Lorne Michaels is a television producer and screenwriter. He is of Canadian and American descent. Let’s check out some fascinating details from his personal and professional life and Lorne Michaels Net Worth in 2021.
If ever there was a person who played a singular hand in shaping the comedy culture in America, it is none other than Lorne David Lipowitz. Better known as Lorne Michaels, this Canadian born, American producer, writer, and actor is the architect of the popular sketch-comedy series, Saturday Night Live.
Since its inception in 1975, SNL has won over 80 Emmy awards and has given us names like Bill Murray, Eddie Murphy, Tina Fey, and Adam Sandler.
His empire has built thousands of careers, shaped the country’s politics, and has been a part of America’s culture for almost half a decade. His legacy has given birth to subsequent shows like The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon and Late Night with Seth Meyers.
Lorne Michaels Net Worth and Overview
| Net Worth | $500 Million |
| Occupation | Singer, Songwriter, Musician, and entrepreneur |
| Date of Birth | November 17, 1944 |
| Age | 75 years |
| Height | 5’7″ ft. or 1.7 m |
| Spouse(s) | Rosie Shuster(m. 1971; div. 1980) Susan Forristal (m. 1981; div. 1987) Alice Barry (m. 1991) |
| Children | Sophie Michaels, Henry Michaels, Edward Michaels |
| Country of Origin | Canada |
| Source of Wealth | TV Shows |
| Instagram Followers | – |
| Twitter Followers | – |
| YouTube Subscribers | – |
| Last Updated | December 2020 |
Early Life
Lorne Michaels was born on November 17, 1944, to Florence and Henry Abraham Lipowitz, where his father worked as a furrier. He was the oldest of three children.
His sister, Barbara Lipowitz, lives in Toronto, while his brother, Mark, passed away from a brain tumour. Certain sources claim that Michaels was born in a farming community in present day Israel, and that his family emigrated to Canada.
Lorne Michaels attended the Forest Hill Collegiate Institute in Toronto and graduated from the University of Toronto in 1966 with a Major in English.
While at school, he tutored a girl two years his junior, whose father was working with a popular Canadian comedy. After the death of his father, Michaels was advised to change his last name, as a tell-tale Jewish connection could hinder his progress.
Career
Early Career
Michaels had a penchant for show business from a very young age. He developed productions at a summer camp in school and was involved with a comedy troupe while at University. At the age of 20, Michaels dabbled in stage comedy with a friend named Hart Pomerantz.
Eventually, they started working together for a Canadian Broadcasting Corporation. The radio show was called Five Nights a Week at this Time, which was later shut down for overstepping the bounds of decency.
In 1968, he moved to Los Angeles where he was hired by NBC (National Broadcasting Company) as a writer for Rowan and Martin’s Laugh-In and other television series.
In 1974, he came up with an idea for a late-night, live comedy show that will challenge the social taboos of the time. Despite some apprehensions within the studio, NBC gave him the green signal to work on this idea.
Saturday Night Live
In 1975, Lorne Michaels, along with a fellow colleague named Dick Ebersol, developed the first episode of NBC’s Saturday Night. The show was an immediate success due to its novel, unpredictable nature, and in 1977, its name was changed to Saturday Night Live.
Since then, SNL has launched the careers of some of the most well-known comedians in the history of Hollywood.
Initially, Michaels was the writer for SNL, but later took on the position of the executive producer as well. Today, SNL continues to be one of the highest-rated late-night television programs in America.
Other Works
In 1979, Michaels established a production company named Broadway Video. It has produced Saturday Night Live since 1981, along with a Canadian sketch-comedy called The Kids in the Hall which aired on CBC in 1988.
In 1984, Michaels took a break from SNL and tried his hand at another sketch comedy show titled The New Show. The show, however, failed to garner interest and was called off after 9 episodes.
Michaels has served as the executive producer for several other NBC shows such as the Late Night, and 30 Rock and Up All Night.
On April 3, 2013, Michaels took over as the executive producer for The Tonight Show, a late-night talk show by NBC, currently airing as The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon.
Awards and Honors
Lorne Michaels has many feathers in his cap. He was inducted into the Television Hall of Fame. Soon he received the honor of a star on the prestigious Hollywood Walk of Fame in 1999. He also received the star honor on Canada’s Walk of Fame in the year 2003.
He received an honor with the Mark Twain Prize for American Humor by the Kennedy Center in Washington DC in 2004.
Michaels received Canada’s highest honor – the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award for lifetime artistic achievement in the year 2006.
In the year 2008, he received the Webby Award for Film and Video lifetime achievement. In the year 2012, Michaels received a rare Personal Peabody Award at the Waldorf Astoria New York hotel.
Controversies
Barring the controversies that a daring comedy show invariably invites, Michaels Lorne has not been involved in any serious legal affairs.
SNL, however, has received some flak for its lack of colored, female members in the cast. Michaels, who is one of the primary talent hunters for SNL, has often been called out for propagating colorism.
In 2011, two St. Louis based producers filed a lawsuit claiming that SNL “stole” their music and used it in two of their sketches, Like a Boss and Shy Ronnie.
On December 2018, SNL aired It’s A Wonderful Trump, inviting the President’s remark that such shows should be “tested in court”.
Personal Life
Lorne Michaels has three children and is presently married to Alice Berry. His first wife was Rosie Shuster, the girl he tutored, and whose father mentored him in return. They married in 1971 and separated after 9 years.
He then married a model named Susan Forristal in 1981, which also ended in divorce. In 1991, he married his former assistant, Alice Berry and they had three children, Sophie, Henry, and Edward Michaels.
What is Lorne Michaels Net Worth in 2021?
Lorne Michaels is a big name in the TV industry. He has produced many shows and has seen tremendous heights in his work field.
Lorne owns a production company and he has played a pivotal role in making Saturday Night Live such a huge success. Lorne Michaels Net Worth in 2021 is over $500 million.
Some Lesser-known Facts About Lorne Michaels
- He loves athletes hosting his show.
- Michaels began writing fiction as a teenager.
- He is a registered independent.
- Michaels got into the White House without an ID with the help of John Belushi.
- He owes his career to Lily Tomlin who had asked Michaels to work with her.
- Last but not the least, he was once a writer for Woody Allen.
Summary
Coming from Canada, Lorne has reached the top tier as a TV producer in the USA. However, it did not start like this. Michaels started his career as a writer in the late 1960s.
In the Mid-70s, he got the opportunity to show his talent as a producer. He, along with Dick Ebersol, created the popular TV show Saturday Night Live.
The show gained immense popularity and eventually became a platform to launch the careers of several comedians. Lorne also formed a production company that started in Canada and reached the USA in the late 80s.
All his ventures in the TV industry lead him to be a successful producer and Lorne Michaels Net Worth in 2021 is estimated to be $500 million.
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Hi, I am Kunika and as you can guess, I love numbers. I started Browsed Magazine to share interesting numbers behind celeb’s net worth, the most expensive stuff around, and top lists that’ll take you in for a surprise.