Steve Higgins
| Steve Higgins | |
|---|---|
| Born |
August 13, 1963 Des Moines, Iowa, United States |
| Medium | Stand-up, television, film |
| Years active | 1988–present |
| Genres | Sketch comedy, observational comedy, political satire, social satire |
| Notable works and roles |
Saturday Night Live Late Night with Jimmy Fallon The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon |
Steve Higgins (born August 12, 1963) is an American writer, producer, announcer, actor, and comedian. He currently serves as the announcer of The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and as a writer and producer of Saturday Night Live. Prior to The Tonight Show, Higgins was also the announcer for Late Night with Jimmy Fallon from 2009 to 2014. He appeared in a cameo role in Ghostbusters: Answer the Call (2016).
Life and career
Steve Higgins was born on August 13, 1963 in Des Moines, Iowa, to Marian (née Coppola) Higgins and Harold Higgins, who managed the custodial operations in West Des Moines schools.[1] Along with his brothers David and Alan, and Dave Gruber Allen, he toured in the comedy troupe Don't Quit Your Day Job[1] and performed at notable places in Iowa including the Hotel Kirkwood, Corky's, and the Spaghetti Works.[2] They eventually moved to California where they started performing in Los Angeles[3] and soon got their big break on the Comedy Central sketch comedy series The Higgins Boys and Gruber.[4][5]
In 1989, Higgins performed at The Vic Theatre in Chicago, Illinois for HBO's One Night Stand television series, along with his brother Dave, and Gruber.[6] With Nick Bakay, Higgins performed at the Girly Magazine Party show at Theatre/Theater in Hollywood, Los Angeles, in 1993, acting as "a sleazoid male chauvinist comedy duo who exchange off-color ethnic jokes and prance around in suits and ties like Steve Martin on acid". His brother, Dave, performed in the show and in a separate act. Higgins was praised for his ability of knowing "when to go over the top and when to rein it in", and how he was able to be "acutely tuned in to the comings and goings around them and know how to play off each other".[7] Soon after, Higgins went on to become a writer for the short-lived MTV programs Trashed and The Jon Stewart Show.[8]
From 1995 to 1997, Higgins was the co-head writer of Saturday Night Live. Since 1997, he has served on the writing staff of the show, and since 1996, he has served as a producer of the show.[9][10] He has been nominated for several Emmy Awards, including Outstanding Variety, Music or Comedy Series and Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program in 2008, for his work on Saturday Night Live and as a writer.[11] In a 2012 interview with The A.V. Club, former Saturday Night Live writer Michael Schur revealed that Higgins was the inspiration for the Parks and Recreation character Andy Dwyer after Higgins would playfully fight with him when they worked together at SNL.[12]
From 2009 to 2014, Higgins served as announcer on Late Night with Jimmy Fallon. When Jimmy Fallon was selected by NBC to succeed Jay Leno, Higgins was brought on as announcer for The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon. Since 2013, Higgins voiced Mr. Awesome in the Hulu original series The Awesomes. He voiced the character "the Edible Blargmonger" in the 2014 animated special Elf: Buddy's Musical Christmas.[13]
In July 2015, while Jimmy Fallon was recovering from surgery after suffering a serious injury to his finger, Higgins was hospitalized for Lyme disease. He returned to the Tonight Show fully recovered on the same night as Fallon's return.[14][15][16]
References
- 1 2 Longden, Tom (2004-11-04). "Famous Iowans - David Anthony Higgins". desmoinesregister.com. Retrieved 2013-01-25.
- ↑ Curtis, Jared (2012-02-23). "A laughing matter". dmcityview.com. Retrieved 2013-01-25.
- ↑ Shirley, Don (1988-09-09). "Testing Negative' at McCadden Place; Comedy-Improv Group at Cast; 'Supreme Bean' at Haunted Studios; 'Thorns of Fire' at Act One Stage". latimes.com. Retrieved 2013-01-25.
- ↑ "Questions & Answers". Akron Beacon Journal. 1996-03-17.
- ↑ Rhodes, Joe (2007-01-14). "It's Like 'Hee Haw', Only Nakeder". The New York Times. Retrieved 2009-03-05.
- ↑ Tucker, Ernest (1989-12-03). "Look back in laughter: Is the comedy boom just about to go bust?". Chicago Sun-Times.
- ↑ Leader, Jody (1993-05-07). "At This Party, Sleazy Does It". Daily News of Los Angeles.
- ↑ Mendoza, N.F. (1995-08-02). "Ellen's Resident Cynic Hopeful About Career". The Plain Dealer.
- ↑ "Jimmy Fallon's Behind The Scenes Talent". Radar. 2009-02-17. Retrieved 2009-03-05.
- ↑ Porter, Rick (2009-02-19). "Jimmy Fallon Lines Up First Guests". Zap2It. Retrieved 2009-03-05.
- ↑ "60th Primetime Emmy Awards". Emmy Awards. Retrieved 2009-03-05.
- ↑ Adams, Erik (2012-06-19). "Showrunner Michael Schur on building Parks And Recreation's fourth season (Part 2 of 5)". avclub.com. Retrieved 2013-01-25.
- ↑ "Jim Parsons To Star In Animated 'Elf' Holiday Special On NBC". Deadline.com. Penske Media Corporation. October 24, 2014. Retrieved February 20, 2015.
- ↑ Kimberly Truong (14 July 2015). "Here's how Jimmy Fallon almost lost his finger". Mashable.
- ↑ Roger Friedman. "Jimmy Fallon Returns with Harrowing Story: "I Was in the ICU for Ten Days" (Video)". Showbiz411.
- ↑ Phyllis Stark. "Jimmy Fallon nearly lost finger in kitchen accident". NowTrending.com.
External links
| Media offices | ||
|---|---|---|
| Preceded by Joel Godard |
Late Night announcer March 2, 2009 – February 7, 2014 |
Succeeded by Ron McClary |
| Preceded by Wally Wingert |
The Tonight Show announcer February 17, 2014 – present |
Succeeded by Incumbent |