Kyle James Kozub Mooney (born September 4, 1984) is an American comedian, actor, screenwriter, and film director.
Kyle Mooney | |
|---|---|
Mooney in 2017 | |
| Born | Kyle James Kozub Mooney[1] September 4, 1984 San Diego, California, U.S. |
| Education | University of Southern California (BFA) |
| Occupation(s) | Comedian, actor, writer |
| Years active | 2005 – present |
| Spouse | |
| Children | 1 |
He was a cast member on the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 2013[2] to 2022.[3] Mooney co-wrote and starred in the 2017 film Brigsby Bear, in addition to co-creating, co-writing, producing, and starring in the adult animated television series Saturday Morning All Star Hits![4][5]
Mooney has appeared on a number of shows, including Jimmy Kimmel Live! and Sports Show with Norm Macdonald.[6] He has also served as a writer and performer with the Upright Citizens Brigade.[7]
Early life
editMooney was born the youngest in a family of three boys in San Diego, California, to parents Linda (née Kozub) and Brian Mooney. Linda is a former reporter for The San Diego Union-Tribune, and Brian is an environmental consultant and planner.[8] He has two older brothers, Sean and Ryan.
Mooney's Marshall Middle School class chose him as the most likely to become a television star.[8] He graduated from Scripps Ranch High School in 2003, where he won Best Actor as Prospero in Shakespeare's The Tempest[9] and was hailed as class clown.[8] Mooney studied film at the University of Southern California.[7][10] There, he performed improv and sketch comedy with collegiate group Commedus Interruptus. After a six-week audition process in 2003,[11] the three new members added to the group were Mooney, Beck Bennett, and Nick Rutherford.[12] He graduated from the USC School of Cinematic Arts in 2007.[13]
Career
editGood Neighbor
editIn 2007, Mooney, Bennett, Rutherford and Dave McCary formed the sketch comedy group Good Neighbor, uploading video content on the YouTube channel GoodNeighborStuff.[14] Bennett and McCary joined Saturday Night Live alongside Mooney in 2013 (as a performer and director, respectively), and Rutherford was hired as a writer the following year.[15] In 2014, Good Neighbor was featured on NewMediaRockstars' Top 100 Channels, ranked at No. 98.[16]
Saturday Night Live
editMooney auditioned to join Saturday Night Live in the summer of 2012 but was rejected; he successfully auditioned the following year, joining the cast during the show's 39th season.[17] On September 28, 2013, he debuted as a featured player.[18] At the start of the season 41, Mooney was upgraded to repertory status.[19]
Mooney brought some of his YouTube characters to the show, including his person-on-the-street interviews, the 4/20 Weed-Smoking Guy, Chris Fitzpatrick, Todd from Inside SoCal, and Bruce Chandling.
His celebrity impressions on Saturday Night Live include Jim Acosta, Woody Allen, Criss Angel, Fred Astaire, David Axelrod, Jeff Bezos, Neil Cavuto, Lincoln Chafee, Bradley Cooper, Tom Cotton, Johnny Depp, Michael Jackson, Bruce Jessen, Steve Jobs, John Kennedy, Chris Kirkpatrick, Joey Lawrence, Macklemore, Howie Mandel, Chuck Norris, Rand Paul, Pope Francis, Axl Rose, Skrillex, Stephen Stills, and Steven Tyler.[20] He departed the series after season 47, ending a nine-season run.[3] In 2024, Mooney made cameo appearances in the pre-taped sketch "Papyrus 2" and during Charli XCX's hosting debut.[21][22]
Other work
editMooney starred in and co-wrote the film Brigsby Bear, which premiered in 2017 at the Sundance Film Festival. He co-wrote the film with Kevin Costello over a two to three-year period, drawing inspiration from his own life, his interest in 1980s children's television shows and cartoons, and his experience making short films with Costello and McCary in middle school.[5] McCary directed the film.[23]
In December 2021, the adult cartoon comedy Saturday Morning All Star Hits!, co-created, co-written, and executive produced by Mooney, was released on Netflix. He also stars in several roles. The eight-episode series is directed by Dave McCary and animated by Ben Jones. Mooney and Jones created the show based on a mutual love of Saturday-morning cartoon blocks from their childhoods in the 1980s and 1990s.[24]
On March 23, 2023, it was announced that Mooney would direct the disaster comedy Y2K for A24.[25]
Personal life
editIn 2021, Mooney married actress Kate Lyn Sheil.[26] In December 2023, Mooney revealed that he and his wife had welcomed a daughter.[27]
Mooney is a self-described collector and owns a VHS collection that he started working on as a child. Through connections made while working on SNL, he has been able to get several VHS tapes autographed by the actors who have starred in them, including a Beetlejuice VHS signed by both Michael Keaton and Alec Baldwin.[28]
