Colin Quinn
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Born Name:
Colin Edward Quinn
Born Date: June 6, 1959
Born Place: New York City
Died Date:
Died Place:
Occupations: Stand-up comedian, actor, writer
Brief Biography: Colin Edward Quinn is known for his observational, politically charged humor and his roots in New York City. Often hailed as a "comic's comic," he gained widespread recognition for his tenure on Saturday Night Live (1995–2000) and for creating several acclaimed one-man Broadway shows.
Early Life and Career:
Before his comedy career, Quinn worked as a bartender. He began performing stand-up in 1985.
MTV Beginnings: He first gained national attention as the announcer and co-host of the 1980s MTV game show Remote Control (1987–1990).
Saturday Night Live (1995–2000):
Quinn joined Saturday Night Live in 1995 as a writer before becoming a featured player. He is best known for:
Anchoring the Weekend Update segment from 1998 to 2000.
Portraying characters such as Joe Blow and Lenny the Lion.
His segment "Colin Quinn Explains the New York Times".
Tough Crowd and One-Man Shows:
After SNL, Quinn created and hosted the Comedy Central show Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn (2002–2004), a nightly show where comedians discussed current events.He later specialized in one-man shows, often directed by his friend Jerry Seinfeld:
Colin Quinn: An Irish Wake (1998).
Colin Quinn: Long Story Short (2010), which was later adapted into an HBO special.
Colin Quinn: Unconstitutional (Netflix).Colin Quinn: The New York Story (2015, directed by Seinfeld).
Red State Blue State (2019), which was later released on CNN/Netflix.
Film and Other Work:
Acting: Appeared in movies such as A Night at the Roxbury, the Grown Ups films, and Trainwreck.
Books: Author of Overstated: A Coast-to-Coast Roast of the 50 States and Yesterday's News.
Web Series: Creator of the YouTube web series Cop Show.
He is known for his distinct, gravelly voice and for being a staunch New Yorker. As of 2026, Quinn continues to perform stand-up and has been active with his YouTube show Block by Block.
Born Date: June 6, 1959
Born Place: New York City
Died Date:
Died Place:
Occupations: Stand-up comedian, actor, writer
Brief Biography: Colin Edward Quinn is known for his observational, politically charged humor and his roots in New York City. Often hailed as a "comic's comic," he gained widespread recognition for his tenure on Saturday Night Live (1995–2000) and for creating several acclaimed one-man Broadway shows.
Early Life and Career:
Before his comedy career, Quinn worked as a bartender. He began performing stand-up in 1985.
MTV Beginnings: He first gained national attention as the announcer and co-host of the 1980s MTV game show Remote Control (1987–1990).
Saturday Night Live (1995–2000):
Quinn joined Saturday Night Live in 1995 as a writer before becoming a featured player. He is best known for:
Anchoring the Weekend Update segment from 1998 to 2000.
Portraying characters such as Joe Blow and Lenny the Lion.
His segment "Colin Quinn Explains the New York Times".
Tough Crowd and One-Man Shows:
After SNL, Quinn created and hosted the Comedy Central show Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn (2002–2004), a nightly show where comedians discussed current events.He later specialized in one-man shows, often directed by his friend Jerry Seinfeld:
Colin Quinn: An Irish Wake (1998).
Colin Quinn: Long Story Short (2010), which was later adapted into an HBO special.
Colin Quinn: Unconstitutional (Netflix).Colin Quinn: The New York Story (2015, directed by Seinfeld).
Red State Blue State (2019), which was later released on CNN/Netflix.
Film and Other Work:
Acting: Appeared in movies such as A Night at the Roxbury, the Grown Ups films, and Trainwreck.
Books: Author of Overstated: A Coast-to-Coast Roast of the 50 States and Yesterday's News.
Web Series: Creator of the YouTube web series Cop Show.
He is known for his distinct, gravelly voice and for being a staunch New Yorker. As of 2026, Quinn continues to perform stand-up and has been active with his YouTube show Block by Block.