Robert Smigel

Robert Smigel
Smigel in 2008 withTriumph the Insult Comic DogandDoug Daleon the laptop
Born	(1960-02-07)February 7, 1960 New York City, New York,U.S.
Education	Cornell University New York University(BA)
Occupations	Actor comedian writer director producer puppeteer
Years active	1985–present
Notable work	TV Funhouse Triumph the Insult Comic Dog
Spouse	Michelle Saks
Children	3

Robert Smigel(born February 7, 1960)is an American actor, comedian, writer, director, producer, andpuppeteer,known for hisSaturday Night Live"TV Funhouse"cartoon shorts and as the puppeteer and voice behindTriumph the Insult Comic Dog.He also co-wrote the first twoHotel Transylvaniafilms,You Don't Mess with the Zohan,andLeo,all starringAdam Sandler.

Early life

Smigel was born in New York City, to Lucia andIrwin Smigel,an aesthetic dentist, innovator and philanthropist. He isJewishand frequently went toJewish summer camp.He attendedCornell University,studying pre-dental,and graduated fromNew York University'sCollege of Arts and Sciencein 1983 with a degree in political science.

Smigel began developing his comedic talent atThe Players Workshopin Chicago, where he studied improvisation withJosephine Forsberg.Bob Odenkirkwas a fellow student there. Smigel was also a member of the Chicago comedy troupe "All You Can Eat" in the early 1980s.

Career

Smigel first established himself as a writer onSaturday Night Liveby joining the writing staff whenLorne Michaelsreturned as executive producer for the 1985–1986 season. Smigel was hired after then-SNLproducersAl Frankenand Tom Davis saw Smigel in a Chicago sketch show.Smigel was among the few writers who survived a purge of writers and cast at the conclusion of the "disappointing" 1985–1986 season. This is when Smigel began to write more memorable sketches, including one where hostWilliam Shatnerurged worshipful attendees at aStar Trekconvention to "get a life." Smigel rarely appeared on screen, though he was credited as a featured player in the early 1990s and played a recurring character in theBill Swerski's Superfanssketches.

While on a writers' strike fromSaturday Night Livefollowing the 1987–88 season, Smigel wrote for animprovisational comedyrevue in Chicago with fellowSNLwritersBob OdenkirkandConan O'BriencalledHappy Happy Good Show.

Smigel co-wroteLookwellwithConan O'Brienfor NBC. The pilot never went to series, but it has become a cult hit and has screened live at "The Other Network", a festival of un-aired TV pilots produced byUn-Cabaret,featuring live and taped intros by Smigel. Smigel later became the first head writer atLate Night with Conan O'Brien,where he created numerous successful comedy bits, including one where Smigel performed only the lips of public figures which were superimposed on photos of the actual people. (This technique was pioneered on theClutch Cargocartoon series as a cost-saving measure, and was known asSyncro-Vox.)

In 1996, Smigel wrote and performed on the short-livedDana Carvey Show,a primetimesketch comedyprogram onABC.Despite its premature end, the show provided Smigel the opportunity to debut his first cartoonThe Ambiguously Gay Duo.Upon the show's cancellation, Smigel continued developing more cartoon ideas the following summer and would begin airing them onSaturday Night Liveunder theTV Funhousebanner. Smigel would later claim "My whole career came out of the impulse to do cartoons onThe Dana Carvey Show."

Robert Smigel (right) performing his puppet character,Triumph the Insult Comic Dog,at2008 Republican National ConventionwithAssociated Pressproduction assistant(left)

Smigel's most famous creation, however, would be the foul-mouthed puppetTriumph the Insult Comic Dog,who mercilessly mocks celebrities and others in the style of aBorscht Beltcomedian. This character debuted onLate Night with Conan O'Brienin February 1997 and would continue to make appearances on the show, as well as others, for many years to come.

