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Tim Kazurinsky

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Tim Kazurinsky
Born
Timothy James Kazurinsky

(1950-03-03)March 3, 1950(age 74)
Johnstown, Pennsylvania,U.S.
Occupations
  • Actor
  • screenwriter
  • improviser
Years active1978–present
SpouseMarcia Lynn Watkins
Children2
Websitewww.timkazurinsky.net

Timothy James Kazurinsky(born March 3, 1950) is an American actor and screenwriter best known as a cast member and writer onSaturday Night Liveand for his role as Carl Sweetchuck in thePolice Academyfilms.

Early life

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Kazurinsky was born inJohnstown, Pennsylvania.His father, who was American-born, was of Polish descent, and his mother was an Australianwar bride.[1][2]He spent most of his childhood in Australia, where he attended Birrong Boys High School. When he was 16, he moved to America by himself. He completed his education, graduating fromGreater Johnstown High Schoolin 1967.[3]

Kazurinsky worked as a reporter for theJohnstown Tribune-Democrat,then as acopywriterfor a St. Louis, Missouri, department store. He moved to Chicago and began working forLeo Burnett Worldwidein its advertising department. Seeking to gain confidence presenting ad pitches, Kazurinsky enrolled in an improv class atThe Second City,where he became a member of the mainstage troupe in 1978, refining his improvisation and acting chops under the tutelage of Del Close. Eventually, Kazurinsky caught the attention ofSaturday Night LiveluminaryJohn Belushiwho recommended him to the show's then-executive producer,Dick Ebersol.Ebersol was impressed with Kazurinsky and hired him as a writer and cast member in 1981.

Saturday Night Live

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During his three seasons onSNL,Kazurinsky was known for playing numerous characters as well as doing celebrity impersonations. Fellow cast members includedEddie Murphy,Joe Piscopo,Julia Louis-DreyfusandMary Gross.Kazurinsky was part of the show's 1984 writing team nominated for a PrimetimeEmmy Awardfor Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program. There were reports that he often clashed withDick Ebersolregarding the show's creative direction. In 1984, Kazurinsky leftSNLalong with Piscopo.

Recurring characters onSNL

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  • Dr. Jack Badofsky,supposed science editor ofWeekend Update,who presented absurd lists of humorouspun-based disease names.Jon Stewartreferenced the character in a 2011Daily Showsegment lampooning Herman Cain.[4]The character was again alluded to in a 2016 episode ofThe Simpsonswhen Mr. Burns exclaims, "Wordplay is for crosswords and Kazurinskys!"[5]
  • Mr. Landlordfrom "Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood" with Eddie Murphy
  • Father Timothy Owens,an Irish priest
  • The Iguana,the male half of a hopelessly dorky couple who never revealed to his wife that he was a dangerous adventurer
  • Havnagootiim Vishnuuerheer(pronounced "Having a good time wish you were here" ), a Hindu "Enlightened Master" who cleared up "The Great Unanswered Questions of the Universe"
  • Wayne Huevos,a suave Latin-American businessman who appeared onWeekend Updatewith ideas on how to clean up New York City
  • Worthington Clotman,SNL'sresident network censor, based on real-life network censor Bill Clotworthy, who would interrupt sketches and point out objectionable material
  • Madge The Chimp's Husbandin the recurring soap opera drama "I Married a Monkey"

Celebrity impressions onSNL

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Other work

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Kazurinsky had a small part as a photographer in the 1980Christopher Reeve/Jane SeymourfilmSomewhere in Time.At the insistence of his friendJohn Belushi,he played Pa Greavy in the 1981 Belushi/AykroydcomedyNeighbors.Shortly after departingSaturday Night Live,Kazurinsky co-wroteAbout Last Night...based onDavid Mamet's one act play,Sexual Perversity in Chicago.The film starredRob Lowe,Demi MooreandJim Belushiand was directed byEdward Zwick.A remake ofAbout Last Nightwas released in 2014 starring comedianKevin Hart.Kazurinsky famously portrayed Officer Carl Sweetchuck inPolice Academy 2,3and4.