Filmography
editFilm
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2012 | Kill Me Now | Jake | |
| The Party Is Over | Natan | ||
| 2013 | iSteve | Father | |
| 2014 | Playing It Cool | Other Dude | |
| 2015 | Hello, My Name Is Doris | Robert | |
| Me Him Her | Moot Morezit | ||
| It Had to Be You | Gary the Midwife | ||
| 2016 | Zoolander 2 | Don Atari | |
| Neighbors 2: Sorority Rising | R.A. | ||
| 2017 | Brigsby Bear | James Pope | Also co-writer |
| 2018 | Never Goin' Back | Brandon | |
| The Unicorn | Gabe | ||
| 2019 | Batman vs. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles | Michelangelo (voice) | Direct-to-video[29] |
| 2020 | Spree | Miles Manderville | |
| 2021 | Naked Singularity | The Golem | |
| 2023 | Jamojaya | Producer | |
| No Hard Feelings | Jody | ||
| 2024 | Unfrosted | Snap | |
| Y2K | Garrett | Also writer and director |
Television
edit| Year | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2010 | Remember When | Kyle | Episode: #1.1 |
| 2010–2011 | Pretend Time | Various | 5 episodes |
| 2011 | The Street Fighter | Rick | |
| Jimmy Kimmel Live! | Himself/Correspondent | Episode: #9.172 | |
| Sports Show with Norm Macdonald | Nephew Kyle | 3 episodes | |
| Parks and Recreation | Keith | Episode: "The Treaty" | |
| 2012 | Best Friends Forever | Doug | Episode: "The Butt Dial" |
| Money From Strangers | Himself | Episode: "Why So Serious?" | |
| 2013 | Festival Road Trip | Himself/Good Neighbor Member | Episode: "Campus MovieFest 2013" |
| Nathan for You | — | Writer; 8 episodes | |
| Wilfred | Alan | Episode: "Heroism" | |
| Hello Ladies | Rory | 6 episodes | |
| 2013–2022, 2024 | Saturday Night Live | Himself, Various | 186 episodes |
| 2014 | Comedy Bang! Bang! | Intern Monty | Episode: "Nick Offerman Wears a Green Flannel Shirt & Brown Boots" |
| Hello Ladies: The Movie | Rory | TV movie | |
| 2014–2018 | Drunk History | Himself / Sam Patch | 3 episodes |
| 2015 | Hot Package | — | Consulting writer; season 2 |
| 2016 | Future-Worm! | Various voices | 1 episode |
| 2017 | Me, Myself & I | Attendant | Episode: "The Card" |
| 2017–2018 | Star vs. the Forces of Evil | Various voices | 12 episodes |
| 2018–2019 | Arrested Development | Murphy Brown Fünke | 13 episodes |
| 2020 | The Shivering Truth | (voice) | Episode: "The Diff" |
| 2020–2022 | Bob's Burgers | Nick / Kyle (voice) | 2 episodes |
| 2021 | Rick and Morty | Blazen (voice) | Episode: "Rickdependence Spray" |
| Saturday Morning All Star Hits! | Various | Co-creator, writer, and executive producer; 8 episodes | |
| 2023 | The Great North | Cody (voice) | Episode: "Can't Hardly Date Adventure" |
| Digman! | Sludgely (voice) | Episode: "The Puff People" | |
| Killing It | Bugs | Episode: "It Follows" | |
| Miracle Workers | John Christ | 3 episodes | |
| Hamster & Gretel | The Flake (voice) | Episode: "Flake It Till You Make It" | |
| 2024 | A Nonsense Christmas With Sabrina Carpenter | Himself | 1 episode |
Web series and shorts
edit| Date | Title | Role | Notes |
|---|---|---|---|
| 2008 | The Roommate | Kyle | |
| 2009 | Nick's Big Show | — | |
| Bad Reputation | Randall | ||
| 2010 | Vicariously | Tyler | Nine Shots of Bourbon |
| The O.D. | Plain Jane | ||
| 2011 | How I Know | Toro Y Moi | |
| Nick and Andy: Coming Soon | — | ||
| The Yule Tide Good Samaritan | Barry Cameo | ||
| Grammar Class | Henry | ||
| 2011–2012 | College Humor Originals | Student/Guy 1 | Some Study That I Used to Know Sorority Pillow Fight |
| 2012 | Take a Knee | Walter Telly | Mock Christian & basketball public access show |
| Cracked Advice Board | Little Boy | Money-Making Tips | |
| The Dinner Party | Steven Evans | Short web film with BriTANicK | |
| Epic Rap Battles of History | Dr. Watson | Batman vs. Sherlock Holmes | |
| 2013 | Youth Large | Danus Apicary | Rejected Adult Swim pilot |
| The Caper Kind/Swiss Mistake | Lookey Lou | ||
| Mike & Doug's Fantasy Corner | Mike | Fantasy Sports Advice | |
| Pound House | Kyle | Open Mic | |
| D and K Podcast | Kyle | Instagram video series |
Bibliography
edit- Mooney, Kyle (June 1, 2020). "Some of your Third-Grade friend Alex Quiply's best lies". Shouts & Murmurs. The New Yorker. Vol. 96, no. 15. p. 21.[30]
References
edit- ^ "Kyle Jameskozub Mooney, Born 09/04/1984 in California - CaliforniaBirthIndex.org". Californiabirthindex.org. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
- ^ "Mooney on SNL". NBC. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
- ^ a b Andreeva, Nellie; White, Peter (May 20, 2022). "'SNL': Kate McKinnon, Aidy Bryant & Kyle Mooney To Exit Alongside Pete Davidson As Major Cast Shake-Up Set For Season Finale". Deadline. Retrieved May 20, 2022.
