Colin Quinn
A gravel-voiced New York comic philosopher who uses stand-up to dissect the absurdities of history and human nature with weary, street-smart charm.
Born 1959 (age 67)·American comedian and actor·Birthday: June 6·Baby Boomers
Biography
Colin Quinn emerged from the Brooklyn comedy scene, a product of its blunt, observational style. His big break came not on a comedy stage but as the sardonic sidekick on MTV's surreal game show 'Remote Control,' a role that showcased his dry, off-the-cuff wit. This led to a defining stint at 'Saturday Night Live,' where he brought a uniquely unpolished, everyman edge to the 'Weekend Update' desk, commenting on the news with the exasperation of a guy reading the paper at a diner. After SNL, he carved out a niche as a provocateur and thinker, hosting the combative panel show 'Tough Crowd' and creating acclaimed one-man shows like 'Long Story Short' and 'The New York Story,' which frame civilization's foibles through the lens of borough rivalries and historical irony. His comedy is less about punchlines and more about a continuous, grumbling, and often profound monologue on society's unraveling.
Baby Boomers
1946–1964
The largest generation in history at the time. Shaped by postwar prosperity, the Vietnam War, the sexual revolution, and Watergate. They questioned every institution their parents built — then ran them.
Colin was born in 1959, placing them squarely in the Baby Boomers. The events that shaped this generation — postwar prosperity, civil rights, Vietnam, and the counterculture — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Colin Was Born
The biggest hits of 1959
#1 Movie
Ben-Hur
Best Picture
Ben-Hur
#1 TV Show
Gunsmoke
Colin's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1959Born
Fidel Castro takes power in Cuba
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $12,400Min wage: $1.00/hrPresident: Dwight D. Eisenhower"The Battle of New Orleans" — Johnny HortonBest Picture: Ben-Hur
1964Started school
Civil Rights Act signed; Beatles arrive in America
Gas: $0.30/galHome: $13,450Min wage: $1.25/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"I Want to Hold Your Hand" — The BeatlesBest Picture: My Fair Lady
1972Became a teenager
Watergate break-in; last Apollo Moon mission
Gas: $0.36/galHome: $19,550Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"The First Time Ever I Saw Your Face" — Roberta FlackBest Picture: The Godfather
1975Could drive
Fall of Saigon ends the Vietnam War
Gas: $0.57/galHome: $27,600Min wage: $2.10/hrPresident: Gerald Ford"Love Will Keep Us Together" — Captain & TennilleBest Picture: One Flew Over the Cuckoo's Nest
1977Could vote
Star Wars premieres; Elvis dies
Gas: $0.62/galHome: $31,800Min wage: $2.30/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Tonight's the Night" — Rod StewartBest Picture: Annie Hall
1980Turned 21
John Lennon shot and killed in New York
Gas: $1.19/galHome: $47,200Min wage: $3.10/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Call Me" — BlondieBest Picture: Ordinary People
1989Turned 30
Berlin Wall falls; Tiananmen Square protests
Gas: $1.00/galHome: $79,100Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"Look Away" — ChicagoBest Picture: Driving Miss Daisy
1999Turned 40
Columbine shooting; Y2K panic builds
Gas: $1.17/galHome: $113,900Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Believe" — CherBest Picture: American Beauty
2009Turned 50
Michael Jackson dies; Bitcoin created
Gas: $2.35/galHome: $148,500Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Boom Boom Pow" — The Black Eyed PeasBest Picture: The Hurt Locker
2019Turned 60
First image of a black hole; Hong Kong protests
Gas: $2.60/galHome: $224,400Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Old Town Road" — Lil Nas XBest Picture: Parasite
2026Age 67 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as a cast member and writer for 'Saturday Night Live' from 1995 to 2000, anchoring the 'Weekend Update' segment.
- Created and hosted 'Tough Crowd with Colin Quinn,' a late-night panel show on Comedy Central featuring stand-up comedians debating current events.
- Wrote and performed multiple successful solo shows on Broadway, including 'Colin Quinn: Long Story Short,' directed by Jerry Seinfeld.
- Authored the book 'The Coloring Book: A Comedian Solves World Peace & Answers Other Easy Questions.'
Did You Know?
He was a regular at The Comedy Cellar in New York City and is considered a central figure in that club's culture.
Quinn is a recovering alcoholic and has been open about his sobriety, which began in the late 1980s.
He briefly worked as a newspaper cartoonist early in his career.
His one-man show 'Colin Quinn: Unconstitutional' toured the United States and was filmed for HBO.
““New York is a city where everyone is a minority, so you’re always aware of other people.””
