Who is Dana Carvey? Everything You Need to Know

Quick Facts

Also Known As: Dana Thomas Carvey

Age: 69 Years, 69 Year Old Males

Family:

Spouse/Ex-: Leah Carvey, Paula Zwagerman

father: Bud Carvey

mother: Billie Carvey

siblings: Brad Carvey, Mark Carvey

children: Dex Carvey, Thomas Carvey

Born Country: United States

Actors Stand-up Comedians

U.S. State: Montana

Ancestry: Irish American, British American, German American, Swedish American, Norwegian American

More Facts

education: San Francisco State University

Recommended For You

1

What are some popular characters Dana Carvey is known for?

Dana Carvey is best known for his characters on "Saturday Night Live," including the Church Lady, Garth Algar from Wayne's World, and Hans from Hans and Franz.
2

Has Dana Carvey ever hosted Saturday Night Live?

Yes, Dana Carvey has hosted "Saturday Night Live" multiple times, showcasing his comedic talent and reprising some of his famous characters.
3

What movies has Dana Carvey starred in?

Dana Carvey has starred in movies such as "Wayne's World," "Wayne's World 2," "Clean Slate," and "Opportunity Knocks."
4

Is Dana Carvey a stand-up comedian?

Yes, Dana Carvey is a talented stand-up comedian in addition to his work on television and in movies.
5

Has Dana Carvey won any major comedy awards?

Yes, Dana Carvey has won multiple Primetime Emmy Awards for his work on "Saturday Night Live."

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Childhood & Early Life

Dana Thomas Carvey was born on June 2, 1955 in Missoula, Montana, to William and Billie Carvey; both his parents were school teachers. He is the youngest boy in the family with three elder brothers, Scott, Mark and Brad, and one younger sister, Lori.

In 1973, he graduated from Carlmount High School and began to perform as a stand-up comedian in the San Francisco bay area.

In 1977, he won the San Francisco stand up competition after graduating from San Francisco State University with a degree in communications.

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Career

In 1981, he moved to Los Angeles to make a fortune in Hollywood. The same year, he made his debut as an ill-fated EMT in the movie ‘Halloween II’.

In 1982, he landed a role in the NBC sitcom ‘One of the Boys’. Although the show did not receive positive response from the critics or the audiences, it provided him the much needed early exposure in the industry.

Thereafter, he starred in minor roles in movies such as ‘This is Spinal Tap’ (1984) and ‘Racing with the Moon’ (1984). The same year, he returned to television in the role of the computer-whiz sidekick to cop James Farentino, in the ABC sitcom ‘Blue Thunder’.

In 1986, Dana Carvey joined the cast of ‘Saturday Night Live’ (SNL) as one of its featured artists. He introduced characters such as the Church Lady, bodybuilder extraordinaire Hans, and the famous Grumpy Old Man. He was instantly recognized as one of the key factors in the show's revived status in the ratings.

In 1992, he joined Mike Myers in the American comedy film ‘Wayne's World’ which became a surprise hit of the post-Christmas season. However, its sequel ‘Wayne's World 2’ (1993) failed to reproduce its fresh humor and box office collections.

In 1993, he left ‘Saturday Night Live’ after seven years to pursue a career in the movies. His first lead role came in the film ‘Opportunity Knocks’, a generic comedy which failed to connect with audiences, as did his other films such as, ‘Clean Slate’ (1994) and ‘Trapped in Paradise’ (1994).

While starring on the big screen, he returned to television frequently, most notably with repeat appearances as himself on ‘The Larry Sanders Show’ (1992–98).

In 1996, his show ‘The Dana Carvey Show’ premiered on ABC and was expected to be a hit. Although the show's tone was praised by critics, it was not well-received by the audiences and was canceled after a few episodes within a month's time.

Eventually he withdrew from his ambition of becoming a film actor, preferring instead to work as a stand-up comedian. In 2002, he wrote ‘The Master of Disguise’, a sophomoric comedy which was universally panned by critics but received good response from the young viewers.

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Over the next decade, he kept his appearances to a minimum which included a brief reprisal of the role of Garth, opposite Mike Myers, on the 2008 MTV Movie Awards.

Some of his recent appearances were in the ‘The Oprah Winfrey Show’ (2011), ‘Live with Regis and Kelly’ (2011), and as a guest host in ‘Live with Kelly’ (2012). He also appeared in a cameo in the 2011 American comedy movie ‘Jack and Jill’.

Major Works

One of his most entertaining performances in the ‘Saturday Night Live’ (SNL) show was unarguably in the ‘Wayne's World’ skits, a hilarious spoof of public access programs, with Mike Myers as enthusiastic teen, Wayne, and Carvey as his nervous, bespectacled co-host, Garth. Dana Carvey also excelled at impersonation, taking on such personalities such as President George Bush and Ross Perot.

Awards & Achievements

In 1990 and 1991, he received the American Comedy Award for Television's Funniest Supporting Male.

In 1993, Dana Carvey won a ‘Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Individual Performance in a Variety or Music Program’ for his performance in ‘Saturday Night Live’ (SNL).

Personal Life & Legacy

In 1979, he married Leah but the marriage lasted only a year.

In 1983, Dana Carvey entered into wedlock with Paula Zwagerman, and they have two sons, Dex and Thomas.

Facts About Dana Carvey

Dana Carvey is known for his impressive vocal talents, particularly his ability to mimic a wide range of celebrity voices, including former presidents and famous actors.

In addition to his successful career in comedy, Carvey is also an accomplished drummer and has played with several bands over the years.

Carvey's role as Garth Algar in the "Wayne's World" films has become iconic, and fans still quote his memorable lines from the movies to this day.

Despite his comedic persona, Carvey is known for being a devoted family man and has been married to his wife since 1983, with whom he has two sons.

In 2011, Carvey published a memoir titled "Not That You Asked," in which he shares humorous anecdotes from his life and career in show business.

Dana Carvey Biography

You wanted to know

What are some popular characters Dana Carvey is known for?

Has Dana Carvey ever hosted Saturday Night Live?

What movies has Dana Carvey starred in?

Is Dana Carvey a stand-up comedian?

Has Dana Carvey won any major comedy awards?