Colin Jost
A sharp-witted satirist who has shaped the voice of American comedy for nearly two decades from the Weekend Update desk.
Born 1982 (age 44)·American comedian and writer·Birthday: June 29·Millennials
Biography
Colin Jost grew up on Staten Island, a background that would later fuel his brand of dry, self-deprecating humor. After graduating from Harvard, where he was president of the Harvard Lampoon, he joined the writing staff of Saturday Night Live in 2005. His ascent was quiet but steady, marked by a keen ear for political and social absurdity. In 2014, he stepped in front of the camera as co-anchor of the iconic Weekend Update segment alongside Michael Che, a pairing that became famous for its crackling chemistry and perfectly timed punchlines. Jost's tenure as head writer helped steer the show through turbulent political eras, and his memoir, 'A Very Punchable Face,' became a bestseller, revealing the neurotic mind behind the deadpan delivery.
Millennials
1981–1996
The first digital natives. Grew up with the internet, came of age during 9/11 and the 2008 crash. Highly educated, deeply indebted, slower to marry and buy houses. Redefined work, identity, and what it means to be an adult.
Colin was born in 1982, placing them squarely in the Millennials. The events that shaped this generation — the internet revolution, 9/11, and the 2008 financial crisis — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Colin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1982
#1 Movie
E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial
Best Picture
Gandhi
#1 TV Show
Dallas
Colin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1982Born
Michael Jackson releases Thriller
Gas: $1.22/galHome: $55,200Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Physical" — Olivia Newton-JohnBest Picture: Gandhi
1987Started school
Black Monday stock market crash
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $72,400Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Walk Like an Egyptian" — The BanglesBest Picture: The Last Emperor
1995Became a teenager
Oklahoma City bombing; Windows 95 released
Gas: $1.15/galHome: $96,500Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Gangsta's Paradise" — CoolioBest Picture: Braveheart
1998Could drive
Google founded; Clinton impeachment
Gas: $1.06/galHome: $107,300Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Too Close" — NextBest Picture: Shakespeare in Love
2000Could vote
Y2K passes without incident; contested Bush-Gore election
Gas: $1.51/galHome: $119,600Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Breathe" — Faith HillBest Picture: Gladiator
2003Turned 21
US invades Iraq; Human Genome Project completed
Gas: $1.59/galHome: $146,000Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: George W. Bush"In Da Club" — 50 CentBest Picture: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King
2012Turned 30
Curiosity rover lands on Mars; Sandy Hook shooting
Gas: $3.64/galHome: $143,200Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Somebody That I Used to Know" — GotyeBest Picture: Argo
2022Turned 40
Russia invades Ukraine; Queen Elizabeth II dies
Gas: $3.97/galHome: $348,700Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"As It Was" — Harry StylesBest Picture: Everything Everywhere All at Once
2026Age 44 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as a head writer for Saturday Night Live across multiple periods, shaping the show's comedic voice.
- Co-anchored the Weekend Update segment on SNL beginning in 2014, becoming a defining face of the show's satire.
- Authored the New York Times bestselling memoir 'A Very Punchable Face' in 2020.
- Received multiple Emmy Awards for his writing work on Saturday Night Live.
Did You Know?
He is married to actress Scarlett Johansson; they had a son in 2023.
He won a Peabody Award in 2008 as part of the SNL writing staff for the 2008 election coverage.
He has a large tattoo of a mermaid on his arm, a decision he has publicly joked about regretting.
He was hit by a car as a child, an incident he credits with making him funnier.
“The key to a successful marriage is just finding someone who hates the same people you do.”
