Dana Carvey
Dana Carvey
Full Name and Common Aliases
Dana Thomas Carvey is an American actor, comedian, and impressionist best known for his work on Saturday Night Live (SNL) as well as in film.
Birth and Death Dates
Born: April 2, 1955
Alive
Nationality and Profession(s)
American
Actor, Comedian, Impressionist
Early Life and Background
Dana Carvey was born in Missoula, Montana. His family relocated to Dayton, Ohio when he was a child. He began performing stand-up comedy at the age of 10. After high school graduation, Carvey pursued a career in comedy.
Major Accomplishments
Carvey's breakthrough came when he joined the cast of Saturday Night Live (SNL) in 1986. His impressions and comedic sketches quickly gained popularity. Some of his most notable characters include Garth from the hit sketch "Wayne's World" as well as Church Lady, a character known for her moral outrage. Carvey's work on SNL earned him multiple Emmy nominations.
Notable Works or Actions
Dana Carvey's film career has included roles in Wayne's World (1992), Wayne's World 2 (1993), The Master of Disguise (2002), and Trapped in Paradise (1994). In addition to acting, he has made appearances as a guest on various TV shows.
Impact and Legacy
Dana Carvey's work on Saturday Night Live helped shape the show into one of the most popular comedy programs. His characters continue to be referenced today, demonstrating their lasting impact. As a cast member during SNL's peak years, his influence can also be seen in the development of future comedians.
Why They Are Widely Quoted or Remembered
Dana Carvey is widely quoted and remembered due to his unique brand of humor and impressive range as an impressionist. His versatility has allowed him to thrive both on screen and behind the scenes, demonstrating that he can make audiences laugh in a variety of settings.
Quotes by Dana Carvey
The kind of money that show business will pay you, unless you need to have shoes made of diamonds, you can actually put it in the bank and sort of be okay.
Now we're here in 2009. My boys are 16 and 18, one's going to USC film school, and the other seems to be a natural comedian. So now I have to go back into show business as a senior comedian. So I hope to get Walter Brennan-type roles, Gabby Hayes kind of stuff, be the old-timer. We'll see what happens.
There's always been a confusion about my sensibility. 'Is he kind of edgy, or is he Carol Burnett?' I'm a little bit of a hybrid. I like to please, but I like dark stuff, too.
You just have to be very humble if America has really worked for you like it has for me. Most of my friends are poor. Most of my siblings are poor. I see how hard it is just to get money unless you've got some incredible luck or work incredibly hard. I want everyone to do well. I wish 'Wayne's World' money on you!
Every celebrity in the world, if their movie bombs or whatever, they hold their kid up on a magazine and say, 'I'm really a dad.'
Monty Python never directly said, 'We're liberals' - they just did their sketches, and you had to figure it out. Generally, they were anti-establishment, of course, making fun of the people in power. I think, comedians, that's their job - pointing out what other people might not notice and going, 'Yoo-hoo, over here.'
Corporate stand-up allowed me to make my own schedule and make money as if I was in show business.
I think there's a big price to pay for consciousness, knowing that it's all going to end and we're mortal. I envy dogs. They don't know they're getting old! And they don't know it's towards the end. I mean, they never think, 'I used to get by on 16 hours of sleep a day. Now, if I don't get 19, I'm a wreck.'
Definitely for me, my personality, having children was a definite sea change. I found it very, very hard to balance show business and being a dad. The narcissism of show business and the complete, total focus of it was very difficult.