Guide Note
Dana Carvey is an actor and comedian born in Montana. Although he had a small part in the film This is Spinal Tap in 1984, his career took off in 1986, when he joined the cast of the sketch comedy show Saturday Night Live.
Carvey's HBO special Squatting Monkeys Tell No Lies airs Saturday, June 14, 2008.
Fast Facts
- Born: June 2, 1955
- Birthplace: Missoula, Montana
- SNL cast member from 1986 to 1993
- Notable Impressions: George H. W. Bush, Johnny Carson
- Notable Characters: Church Lady, Garth Algar
- #90 on Comedy Central's "100 Greatest Stand-Ups" list
- Has undergone five medical procedures for heart problems
- Sued and won $7.5 million after the surgeon operated on the wrong artery in his heart1
Background
Carvey made a name for himself on Saturday Night Live with characters such as the Church Lady, impressions of George H. W. Bush, and sketches such as "Wayne's World" (with Mike Myers), "Choppin' Broccoli" (with Phil Hartman and Sigourney Weaver), and "Hans and Franz" (with Kevin Nealon). His days on SNL ended in 1993, and from there he went on to star in the short-lived Dana Carvey Show and films such as Trapped in Paradise and The Master of Disguise.
Carvey made an impression on the big screen reprising his role as Garth Algar in the feature-length version of Wayne's World, which became a success and spawned a sequel.
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