Smigel continued to establish himself onSaturday Night Liveby producing short animated segments under the titleTV Funhouse,which usuallysatirizespublic figures and popular culture. It spawned a TV show onComedy Centralfeaturing a mix of puppets, animation, and short sketches, although only eight episodes were aired (during the winter of 2000–2001). Smigel occasionally appears in films (usually alongsideSNLveterans such asAdam Sandler). According to interviews, Smigel helped punch up the scripts forLittle NickyandThe Wedding Singer.Smigel acted alongside fellowSNLwriterBob OdenkirkinWayne's World 2as a nerd backstage at anAerosmithconcert. His contributions were uncredited.

In 2000, he voiced a sage bulldog named Mr. Beefy inLittle Nicky.Smigel, along with Adam Sandler andJudd Apatow,wrote the script for the filmYou Don't Mess with the Zohanin which Smigel played Yosi, an Israeli electronics salesman. Smigel is also one of the executive producers of the film, which is a first for him despite his frequent collaborations with Sandler.

It was reported in 2006 that Smigel and Adam Sandler were working on an animated sitcom forFoxcalledAnimals.Fox has not made any official statement regarding the show.Additionally, Smigel played a gay mailman in the Adam Sandler filmI Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larryand Yari the Mechanic in the "Mister Softee" episode ofCurb Your Enthusiasm.

He voiced Ray and theStar Warscharacter,Emperor Palpatine,in the first episode ofRobot Chicken: Star Wars,as well as the monster 100 in theepisode of the same nameofAqua Teen Hunger Force.

Currently living in New York, he co-wrote and co-executive produced the filmsHotel Transylvania(2012) andHotel Transylvania 2(2015), in which he voiced Marty, a fake version ofDracula,and Harry Three-Eye, respectively. In thefifth seasonof theFXshow,Louie,Smigel received a story credit on the episode "Cop Story", as a similar incident as to what appears in the show actually happened to him, down to the cop crying in his apartment while Smigel went out, found the missing gun and carried it home, terrified that anyone would notice.Michael Rapaport's character wasn't based on the man Smigel knew, however, since all Smigel ever toldLouis C.K.about was the gun itself.

Smigel created, wrote, executive produced, and starred as Triumph the Insult Comic Dog inThe Jack and Triumph Show,alongsideJack McBrayerin 2015. It was announced in January 2016 that Smigel would be starring as Triumph inTriumph's Election Special 2016onHuluthe following February.

In September 2020, after being brought on to develop the project in 2019, Fox announced that Smigel would executive produceLet's Be Real— a one-off adaptation of the French satirical seriesLes Guignols.

On June 16, 2022, Smigel was arrested for unlawful entry of theLongworth House Office Buildingin Washington, D.C, along with eight other individuals associated withThe Late Show with Stephen Colbert.CBSreleased a statement saying that “Their interviews at the Capitol were authorized and pre-arranged throughCongressional aidesof the members interviewed, "and that" After leaving the members’ offices on their last interview of the day, the production team stayed to film stand-ups and other final comedy elements in the halls when they were detained by Capitol Police.”Fox NewspunditTucker Carlsonaccused Smigel of "insurrection"and that it was" exactly like what happened "in apparent reference to the2021 United States Capitol attack.Stephen Colbertaddressed the incident in his monologue, stating that Smigel had committed "First-DegreePuppetry"and that" Drawing any equivalence between rioters storming our Capitol to prevent the counting of electoral ballots and a cigar-chomping toy dog is a shameful and grotesque insult to the memory of everyone who died.” TheUnited States Capitol Policereleased a statement saying that “This is an active criminal investigation, and may result in additional criminal charges after consultation with theU.S. Attorney.”On July 19, it was announced no charges would be filed.

Personal life

Smigel has a wife, who was a lighting technician for the theater in Chicago presenting the comedy troupeAll You Can Eat and the Temple of Dooomthat he joined, later a comedy writerMichelle,and three children.

