# Mikey Day
**Mikey Day** (born Michael William Day, 1980) is an American actor, comedian, and writer, best known as a cast member and writer on *Saturday Night Live* and as the host of the Netflix baking competition series *Is It Cake?*[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1510062/bio/) • [2](https://www.guildhall.org/people/mikey-day/) He was born in [Orange County, California](https://www.edgepedia.org/orange-county-california), and trained with the Groundlings improv troupe in Los Angeles before joining *Saturday Night Live* as a writer in 2013 and as an on-air performer in 2016.[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1510062/bio/) • [3](https://popculturefiles.com/celebrity-biographies/mikey-day-comedian-bio)
| Key fact | Detail |
|---|---|
| Born | 1980, Orange County, California, USA; birth name Michael William Day[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1510062/bio/) |
| SNL roles | Writer from the 39th season (2013), featured player from the 42nd (2016), repertory player from the 44th (2018)[3](https://popculturefiles.com/celebrity-biographies/mikey-day-comedian-bio) |
| Signature sketches | "Haunted Elevator (ft. David S. Pumpkins)" with Tom Hanks, Donald Trump Jr. impression, "Beavis and Butthead" with Ryan Gosling, "Washington's Dream"[2](https://www.guildhall.org/people/mikey-day/) |
| Writing partner | Streeter Seidell; together they co-wrote *Home Sweet Home Alone* (2021)[2](https://www.guildhall.org/people/mikey-day/) |
| Hosting | Host of Netflix's *Is It Cake?*[2](https://www.guildhall.org/people/mikey-day/) |
| Emmy | Winner, Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special (2025) for *SNL50: The Anniversary Special*; nominee, Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series (2016)[4](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/mikey-day) |
| Improv roots | Groundlings member; original cast member of MTV's *Wild 'N Out*, which he performed on for seven seasons[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1510062/bio/) • [2](https://www.guildhall.org/people/mikey-day/) |
## Early life and improv training
Day grew up in [Orange, California](https://www.edgepedia.org/orange-california), and studied theater at UCLA, where he earned a [Bachelor's degree](https://www.edgepedia.org/bachelors-degree).[1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1510062/bio/) • [5](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/mikey-day/) He has traced his comic instincts to elementary school: in a third-grade production of *Stone Soup*, he dropped a stone into a metal bowl harder than intended, it clanged, and the class laughed; he describes the moment as formative.[6](https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a60718795/mikey-day-saturday-night-live-interview/)
**The Groundlings.** He began taking classes at the Groundlings, the Los Angeles improv and sketch troupe, at age 19.[6](https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a60718795/mikey-day-saturday-night-live-interview/) [The Groundlings](https://www.edgepedia.org/the-groundlings) have long served as a common pathway into television comedy, and Day's training there emphasized character work, rapid-response humor, and collaborative writing.[7](https://en.alegsaonline.com/art/126953) In college he briefly considered advertising, taking a course that met in Torrance, but the commute defeated the plan and he committed to performing and writing.[6](https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a60718795/mikey-day-saturday-night-live-interview/)
## Television career before SNL
Day made his acting debut playing US Navy ensign O'Shea in the final season of the *Buffy the Vampire Slayer* spin-off *Angel*, then made one-off appearances on *Faking the Video* and *Reno 911!*.[5](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/mikey-day/) He then formed a working relationship with [Nick Cannon](https://www.edgepedia.org/nick-cannon) as a writer and performer on the MTV sketch show *Wild 'N Out*, which he later described as an original cast member role lasting seven seasons.[5](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/mikey-day/) • [2](https://www.guildhall.org/people/mikey-day/) Other early credits include [Damon Wayans](https://www.edgepedia.org/damon-wayans)' *The Underground* on Showtime, the lead role of Charlie in the 1980s teen-movie parody *Totally Awesome* (2006), and a recurring role as Craig, the electrical-worker husband of [Selma Blair](https://www.edgepedia.org/selma-blair)'s character, on NBC's *Kath & Kim* (2008-09).[5](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/mikey-day/) He also attracted attention with the 2006 College Humor online spoof *David Blaine Street Magic*, in which he starred.[5](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/mikey-day/) • [1](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1510062/bio/)
