Akiva Schaffer

Akiva Schaffer Headshot

Director • Comedian • Actor • Writer • Songwriter

Birth Date: December 1, 1977

Age: 47 years old

Birth Place: Berkeley, California

Although writer/director Akiva Schaffer attended film school at the University of California, Santa Cruz, he actually began collaborating with his comedic partners during his adolescence in Berkeley. In junior high, Schaffer concocted live comedy skits with fellow yuksters Andy Samberg and Jorma Taccone. These skits soon expanded into comedy shorts and music video parodies, work that was strong enough to win them an invitation to write material for the 2005 MTV Movie Awards. Jimmy Fallon was that year's host and was so struck by the group's material that he alerted "Saturday Night Live" producer Lorne Michaels. In no time, Samberg became a cast member while Schaffer and Taccone joined the writing staff.

Schaffer's creative control over his material is considerable, as he directs, co-writes, and edits the so-called "Digital Shorts," some of the most successful skits in recent "SNL" history. The 2005 short "Lazy Sunday," for instance, went on to score millions of hits on YouTube before its removal for copyright infringement. After the success of his short "SNL" material, Schaffer set his sights on feature films, directing the 2007 comedy "Hot Rod," which starred Samberg, Sissy Spacek, Bill Hader, Danny McBride, and Will Arnett. That same year, Schaffer won an Emmy for the "SNL Digital Short" "Dick in a Box" along with his collaborators Samberg, Taccone, and Justin Timberlake.

Credits

Self RelianceStream

Executive Producer
Movie
2023
73%

Chip 'n Dale: Rescue RangersStream

Director
Movie
2022
80%

Palm SpringsStream

Producer
Movie
2020
95%

The Lonely Island Presents: The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience

Actor
Mark McGwire
Show
2019

The Lonely Island Presents: The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience

Director
Show
2019

The Lonely Island Presents: The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience

Executive Producer
Show
2019

I Think You Should Leave With Tim RobinsonStream

Director
Series
2019
97%

I Think You Should Leave With Tim RobinsonStream

Executive Producer
Series
2019
97%

PEN15Stream

Executive Producer
Series
2019
97%

Asphalt-Helden

Director
Show
2018

7 Splinters in Time

Actor
McFly
Movie
2018

I'm SorryStream

Executive Producer
Series
2017
75%

Michael Bolton's Big Sexy Valentine's Day Special

Director
Show
2017

Michael Bolton's Big Sexy Valentine's Day Special

Executive Producer
Show
2017

Brigsby Bear

Producer
Movie
2017

Party Over Here

Executive Producer
Series
2016
33%

Popstar: Never Stop Never StoppingStream

Actor
Lawrence
Movie
2016
79%

Popstar: Never Stop Never StoppingStream

Director
Movie
2016
79%

Popstar: Never Stop Never StoppingStream

Producer
Movie
2016
79%

Popstar: Never Stop Never StoppingStream

Screenwriter
Movie
2016
79%

Late Night With Seth MeyersStream

Guest
Talk
2014

NeighborsStream

Actor
Toga 2
Movie
2014
73%

Brooklyn Nine-NineStream

Guest Star
Brett Booth
Series
2013
95%

Comedy Bang! Bang!Stream

Guest
Series
2012

The WatchStream

Actor
Casual Wanker No. 3
Movie
2012
16%

The WatchStream

Director
Movie
2012
16%

The TalkStream

Guest
Talk
2010

MacGruberStream

Executive Producer
Movie
2010
47%

Watch What Happens Live With Andy CohenStream

Guest
Talk
2009

The Wendy Williams Show

Guest
Talk
2008

Extreme Movie

Screenwriter
Movie
2008

Hot RodStream

Director
Movie
2007
39%

Saturday Night LiveStream

Executive Producer
Series
1975

Saturday Night LiveStream

Guest Star
Series
1975

Saturday Night LiveStream

Writer
Series
1975

Today

Guest
News
1952

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