Jim Breuer
A comedian whose heavy metal-loving, everyman persona and iconic SNL characters turned stoner humor into a lasting cult legacy.
Born 1967 (age 59)·American actor and comedian·Birthday: June 21·Generation X
Biography
Jim Breuer's comedy is built on a foundation of relatable frustration and unapologetic fandom. Rising from the Long Island stand-up circuit, his big, malleable face and gift for sound effects caught the eye of 'Saturday Night Live' in 1995. There, he didn't just deliver jokes; he created full-bodied, hilarious personas. His Joe Pesci impression was a masterclass in manic energy, but it was his original character Goat Boy—a heavy metal enthusiast who communicated in bleats—that cemented his cult status. The 1998 stoner comedy 'Half Baked,' which he co-wrote and starred in, became a defining film for a generation, despite initial critical dismissal. After SNL, Breuer carved a unique path, blending stand-up about family life with a very public passion for heavy metal music, hosting a popular podcast and touring his comedy act to the delight of fans who grew up with his uniquely goofy brand of humor.
Generation X
1965–1980
The latchkey kids. Raised during divorce, recession, and the end of the Cold War. Skeptical, self-reliant, media-literate. They invented indie culture, grunge, and the early internet — then watched the Boomers take credit.
Jim was born in 1967, placing them squarely in the Generation X. The events that shaped this generation — economic uncertainty, the end of the Cold War, and the rise of personal computing — shaped the world they entered and the choices available to them.
#1 When Jim Was Born
The biggest hits of 1967
#1 Movie
The Jungle Book
Best Picture
In the Heat of the Night
#1 TV Show
The Andy Griffith Show
Jim's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1967Born
Summer of Love in San Francisco; first Super Bowl
Gas: $0.33/galHome: $14,250Min wage: $1.40/hrPresident: Lyndon B. Johnson"To Sir, with Love" — LuluBest Picture: In the Heat of the Night
1972Started school
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
1980Became a teenager
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
1983Could drive
Internet adopts TCP/IP, creating the modern internet
Gas: $1.16/galHome: $57,700Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Every Breath You Take" — The PoliceBest Picture: Terms of Endearment
1985Could vote
Live Aid concerts raise money for Ethiopian famine
Gas: $1.12/galHome: $62,900Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Careless Whisper" — Wham!Best Picture: Out of Africa
1988Turned 21
Pan Am Flight 103 bombed over Lockerbie
Gas: $0.90/galHome: $74,800Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"Faith" — George MichaelBest Picture: Rain Man
1997Turned 30
Princess Diana dies in Paris car crash; Harry Potter published
Gas: $1.23/galHome: $104,100Min wage: $5.15/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"Candle in the Wind 1997" — Elton JohnBest Picture: Titanic
2007Turned 40
iPhone released; Great Recession begins
Gas: $2.80/galHome: $172,600Min wage: $5.85/hrPresident: George W. Bush"Irreplaceable" — BeyonceBest Picture: No Country for Old Men
2017Turned 50
#MeToo movement; solar eclipse crosses the US
Gas: $2.42/galHome: $195,000Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Donald Trump"Shape of You" — Ed SheeranBest Picture: The Shape of Water
2026Age 59 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Was a featured cast member on 'Saturday Night Live' for three seasons, creating memorable characters like Goat Boy.
- Co-wrote and starred in the cult stoner comedy film 'Half Baked' alongside Dave Chappelle.
- Maintained a decades-long stand-up career, releasing several popular comedy specials like 'Hardcore' and 'Comic Frenzy'.
- Hosts 'The Jim Breuer Podcast,' where he interviews rock stars and comedians.
Did You Know?
He is an avid fan of the heavy metal band Metallica and has interviewed them extensively, even appearing in their documentary.
His SNL audition included his impression of a struggling baseball pitcher, which he performed for producer Lorne Michaels.
He turned down the role of Robert Barone on the sitcom 'Everybody Loves Raymond,' a part that went to Brad Garrett.
He worked as a security guard at a comedy club before getting on stage himself.
“I'm not here to preach; I'm here to make you snort your drink.”
