Seth Meyers

Seth Meyers
Name	Seth Meyers
Birth date	28 December 1973
Birth place	Racine, Wisconsin
Alma mater	Northwestern University
Occupation	Comedian, Television presenter, Writer, Actor
Years active	1996–present

Seth Meyers is an American Comedian, Writer, Actor, and television host known for his work in sketch comedy and late-night television. He rose to prominence as head writer and cast member on Saturday Night Live before succeeding Jimmy Fallon as host of Late Night with Seth Meyers. Meyers has also appeared in films and written for publications while participating in political commentary and charitable initiatives.

Early life and education

Meyers was born in Racine, Wisconsin and raised in Okemos, Michigan near East Lansing, Michigan and attended Okemos High School. He studied at Northwestern University, where he majored in Radio/Television/Film within the School of Communication and performed with the Mee-Ow Show and Theater groups alongside future performers. During his university years he worked with improvisational troupes connected to Second City in Chicago, Illinois and maintained ties to regional theaters such as the Garrick Theatre and comedy venues like iO Theater.

Career

After graduation Meyers joined the Chicago improvisational and sketch scene, performing at Second City and writing with colleagues who would join institutions such as The Second City National Touring Company, Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre, and ImprovOlympic. He moved to New York City and contributed to Late Night with Conan O'Brien and writing rooms that staffed shows tied to networks such as NBC and Comedy Central. His early television writing connected him to producers and performers from The Daily Show, The Colbert Report, and The Late Show franchises, leading to development deals and guest appearances on series like 30 Rock, Arrested Development, and Parks and Recreation.

Saturday Night Live

Meyers became a performer and head writer at Saturday Night Live in the early 2000s, joining a cast that included alumni from Second City and Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. As head writer he supervised sketches, collaborated with directors from Lorne Michaels’s production team and worked alongside castmates who later appeared on The Tonight Show, The Daily Show, and The Late Late Show. He created recurring characters and satirical segments that referenced public figures such as George W. Bush, Barack Obama, Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton, and Bernie Sanders and parodied institutions including The Supreme Court, United Nations, NATO, and major media outlets like The New York Times and The Washington Post. Meyers anchored the show's news-parody segment—which had predecessors performed by veterans like Jane Curtin, Dennis Miller, and Tina Fey—working with guest hosts from Saturday Night Live history including John Goodman, Alec Baldwin, Justin Timberlake, Kristen Wiig, and Bill Hader.

Late-night career

Meyers left Saturday Night Live to host a late-night program on NBC, taking over the Late Night slot previously held by Conan O'Brien and Jimmy Fallon. As host he developed segments that blended political interviews with comedy, booking guests from politics and entertainment such as President Barack Obama aides, members of Congress including Elizabeth Warren and Adam Schiff, and cultural figures like Alec Baldwin, Meryl Streep, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Emma Stone, and Tom Hanks. His show earned nominations and awards from institutions including the Primetime Emmy Awards, the Writers Guild of America, the Peabody Awards, and the Critics' Choice Television Awards. Meyers also participated in benefit specials associated with organizations like UNICEF, ACLU, Planned Parenthood, and Stand Up To Cancer.

Other work and projects

Beyond television, Meyers has written op-eds and essays for publications including The New Yorker, The New York Times, and The Washington Post, and contributed voice work to animated projects tied to studios like Pixar and DreamWorks Animation. He has appeared in films produced by companies such as Universal Pictures, Paramount Pictures, and Warner Bros., and starred in independent productions screened at festivals like Sundance Film Festival and Tribeca Film Festival. Meyers has hosted live events at venues such as Carnegie Hall, emceed galas for organizations including The Kennedy Center, and performed stand-up at festivals including Just for Laughs and Gotham Comedy Festival. He has collaborated with musicians and producers affiliated with labels like Columbia Records and Atlantic Records for charity singles and benefit performances.

Personal life

Meyers is married and has family connections to the Midwest; he and his spouse have hosted events in cities including New York City, Los Angeles, and Chicago. He engages with advocacy groups and alumni networks linked to Northwestern University and participates in philanthropic work with institutions such as Feeding America, American Cancer Society, and local arts organizations including Second City alumni programs. Meyers has delivered commencement remarks at universities and been involved with media industry organizations such as the Academy of Television Arts & Sciences and the Writers Guild of America.

Category:American comedians Category:American television hosts Category:Northwestern University alumni