His children's television work came next: he wrote for and performed in the animated series *MAD* on [Cartoon Network](https://www.edgepedia.org/cartoon-network), providing voiceover work for the DC animated series that adapted the humor magazine, and was head writer on Cartoon Network's *Incredible Crew*.[5](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/mikey-day/) • [2](https://www.guildhall.org/people/mikey-day/)
## Saturday Night Live
Day joined *Saturday Night Live* as a staff writer before its 39th season in 2013, became an on-air featured player during the 42nd season in 2016, and was promoted to repertory status beginning with the 44th season in 2018.[3](https://popculturefiles.com/celebrity-biographies/mikey-day-comedian-bio) He has described the show's weekly cycle, writing and producing material all week and performing it on Saturday before discarding everything and starting again, as a structure that suits him.[6](https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a60718795/mikey-day-saturday-night-live-interview/)
**Breakout sketches.** During his first season as a cast member, he gained recognition for the "Haunted Elevator (ft. David S. Pumpkins)" sketch, in which [Tom Hanks](https://www.edgepedia.org/tom-hanks) played the surreal elevator host; Day has said he came up with the idea during a 4:00 a.m. writing session, and the video has reached 24.8 million views on YouTube.[2](https://www.guildhall.org/people/mikey-day/) • [6](https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a60718795/mikey-day-saturday-night-live-interview/) In the same period he became known for his impression of [Donald Trump Jr.](https://www.edgepedia.org/donald-trump-jr), played opposite [Alex Moffat](https://www.edgepedia.org/alex-moffat)'s Eric Trump.[2](https://www.guildhall.org/people/mikey-day/) • [8](https://www.tvinsider.com/659404/scene-stealer-saturday-night-live-star-mikey-day/)
**The Beavis and Butt-Head sketch.** In April 2024, Day and host [Ryan Gosling](https://www.edgepedia.org/ryan-gosling) performed a live-action take on the MTV cartoon characters [Beavis and Butt-Head](https://www.edgepedia.org/beavis-and-butt-head) as audience members at an artificial intelligence panel; the sketch made cast member [Heidi Gardner](https://www.edgepedia.org/heidi-gardner) and others break character on air and has been viewed more than 13 million times on YouTube.[9](https://apnews.com/article/f9fbf1a670781788b5a088ce11b1f0c7) The two reprised the characters at the Los Angeles premiere of Gosling's film *The Fall Guy* the following month.[9](https://apnews.com/article/f9fbf1a670781788b5a088ce11b1f0c7) Day also co-wrote and starred in the viral sketches "Beavis and Butthead" and "Washington's Dream" with his writing partner Streeter Seidell.[2](https://www.guildhall.org/people/mikey-day/)
**Impressions and recurring roles.** Beyond Trump Jr., Day has played public figures including [Mitch McConnell](https://www.edgepedia.org/mitch-mcconnell), whom he portrayed as barely conscious in an October 2026 cold open about the 2026 midterm elections, and Stephen Miller, whose impression he debuted in May 2025.[10](https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/half-dead-mitch-mcconnell-makes-terrifying-snl-debut/) • [11](https://www.thedailybeast.com/snl-debuts-new-stephen-miller-impression-to-rip-trumps-first-100-days/) He has also carried recurring political roles such as Jim Jordan during the 2019 impeachment hearings.[12](https://time.com/5731188/saturday-night-live-impeachment-pizazz-soap-opera/) Day remained in the cast through the show's 50th season and anniversary celebrations, and NBC listed him among the returning cast members for the 52nd season, announced in September 2026.[13](https://www.nbcuniversal.com/article/saturday-night-live-announces-two-new-cast-members-ahead-season-52)
## Writing and hosting work
Day's writing career outside SNL is closely tied to Streeter Seidell. The two co-wrote the 2016 comedy *Brother Nature* and the 2021 comedy *Home Sweet Home Alone* for 20th Century, starring Ellie Kemper, Rob Delaney, Pete Holmes, and Kenan Thompson; they have also been reported writing the Disney reboots of *Inspector Gadget* and *Space Camp* and *The Rugrats Movie* for Nickelodeon/Paramount.[2](https://www.guildhall.org/people/mikey-day/) He was co-head writer and cast member on NBC's *Maya & Marty*, the variety show attempt by Maya Rudolph and Martin Short.[5](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/mikey-day/) • [2](https://www.guildhall.org/people/mikey-day/)
