Lorne Michaels facts for kids
Quick facts for kids
Lorne Michaels
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Michaels at the 2021 Kennedy Center Honors
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Lorne David Lipowitz
November 17, 1944 Toronto, Ontario, Canada
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| Years active | 1968–present |
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Notable work
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| Style | Deadpan comedy |
| Political party | Democratic |
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| Children | 3 |
| Parent(s) | Abraham Lipowitz (father), Florence Becker (mother) |
Lorne Michaels (born Lorne David Lipowitz on November 17, 1944) is a famous Canadian and American television producer, writer, and comedian. He is best known for creating and producing the long-running TV show Saturday Night Live (SNL). He has also produced other popular shows like the Late Night series and The Tonight Show.
Michaels holds a record for the most Primetime Emmy Awards nominations, with 106. He has won 21 of these awards for his work in television.
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Early Life and Education
Lorne David Lipowitz was born in Toronto, Ontario, Canada, on November 17, 1944. His parents were Florence and Abraham Lipowitz. He grew up in Toronto with his two younger siblings.
Lorne Michaels went to Forest Hill Collegiate Institute for high school. After that, he attended the University of Toronto, where he studied English. He earned his Bachelor of Arts degree in 1966.
Career Highlights
Starting in Television
Michaels began his career in Canada, writing and broadcasting for CBC Radio. He often worked with his partner, Hart Pomerantz. In 1968, they moved to Los Angeles to write for popular American comedy shows. These included Rowan & Martin's Laugh-In.
Later, Michaels and Pomerantz returned to Canada. They starred in their own comedy specials called The Hart and Lorne Terrific Hour. These shows aired on the CBC in the early 1970s.
Michaels came back to the United States in 1973 to write for another comedy show. His talent caught the eye of comedian Lily Tomlin. She hired him to produce her TV specials. One of these specials won an Emmy Award. Michaels says that working with Tomlin helped him get the chance to create Saturday Night Live.
Creating Saturday Night Live
In 1975, Lorne Michaels created a new TV show for NBC. It was first called NBC's Saturday Night and later became Saturday Night Live (SNL). The show is performed live in front of an audience. It quickly became known for its fresh and exciting comedy.
SNL has helped launch the careers of many famous comedians. Michaels has been the main producer and a writer for almost all of the show's history. He sometimes even appears on screen, known for his calm and serious humor. SNL has won many awards and is one of the most-watched late-night shows.
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In 1976, Michaels famously offered The Beatles money to reunite on SNL. He even increased the offer, but the band never took him up on it. Two of the Beatles, John Lennon and Paul McCartney, were in New York City that night. They thought about going to the show but decided it was too late.
Other Projects
In 1979, Michaels started his own company called Broadway Video. This company has produced SNL since 1981. It has also produced other comedy shows.
One notable show was The Kids in the Hall. This Canadian sketch-comedy series started in 1988. It became popular in both Canada and the U.S.
Michaels also created another sketch show called The New Show in 1984. However, it did not become as popular as SNL and ended after only nine episodes.
He is also the executive producer of the NBC show Late Night. He was also an executive producer for the TV series 30 Rock.
In 2013, Michaels became the executive producer for The Tonight Show. This led to The Tonight Show moving to New York City in 2014. It is now known as The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Personal Life
Lorne Michaels has three children: Henry, Eddie, and Sophie. He has been married three times. His first marriage was to Rosie Shuster, who also worked as a writer on Saturday Night Live. They were married in 1967 and divorced in 1980.
He then married Susan Forristal in 1981, but they divorced in 1987. Since 1991, Michaels has been married to Alice Barry, who used to be his assistant.
Michaels became a U.S. citizen in 1987. In 2002, he was honored with the Order of Canada. In January 2025, he donated many of his career materials to the Harry Ransom Center in Texas. These materials will be available for research in January 2026.
Honors and Awards
Lorne Michaels has received many awards for his contributions to television and comedy.
In 1999, he was added to the Television Hall of Fame. He also received a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.
He received another star in 2003, this time on Canada's Walk of Fame.
In 2004, Michaels was given the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor. This award recognizes people who have made a big impact on American humor.
Canada honored him again in 2006 with the Governor General's Performing Arts Award. This is Canada's highest award for people in the performing arts.
In 2012, Michaels received a special Peabody Award for his outstanding work. In December 2021, he was honored at the Kennedy Center Honors. This event celebrates artists who have greatly influenced American culture.
In 2022, he received another Peabody Award for his work on the comedy series Los Espookys.
Michaels has also received high civilian honors from both Canada and the United States:
- He was made a Companion of the Order of Canada in 2018, which is a very high honor. He was first made a Member of the Order in 2002.
- In 2016, he was given the Presidential Medal of Freedom. This is the highest award a civilian can receive in the United States.
Images for kids
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Michaels at the 2021 Kennedy Center Honors
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Michaels in 1988
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Michaels at the 2008 Tribeca Film Festival
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Michaels' star on Canada's Walk of Fame
See also
In Spanish: Lorne Michaels para niños