- ^ Means, Sean P. (December 1, 2016). "Utah-made 'Brigsby Bear' gets into Sundance". The Salt Lake Tribune. Archived from the original on April 14, 2022. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ a b Goldberg, Peter (July 28, 2017). "Interview: Kyle Mooney on Brigsby Bear, SNL, and Trump the Troll". Slant Magazine. Archived from the original on September 16, 2017. Retrieved August 27, 2017.
- ^ "Meet Kyle Mooney, the World's Most Awkward Miami Heat Fan (Video)". Cultist. July 3, 2012. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
- ^ a b "Kyle Mooney". Upright Citizens Brigade Theatre. Archived from the original on October 12, 2013. Retrieved August 24, 2013.
- ^ a b c Bell, Diane (October 2, 2013). "'SNL' season opens with local talent". San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
- ^ "UCB Theatre • Kyle Mooney". Losangeles.ucbtheatre.com. Archived from the original on October 12, 2013. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
- ^ "USC dudes make videos for your amusement". thrillist. December 14, 2010. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
- ^ "Commedus audition". Partners Project. June 23, 2011. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
- ^ Elliott, Farley (February 11, 2009). "Interview: Friendly comedy from Good Neighbor". LAist. Archived from the original on November 6, 2017. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
- ^ Engel, Allison (May 2, 2016). "SNL cast members return to USC with wise words for aspiring sketch comics". USCNews. Retrieved January 9, 2023.
- ^ Violette, James (January 23, 2011). "Student comedy group grabs attention". Daily Trojan. University of Southern California. Retrieved October 6, 2014.
- ^ Evans, Bradford (August 23, 2013). "Here Are Your New 'SNL' Featured Players". Vulture. Archived from the original on March 17, 2018. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
- ^ "The NMR Top 100 YouTube Channels: 100 – 76!". New Media Rockstars.
- ^ Hamblin, Abby (July 25, 2019). "'Saturday Night Live' star Kyle Mooney opens up about his comedy and growing up in San Diego". San Diego Union Tribune. Retrieved July 26, 2019.
- ^ "Tina Fey Introduces New 'SNL' Cast Members In Season 39 Premiere". HuffPost. September 29, 2013. Retrieved December 12, 2021.
- ^ Wright, Megh (September 23, 2015). "'Saturday Night Live' Promotes Kyle Mooney to Repertory Player for Season 41". Splitsider (now Vulture). Archived from the original on November 16, 2015. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
- ^ "Cast | Kyle Mooney". SNL Archives. Retrieved January 28, 2018.
- ^ "Papyrus 2: SNL Brings Back Ryan Gosling's Ponytailed Font-Hater in Cut-for-Time Sketch". NBC Insider Official Site. April 15, 2024. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
- ^ Oganesyan, Natalie (November 17, 2024). "Charli XCX Decrees Martha Stewart Journalist Feud Is Brat In 'SNL' Opener, Kyle Mooney Isn't: "Not Used To Being Out This Early On A Saturday Night"". Deadline. Retrieved November 17, 2024.
- ^ Saito, Stephen (July 28, 2017). "Interview: Dave McCary on the Joy of Making Movies in "Brigsby Bear"". The Moveable Fest. Retrieved July 2, 2024.
- ^ Bell, Sadie (December 29, 2021). "Kyle Mooney's Many Nostalgic Inspirations Behind 'Saturday Morning All Star Hits!'". Thrillist. Retrieved March 7, 2022.
- ^ Grobar, Matt (March 23, 2023). "A24 Sets Disaster Comedy 'Y2K', To Be Directed By 'SNL' Alum Kyle Mooney; Jaeden Martell, Rachel Zegler, Julian Dennison & More To Star". Deadline. Retrieved March 24, 2023./
- ^ "Highland Park Ebell Club Wedding || Kyle + Kate". July 26, 2022.
- ^ "#393: Kyle Mooney". December 7, 2023.
- ^ Uhler, Rodney (April 5, 2017). "Kyle Mooney Feels Pretty Good About His Alf Sweatshirt". GQ. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
- ^ Jackson, Matthew (February 13, 2019). "EXCLUSIVE: BATMAN AND THE TEENAGE MUTANT NINJA TURTLES MEET IN FIRST ANIMATED MOVIE CROSSOVER". SYFY Wire.
- ^ Title in the online table of contents is "Some of your Third-Grade friend’s best lies".