Michelle and Robert serve on the board ofNEXT for AUTISM,formerly New York Collaborates for Autism, a non-profit organization founded in 2003 to address the needs of autistic individuals and their families, as their eldest child hasautism.Smigel created theNight of Too Many Stars,a biannual celebrity fundraiser to benefit autism education.He won a writing Emmy for the 2012 broadcast ofNight of Too Many Stars.

Recurring characters onSNL

• Carl Wollarski, from "Bill Swerski's Superfans"
• Hank Fielding, with "The Moron's Perspective" on Weekend Update
• One of the Hub's Gyros employees (aka the "You like-ah the Juice?" guys)
• Avi, the "Sabra Price is Right" announcer
• Bighead, in "The Ambiguously Gay Duo"cartoons

Celebrity impressions

• Alan Dershowitz(onSNL)
• Woody Allen(onSNL)
• Al Sharpton(onSNLTV Funhouse cartoon)
• Al Franken(onSNLTV Funhouse cartoon)
• William Ginsberg(onSNLTV Funhouse cartoon)
• Don McLean(onSNLTV Funhouse cartoon)
• Lorne Michaels(onSNLTV Funhouse cartoon)
• Pat Robertson(onSNLTV Funhouse cartoon)
• Michael Gross(onSNLTV Funhouse cartoon)
• Thomas Mesereau(onSNLTV Funhouse cartoon)
• Sinbad(onSNLTV Funhouse cartoon)
• Bob Dole(onThe Dana Carvey Show)
• Gene Shalit(onThe Dana Carvey Show)
• Joel Siegel(onThe Dana Carvey Show)
• Bob Ross(onThe Dana Carvey Show)
• Rip Torn(onThe Dana Carvey Show)
• Bill Walton(onThe Dana Carvey Show)
• Richard Nixon(onThe Dana Carvey Show)
• Sam Donaldson(onThe Dana Carvey Show)
• Hussein of Jordan(onThe Dana Carvey Show)
• Quentin Tarantino(onThe Dana Carvey Show)
• Ringo Starr(onThe Dana Carvey Show)

Recurring characters onLate Night with Conan O'Brien

• Triumph the Insult Comic Dog
• "Clutch Cargo" celebrity interviews (Bill Clinton, George W. Bush, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Don King, Bob Dole, etc.)
• One of the "Nicknames for Conan" guys (aka the "Conan the Barbarian" guys)
• One of the "Ameri-clan" guys (withDoug Dale,Louis C.K.andDino Stamatopoulos)
• Voice of "The Late Night Emergency Guest" mannequin
• Gibberish Speaking Ronald Reagan on the Phone
• Ira, Conan's publicist

Filmography

Film

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1993	Wayne's World 2	Concert Nerd
1995	Billy Madison	Mr. Oblaski
1996	Happy Gilmore	IRS Agent
1998	Tomorrow Night	Mail Room Guy with Glasses
	The Wedding Singer	Andre
2000	Little Nicky	Mr. Beefy	Voice only
2002	Punch-Drunk Love	Walter the Dentist
2007	I Now Pronounce You Chuck and Larry	Mailman
2008	You Don't Mess with the Zohan	Yosi	Also writer and producer
2011	Jack and Jill	—	Executive producer and writer of "Dunkaccino"
2012	Hotel Transylvania	Fake Dracula, Marty	Voice only Also writer and executive producer
	This Is 40	Barry
2015	Pixels	White House Reporter #2
	Hotel Transylvania 2	Marty, Harry Three-Eye, Navigator	Voice only Also writer and executive producer
2016	The Do-Over	Doctor
2017	Too Funny to Fail	Himself	Documentary
2018	The Week Of	ER Doctor	Also writer and director
2019	Marriage Story	Mediator
2020	The King of Staten Island	Male Pharmacy Owner
2022	Aqua Teen Forever: Plantasm	Fraptaculan Robert	Voice only
2023	Leo	Miniature Horse, Drone, Old Lizard #1, Old Lizard #3	Voice only Also writer and director
2024	Between the Temples	Rabbi Bruce

