Seth Meyers
The sharp-witted comedian who evolved from SNL's Weekend Update anchor into a late-night host known for his intelligent monologues and deep-dive interviews.
Born 1973 (age 53)·American comedian and TV host·Birthday: December 28·Generation X
Biography
Seth Meyers brought a writer's precision and a stand-up's timing to the chaotic world of live television. His breakthrough came on Saturday Night Live, where he spent 13 years, eventually becoming the head writer and the poised, slightly bemused anchor of Weekend Update. His tenure behind that desk, particularly during election years, showcased his ability to distill political absurdity into brutally efficient jokes. In 2014, he stepped into the legacy of Late Night, transforming the format with his strengths: a monologue rooted in long-form joke-telling, the beloved segment 'A Closer Look' that dissects current events, and an interview style that favors genuine conversation over canned bits. Meyers has carved out a distinct space in late night, one that feels more like a smart, funny conversation with a well-informed friend than a traditional variety show.
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.
Seth was born in 1973, 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 Seth Was Born
The biggest hits of 1973
#1 Movie
The Exorcist
Best Picture
The Sting
#1 TV Show
All in the Family
Seth's Life & Times
The world at every milestone
1973Born
US withdraws from Vietnam; Roe v. Wade decided
Gas: $0.39/galHome: $22,100Min wage: $1.60/hrPresident: Richard Nixon"Tie a Yellow Ribbon Round the Ole Oak Tree" — Tony Orlando & DawnBest Picture: The Sting
1978Started school
First test-tube baby born
Gas: $0.63/galHome: $35,300Min wage: $2.65/hrPresident: Jimmy Carter"Shadow Dancing" — Andy GibbBest Picture: The Deer Hunter
1986Became a teenager
Challenger disaster; Chernobyl nuclear meltdown
Gas: $0.86/galHome: $66,600Min wage: $3.35/hrPresident: Ronald Reagan"That's What Friends Are For" — Dionne & FriendsBest Picture: Platoon
1989Could drive
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
1991Could vote
Soviet Union dissolves; World Wide Web goes public
Gas: $1.14/galHome: $82,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: George H.W. Bush"(Everything I Do) I Do It for You" — Bryan AdamsBest Picture: The Silence of the Lambs
1994Turned 21
Nelson Mandela elected president of South Africa
Gas: $1.11/galHome: $90,400Min wage: $4.25/hrPresident: Bill Clinton"The Sign" — Ace of BaseBest Picture: Forrest Gump
2003Turned 30
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
2013Turned 40
Edward Snowden reveals NSA surveillance programs
Gas: $3.53/galHome: $152,800Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Barack Obama"Thrift Shop" — Macklemore & Ryan LewisBest Picture: 12 Years a Slave
2023Turned 50
ChatGPT goes mainstream; Israel-Hamas war begins
Gas: $3.52/galHome: $361,600Min wage: $7.25/hrPresident: Joe Biden"Flowers" — Miley CyrusBest Picture: Oppenheimer
2026Age 53 today
Gas: $3.91/galPresident: Donald Trump
Key Achievements
- Served as the head writer for Saturday Night Live from 2006 to 2014.
- Anchored SNL's Weekend Update segment for a defining eight-year period.
- Created and hosts the recurring, in-depth comedy segment 'A Closer Look' on Late Night.
- Won multiple Emmy Awards for his writing and work on Saturday Night Live.
Did You Know?
He was the best man at fellow SNL alum Amy Poehler's wedding to Will Arnett.
He and his brother, Josh Meyers, are both television writers and performers.
He performed a stand-up set at the White House Correspondents' Dinner in 2011.
He was a member of the improv comedy group Boom Chicago in Amsterdam early in his career.
“"The thing about democracy is it’s a little bit like a see-saw. You need both sides to make it work, but if one side is just a bunch of clowns, it’s not as fun."”