In the 1990s, Kazurinsky guest starred inMarried... with Children,Early EditionandPolice Academy: The Series.In the 2000s, Kazurinsky wrote for and guest starred in comedy series such asCurb Your Enthusiasm,What About Joan?,Still StandingandAccording to Jim.In 2001, he wrote the screenplay forStrange Relations,a film starringPaul Reiser,George Wendt,Julie Walters,andOlympia Dukakis.The screenplay was nominated for aWriters Guild of AmericaAward as well as aBAFTA.Kazurinsky played a supporting role in the 2011 Zombie Army Productions film,The Moleman of Belmont Avenue,which also featuredRobert Englund.

As a stage actor, Kazurinsky appeared as Felix inThe Odd Couple(opposite George Wendt's Oscar), Wilbur Turnblad inHairspray,andPeter QuinceinWilliam Shakespeare'sA Midsummer Night's Dream.Kazurinsky's work in Chicago theatre has been recognized by twoJoseph Jefferson Awardnominations. In February 2014, Kazurinsky joined the first National Tour of the hit musicalWickedin the role ofThe Wizard,replacingJohn Davidson.[6]Kazurinsky finished his run on in March 2015 when the First National Tour closed. In May 2015, Kazurinsky made his Broadway debut alongsideJim ParsonsandChristopher Fitzgeraldin a limited run ofDavid Javerbaum's new comedy,An Act Of God,directed byJoe Mantellobetween May and August 2015 atStudio 54.[7]

Kazurinsky and George Wendt reunited for the September 2015 world premiere of Bruce Graham's comedy,Funnymanat Chicago's Northlight Theatre. The production was directed by BJ Jones.[8]In December 2016, Kazurinsky appeared as Frosch the jailer in Music Theatre Works' production ofJohann Strauss II' operettaDie Fledermaus.

Kazurinsky was one of a few people to filmPrince's now-legendary impromptu performance ofLet's Go Crazyat the SNL40 after party in February 2015. The video went viral following Prince's death in 2016 and was shared by numerous media outlets.[9]

In 2017, Kazurinsky played the recurring role of Judge Emerson on NBC'sChicago Justice,and appeared as Father Timothy inNetflix's original series,Easy.

Personal life

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Kazurinsky lives outside Chicago with his wife, Broadway actress Marcia Watkins[10](On Your Toes,A Chorus Line).[11]Kazurinsky has a daughter, Zoe, and a son, Pete.[12]

Additional filmography

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Screenwriting credits

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Written with Denise DeClue:

Solo work:

References

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  1. ^Knight Jr., Richard (December 30, 2011)."Kazurinsky loops back to Chicago stages".Chicago Tribune.
  2. ^Siehl, Jim (January 26, 2013)."Old friends reunite".The Tribune-Democrat.Johnstown, Pennsylvania.
  3. ^"Johnstown HS 1967-9".Ancestry.com.Archived fromthe originalon June 9, 2016.RetrievedApril 11,2020.
  4. ^Potts, Kimberly (November 8, 2011)."Jon Stewart Pokes Fun at Herman Cain, Gloria Allred and 'Occupy Ball Street' (Video)".TheWrap.
  5. ^Perkins, Dennis (January 3, 2016)."Homer goes Greek, but two great guests make for a solid Simpsons".The A.V. Club.
  6. ^Gioia, Michael (December 30, 2013)."Tim Kazurinsky, Nick Adams and Jenny Florkowski Will Join Wicked First National Tour".Playbill.Archived fromthe originalon December 31, 2013.
  7. ^Oleksinski, Johnny (April 6, 2015)."Tim Kazurinsky will go to Broadway this spring".Chicago Tribune.
  8. ^"Funnyman".Northlight Theatre. Archived fromthe originalon July 4, 2015.RetrievedSeptember 1,2015.
  9. ^Kreps, Daniel (April 23, 2016)."Watch Prince's All-Star 'SNL 40' After Party Performance".Rolling Stone.
  10. ^Tribune, Chicago (March 28, 1985)."KAZURINSKY FINDS THERE'S GOOD LIFE AFTER 'LIVE'".Chicago Tribune.RetrievedMarch 23,2024.
  11. ^"Marcia Lynn Watkins (Performer)".Playbill.December 19, 2019.RetrievedMarch 23,2024.
  12. ^Tribune, Chicago (December 30, 2011)."Kazurinsky loops back to Chicago stages".Chicago Tribune.RetrievedMarch 23,2024.
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