Television

Year	Title	Role	Notes
1985–2013	Saturday Night Live	Bighead (The Ambiguously Gay Duosegment),Lorne Michaels(The Anatominals Showsegment),Elephant Man Bones(TheMichael JacksonShowsegment), Various	Also writer, producer
1988	Superman50th Anniversary Special	Brainwave
1991	Lookwell	—	Television pilot; co-writer
1993–2009	Late Night with Conan O'Brien	Triumph the Insult Comic Dog	Voice; also writer and producer
1995	Howie Mandel's Sunny Skies	Phillip	1 episode
1996	The Dana Carvey Show	Various	Also writer
1999	LateLine	Pearce Dummy	Episode: "Pearce on Conan"
2000	ShortCuts	Clive Barnes	Episode: "Food"
2000–2001	TV Funhouse	Fogey, Xabu, Rocky, Terance, Wonderman / Henry Moore (Wondermansegment), Narrator (WondermanandMnemonics: Your Dear, Dear Friendsegments), Various	Voice; also creator, writer, and producer
2002	It's a Very Merry Muppet Christmas Movie	Triumph the Insult Comic Dog	Voice; Television film
2003–2007	Crank Yankers	Lawyer, Samir, John Tierney	Voice; 3 episodes
2003–2017	Night of Too Many Stars	Himself / Triumph the Insult Comic Dog	Television specials; also writer and executive producer
2004	Space Ghost Coast to Coast	Triumph the Insult Comic Dog	Voice, episode: "Dreams"
2005	Arrested Development	Motherboy Member	Episode: "Motherboy XXX"
2007	Robot Chicken: Star Wars	Palpatine,Ray	Voice
2008	Lewis Black's Root of All Evil	Triumph the Insult Comic Dog	Voice, episode: "NRA vs PETA"
2009–2010	The Tonight Show with Conan O'Brien	Triumph the Insult Comic Dog	Voice, 3 episodes
2009	SpongeBob SquarePants	Triumph the Insult Comic Dog	Voice, episode: "SpongeBob's Truth or Square"
2010	Aqua Teen Hunger Force	One Hundred	Voice, episode: "One Hundred"
2011	Curb Your Enthusiasm	Yari	Episode: "Mister Softee"
2011–2016	Conan	Various	11 episodes
2012–2022	Bob's Burgers	Yuli the Security Guard	Voice; recurring role
2013	The Aquabats! Super Show!	Krampus	Voice, episode: "Christmas with the Aquabats!"
2015	The Jack and Triumph Show	Triumph the Insult Comic Dog	Voice; also creator, writer, and executive producer
	Louie	—	Episode: "Cop Story"; story
	The Jim Gaffigan Show	Cory	Episode: "Red Velvet If You Please"
2016	Triumph's Election Special 2016	Triumph the Insult Comic Dog	Voice, television special; also writer and executive producer
	Portlandia	Jarvis	Episode: "Lance Is Smart"
	Triumph's Summer Election Special 2016	Triumph the Insult Comic Dog	Voice, television special; also writer and executive producer
	Triumph's Election Watch 2016	Triumph the Insult Comic Dog	Voice, miniseries; also writer and executive producer
2018	New Girl	Chaplain	Episode: "The Curse of the Pirate Bride"
2019	The Masked Singer	Triumph the Insult Comic Dog	Voice, episode: "Triumph Over Masks"; guest panelist
2021	Let's Be Real	—	Writer/executive producer
2023	White House Plumbers	Inmate Friedman	Episode: "True Believers"
	What We Do in the Shadows	Alexander	Episode: "The Campaign"

Music videos

Year	Song Title	Role	Artist
2005	"Ass Like That"	Triumph the Insult Comic Dog	Eminem

Further reading

• DiGiacomo, Frank. "Triumph Sniffs a Hit".The New York Observer(October 20, 2003).

External links

• Robert SmigelatIMDb
• Interview with The A.V. Club