**Is It Cake?** Day hosts Netflix's *Is It Cake?*, a baking competition in which skilled cake artists create realistic replicas of everyday objects.[2](https://www.guildhall.org/people/mikey-day/) He has described the job as a relief compared with SNL's weekly grind, telling an interviewer that on other productions "you're like, 'Whoa, we have a couple of days to film one episode? This is fantastic!'"[14](https://exclaim.ca/film/article/mikey-day-interview-snl-is-it-cake) The show has run for multiple seasons, with holiday and Valentine's specials extending the franchise.[15](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/44483/mikey-day)
**Film appearances.** His screen roles include Netflix's *Unfrosted* and *Hubie Halloween*, Universal's *Little* opposite Issa Rae, and the Amazon comedy *Brittany Runs a Marathon* opposite Jillian Bell.[2](https://www.guildhall.org/people/mikey-day/)
## Recognition
The Television Academy credits Day with two Emmy nominations and one win: he won Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special in 2025 as a writer on *SNL50: The Anniversary Special*, and was nominated for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series in 2016 for *Saturday Night Live*.[4](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/mikey-day) He was also named among the writers on SNL's 2015 Writers Guild Award nomination list.[16](https://www.wgaeast.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/2015-WRITERS-GUILD-AWARDS-NEW-YORK-CEREMONY-PROGRAM.pdf) Celebrity Net Worth estimates his net worth at $3 million, an outside estimate rather than audited wealth.[17](https://celebzune.com/mikey-day/)
## References
1. [Mikey Day - Biography, IMDb](https://www.imdb.com/name/nm1510062/bio/)
2. [Mikey Day, Guild Hall](https://www.guildhall.org/people/mikey-day/)
3. [Mikey Day: Biography, Facts and Career, Pop Culture Files](https://popculturefiles.com/celebrity-biographies/mikey-day-comedian-bio)
4. [Mikey Day | Emmy Awards and Nominations, Television Academy](https://www.televisionacademy.com/bios/mikey-day)
5. [Mikey Day - Actor, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/people/mikey-day/)
6. [Mikey Day on Bad Jokes, Writing Sketches, and 'SNL' Legacy, Men's Health](https://www.menshealth.com/entertainment/a60718795/mikey-day-saturday-night-live-interview/)
7. [Mikey Day - American comedian, actor, and writer, Alegsaonline](https://en.alegsaonline.com/art/126953)
8. [Scene Stealer: 'Saturday Night Live's Mikey Day is No Jr. Leaguer, TV Insider](https://www.tvinsider.com/659404/scene-stealer-saturday-night-live-star-mikey-day/)
9. [Ryan Gosling and Mikey Day reprise viral Beavis and Butt-Head characters at 'Fall Guy' premiere, AP News](https://apnews.com/article/f9fbf1a670781788b5a088ce11b1f0c7)
10. [Half-Dead Mitch McConnell Makes Terrifying 'SNL' Debut, The Daily Beast](https://www.thedailybeast.com/obsessed/half-dead-mitch-mcconnell-makes-terrifying-snl-debut/)
11. ['SNL' Debuts New Stephen Miller Impression to Rip Trump's First 100 Days, The Daily Beast](https://www.thedailybeast.com/snl-debuts-new-stephen-miller-impression-to-rip-trumps-first-100-days/)
12. ['Saturday Night Live' Gives Impeachment Hearings Some Pizazz, Time](https://time.com/5731188/saturday-night-live-impeachment-pizazz-soap-opera/)
13. ['Saturday Night Live' Announces Two New Cast Members Ahead of Season 52, NBCUniversal](https://www.nbcuniversal.com/article/saturday-night-live-announces-two-new-cast-members-ahead-season-52)
14. [Mikey Day and His 'SNL' Buddies Bake a Fresh Comedic Confection, Exclaim!](https://exclaim.ca/film/article/mikey-day-interview-snl-is-it-cake)
15. [Mikey Day, TVmaze](https://www.tvmaze.com/people/44483/mikey-day)
16. [Saturday Night Live, 2015 Writers Guild Awards New York Ceremony Program, WGAEast](https://www.wgaeast.org/wp-content/uploads/2014/07/2015-WRITERS-GUILD-AWARDS-NEW-YORK-CEREMONY-PROGRAM.pdf)
17. [Mikey Day: Age, SNL, Is It Cake? and Net Worth, Celebzune](https://celebzune.com/mikey-day/)
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*Topic: Encyclopedia › Arts and culture › Screen and stage › Theater and dance › Stand-up comedy and comedians › American stand-up comedians, contemporary › Stand-up comedians born 1980 onward › Surnames A to M*
*Initially written Sep 17, 2026 · Reviewed: Sep 30, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Edited: Oct 12, 2026; Oct 25, 2026 · Last review: Oct 25, 2026*
*Copyright 2026 EdgeChat AI, a subsidiary of Biostate AI.*
License: Edgepedia Community License 1.0, https://www.edgepedia.org/edgepedia/license