Darrell Hammond

Bio:
Darrell Hammond (born Darrel Clayton Hammond on October 8, 1955 in Melbourne, Florida) is an American comedian. Darrell played high school baseball and attended University of Florida, graduating in 1978 with a degree in advertising. However, Darrell discovered a passion for performing while at UF and he moved to New York City to pursue an acting career. While working at a waiter, Darrell acted in theater productions and, at age 26, gave stand-up a try. Darrell joined the cast of Saturday Night Live in 1995 and set the record for the longest tenure of any cast member in the show’s history when he left the show at 2009. He held the record for most impersonations on SNL with 107, until Kenan Thompson surpassed him in 2014. That year, Darrell rejoined the cast as the new announcer, replacing the late Don Pardo. Outside of SNL, Darrell is a frequent guest on The Howard Stern Show. He also made his Broadway debut in 2007 in The 25th Annual Putnam County Spelling Bee. In 2009, he had a guest-starring role on FX’s Damages. He published his memoirs, God, if You’re Not Up There, I’m F*cked, in 2011.

Best Known For:
Darrell Hammond is best known as a former member of Saturday Night Live, having been part of the cast from 1995-2009.

Personal Life:
In 1980s, Darrell’s impersonations of Looney Tunes characters on the novelty comedy song, “‘Wappin'” gained him fame among the listeners of the Dr. Demento show. Darrell married his wife, Elizabeth, in 1990. The couple divorced but remarried in 1997. Darrell and Elizabeth reportedly began the divorce process again in 2012. They have a daughter named Mia. Darrell has battled drug and alcohol addiction, as well as mental issues including biopolar disorder and schizophrenia. Darrell founded KaBoom! In 1996, a non-profit organization that builds playgrounds for children.