---
name: "Jim Downey"
canonical: "https://film.one/person/jim-downey"
fi1m_id: "jim-downey"
imdb_id: "nm0235999"
tmdb_id: 1221159
wikidata_id: "Q15500658"
roles: []
born: "6 October 1952"
reviewed_on_fi1m: 5
average_fi1m_score: 74
average_over: 5
updated: "2026-10-04T04:03:31.556020+00:00"
licence: "© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL."
---

# Jim Downey

## Identity

Jim Downey

- **Canonical:** https://film.one/person/jim-downey
- **Type:** Person
- **Fi1m ID:** jim-downey
- **IMDb ID:** nm0235999
- **TMDB ID:** 1221159
- **Wikidata ID:** Q15500658
- **Same entity:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Downey_(comedian), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q15500658, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0235999/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1221159

Actor. Born 6 October 1952 in Berkeley, California, USA.

## Details

- **Born:** 6 October 1952, Berkeley, California, USA
- **Active:** 2007–present
- **Also known as:** James Downey
- **Titles on Fi1m:** 5: 4 acting, 1 other
- **Fi1m score by decade:** 2000s 88 (1), 2020s 71 (4)
- **Fi1m against the critics:** 74 to 76 across 5 titles
- **Score spread:** 3 at 80+, 0 at 60–79, 2 under 60
- **Lead roles:** 0 of 1 acting credits billed first or second
- **Genres:** Drama 3, Comedy 2, Crime 1, Documentary 1, Mystery 1, Thriller 1
- **Screen time:** 7 hours of reviewed films
- **Box office:** $287m across 3 films with figures
- **Elsewhere:** https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Jim_Downey_(comedian), https://www.wikidata.org/wiki/Q15500658, https://www.imdb.com/name/nm0235999/, https://www.themoviedb.org/person/1221159

## Streaming the US now

- **HBO Max:** [*The Chair Company*](https://film.one/tv/the-chair-company.md) (80)

For United States; add `?region=XX` for another country.

## Biography

Jim Downey is an American comedy writer, producer and actor, also credited as James Downey. He joined the writing staff of *Saturday Night Live* in 1976 and remained until 2013, making him the show's longest-tenured writer. He served as head writer for *Late Night with David Letterman* from 1982 to 1983.

Downey graduated from Harvard University in 1974, where he was president of the Harvard Lampoon. His acting credits include *There Will Be Blood* (2007) as Al Rose, *Billy Madison* (1995) as the principal, *Veep* (2012) as Jim Caldwell, and *The Chair Company* (2025) as Douglas. He has won multiple Primetime Emmy Awards.

*Sources: imdb.com, en.wikipedia.org.*

## On Fi1m (5)

### Performed in (4)

- *One Battle After Another* (2025), Fi1m 87, as Sandy Irvine — [page](https://film.one/film/one-battle-after-another.md)
- *The Chair Company* (2025), Fi1m 80, as Douglas — [page](https://film.one/tv/the-chair-company.md)
- *White House Plumbers* (2023), Fi1m 58, as Spencer Oliver — [page](https://film.one/tv/white-house-plumbers.md)
- *There Will Be Blood* (2007), Fi1m 88, as Al Rose — [page](https://film.one/film/there-will-be-blood.md)

### Also credited (1) — thanks, archive footage, uncredited

- *Lorne* (2026), Fi1m 58, as Self / Irwin Segelstein (voice) — [page](https://film.one/film/lorne.md)

## Complete filmography (17)

Every credit, newest first. Titles without a page can be requested for review on the HTML page.

- *The Chair Company* (2025), series, as Douglas — Fi1m 80, [page](https://film.one/tv/the-chair-company.md)
- *One Battle After Another* (2025), as Sandy Irvine — Fi1m 87, [page](https://film.one/film/one-battle-after-another.md)
- *Happy Gilmore 2* (2025), as Championship Tour Starter — Fi1m 52, [page](https://film.one/film/happy-gilmore-2.md)
- *White House Plumbers* (2023), series, as Spencer Oliver — Fi1m 58, [page](https://film.one/tv/white-house-plumbers.md)
- *Veep* (2012), series, as Jim Caldwell — Fi1m 82, [page](https://film.one/tv/veep.md)
- *There Will Be Blood* (2007), as Al Rose — Fi1m 88, [page](https://film.one/film/there-will-be-blood.md)
- *30 Rock* (2006), series, as Downey — Fi1m 86, [page](https://film.one/tv/30-rock.md)
- *Curb Your Enthusiasm* (2000), series, as Board Member #1 — Fi1m 84, [page](https://film.one/tv/curb-your-enthusiasm.md)
- *Dirty Work* (1998), as Martin / Homeless Guy
- *Saturday Night Live: The Best of Phil Hartman* (1998), Writer, Producer
- *The Little Patriot* (1995), as Adjutant
- *Billy Madison* (1995), as Principal
- *Wayne's World 2* (1993), as Jeff Wong (voice, uncredited)
- *Saturday Night Live: 15th Anniversary* (1989), Writer
- *Bum Rap* (1988), as Steg
- *Kate & Allie* (1984), series, Actor
- *Steve Martin's Best Show Ever* (1981), Writer

---
© Fi1m Ltd. Written by AI under a human editor; checked against sources before publication. Quote with attribution and a link to the canonical URL. Canonical: https://film.one/person/jim-downey