Pete Davidson

Pete Davidson is an American comedian, actor and writer who rose to prominence as one of the youngest cast members in the history of the sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live. Known for his confessional, self-deprecating stand-up style and his candor about personal struggles, he has built a career across television, film and live comedy.

Early life

Davidson was born and raised on Staten Island, New York. His father, a New York City firefighter, died in the line of duty during the September 11, 2001 attacks, a loss that profoundly shaped Davidson and which he has often addressed openly in his comedy and interviews. He began performing stand-up as a teenager, working in clubs around New York and developing material drawn heavily from his own life, family and mental health.

Career

Davidson appeared in small television and film roles before joining the cast of Saturday Night Live in 2014, when he was 20 years old. Over eight seasons he became known for his Weekend Update segments, in which he delivered frank, often vulnerable monologues, as well as for various sketches and impressions. His tenure made him one of the show's longest-serving and most recognizable cast members of his era, and he departed the program in 2022.

Alongside his television work, Davidson built a film career. An early notable appearance came in the comedy Trainwreck, and he later starred in and co-wrote The King of Staten Island, a semi-autobiographical comedy-drama directed by Judd Apatow that drew on his upbringing and his father's death. He has appeared in ensemble films including the superhero film The Suicide Squad, as well as numerous comedy and action projects and voice roles, frequently playing characters that echo his public persona. He is also widely recognized for his many tattoos, a number of which he has had removed over time.

Recent work

Davidson created and starred in Bupkis, a scripted comedy series that fictionalizes elements of his own life and family, blending raw personal material with absurd, heightened storytelling. He has continued to tour as a stand-up comedian and to take on film roles. Davidson is also widely known to the public through extensive media coverage of his personal life and high-profile relationships, which he has at times incorporated into his comedy. He has spoken candidly about mental health, including living with borderline personality disorder, and about his experiences with treatment and recovery, becoming an unusually open figure on those subjects within mainstream entertainment.