahe (November 20, 2016). "Fake Donald Trump returns to SNL, and the real one is not happy". The Washington Post. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  22. ^ Chavez, Nicole (December 4, 2017). "'SNL' takes on Flynn's guilty plea in 'A Christmas Carol' sketch". CNN. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  23. ^ Evans, Greg (May 6, 2017). "'SNL': Kate McKinnon & Alex Moffat Unveil Heavy-Breathing 'Morning Joe' Routine". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  24. ^ Robinson, Joannna (January 21, 2018). "S.N.L. Debuts Wicked Prince William and Harry Impressions". Vanity Fair. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
  25. ^ Turchiano, Danielle (November 11, 2017). "'Saturday Night Live': Jason Sudeikis Cameos as Joe Biden in Message from the DNC". Variety. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  26. ^ Andrews, Travis M. (January 20, 2019). "Alec Baldwin's Trump tries to make a deal in the SNL cold open. Spoiler alert: He chooses hamberders". The Washington Post. Retrieved January 27, 2019.
  27. ^ Caplan, David (May 7, 2017). "'Saturday Night Live' sketch asks 'Where in the world is Kellyanne Conway?'". ABC News. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  28. ^ Villanueva, Virgil (May 8, 2018). "Cavs Twitter account takes jab at SNL skit in halftime post". CavsNation.com. Retrieved January 8, 2021.
  29. ^ Sollosi, Mary (November 12, 2017). "Saturday Night Live goes after Roy Moore in cold open". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  30. ^ Murrian, Samuel R. (November 12, 2017). "Saturday Night Live Recap: Tiffany Haddish Makes History, Roy Moore Dresses Like Woody, and Jeff Sessions Talks to a Possum". Parade. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  31. ^ Boyle, Alan; Bishop, Todd (January 20, 2018). "'Saturday Night Live' spoofs Amazon's HQ2 search as contenders shoot themselves in the foot". GeekWire. Retrieved January 21, 2018.
  32. ^ "Saturday Night Live – Season 42". thepopbreak.com. November 11, 2016. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  33. ^ Robinson, Joanna (May 13, 2017). "S.N.L.: Watch Alec Baldwin's Donald Trump Humiliate Paul Ryan". Vanity Fair. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  34. ^ Schwartz, Ian (November 1, 2020). "'SNL' Features Jim Carrey's Biden Reading Scary Story, Makes Fun Of Nate Silver Election Predictions". Real Clear Politics. Retrieved November 6, 2020.
  35. ^ Berkowitz, Joe (December 4, 2017). ""SNL" Is Totally Here For The Revenge Of Women". Fast Company. Retrieved December 9, 2017.
  36. ^ Wright, Megh (February 11, 2019). "SNL's Heidi Gardner and Mikey Day Are the Worst Instagram Couple Ever". Vulture. Retrieved October 19, 2020.
  37. ^ Evans, Greg (October 2, 2016). "'SNL' Surprise: Newcomers Mikey Day, Alex Moffat & Melissa Villaseñor Actually Make Good, Strong Impressions". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved March 10, 2022.
  38. ^ Hoglund, Andy (January 26, 2020). "Saturday Night Live recap: A 'very chill' Adam Driver goes to hell and back (and, yes, Kylo Ren appears)". Entertainment Weekly. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  39. ^ Perkins, Dennis (January 26, 2020). "Third time's the winner, as Saturday Night Live finally takes advantage of Adam Driver". The A.V. Club. Retrieved January 19, 2021.
  40. ^ Hipes, Patrick (August 12, 2021). "'Home Alone' Revival Gets Fall Release Date On Disney+". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved August 12, 2021.
  41. ^ Kit, Borys (October 4, 2019). "New 'Inspector Gadget' Live-Action Movie in the Works From Disney (Exclusive)". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved October 4, 2019.
  42. ^ Goldberg, Matt (January 10, 2020). "'SNL' Writers Mikey Day and Streeter Seidell to Write 'Space Camp' Remake for Disney+". Collider.
  43. ^ "Exclusive: Selma Blair, Boyfriend Jason Bleick Split". Us Weekly. September 13, 2012. Retrieved September 13, 2012.
  44. ^ "Mikey Day on Instagram". Instagram. August 18, 2018. Archived from the original on December 24, 2021. Retrieved December 28, 2018.
  45. ^ N'Duka, Amanda (July 22, 2019). "Adam Sandler Sets Next Netflix Comedy With All-Star Cast Including Kevin James, Julie Bowen, Maya Rudolph & Many More". Deadline Hollywood. Retrieved July 22, 2019.

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