Tim Robinson

Tim Robinson (born May 23, 1981) is an American comedian, actor, screenwriter, and skateboarder. He first became known as a writer and performer on Saturday Night Live (2012–2016) before gaining wider recognition as the co-creator, co-writer, and star of the comedy series Detroiters (2017–2018), I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson (2019–2023) and The Chair Company. He also starred in the A24 comedy film Friendship (2024).

Early life Robinson was born in Detroit, Michigan, on May 23, 1981, the son of a mother who worked for Chrysler and a father who worked in construction. He is of Italian, English and Polish descent. He grew up in suburban Waterford Township, graduating from Clarkston High School in 2000. His parents divorced when he was a child. Robinson has said that he "kind of grew up with two dads" in reference to his stepfather, who was Jewish and celebrated Hanukkah with him. He saw a live Second City comedy performance in Chicago as a teenager, He filmed a 2011 television pilot for Comedy Central called My Mans, but the show was not picked up by the network. In 2012, he was cast as a series regular in the unaired CBS sitcom Friend Me. In September 2012, he made his debut as a featured performer on Saturday Night Live. His celebrity impressions on the show included Ben Bailey and Bill Cowher, and he also portrayed the recurring character Carl, an elderly retail worker who would always get insulted by Niff (Bobby Moynihan) and Dana (Cecily Strong).

Robinson has appeared twice on late-night NBC talk show Late Night with Seth Meyers as Dale, who acts as host Seth Meyers' "emergency sidekick." His first appearance was during the "Next Week's News" sketch on February 28, 2014, and his second appearance was during the "Celebrity Drunk Texts" sketch on April 8, 2014. In 2016, he wrote and appeared in his own episode of the sketch comedy show Netflix Presents: The Characters. He is also the co-creator and co-star of Detroiters, along with fellow Detroit native and best friend Sam Richardson. The show premiered on Comedy Central in February 2017. In April 2017, he guest starred on Fox's Making History as Al Capone.

In 2018, Netflix commissioned I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson, a sketch comedy series created by and starring Robinson and produced by the members of The Lonely Island. It premiered in April 2019 and received critical acclaim, as did its second season, which premiered in July 2021. The series was renewed for a third season in May 2022, which premiered on May 30, 2023. In 2022 and 2023, Robinson won the Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Actor in a Short Form Comedy or Drama Series for his work on I Think You Should Leave.

One of the sketches on I Think You Should Leave, featuring Robinson costumed in a hot dog suit, became a popular meme in 2020. It has been frequently used to satirize public figures who attempt to dodge their own responsibility for controversial actions by promising to start an investigation. In the sketch, after a wiener-shaped car crashes into a clothing store, Robinson, in a hot dog costume, joins the crowd in the store, proclaiming, "We're all trying to find the guy who did this!"

Robinson voiced Creature, the player character's grenade launcher, in the first-person shooter video game High on Life (2022).

In early 2025, Robinson starred in Friendship, a dark comedy directed by Andrew DeYoung in his feature debut. The film premiered at the 2024 Toronto International Film Festival and was acquired by A24 for U.S. distribution. It had a limited theatrical release on May 9, 2025, followed by a wider release on May 23. On October 12, 2025, HBO premiered The Chair Company. Robinson and Zach Kanin are credited as creators and producers, with Robinson starring in the comedy thriller.

Personal life Robinson married Heather, an electrical engineer for Chrysler, in September 2006. They were schoolmates and began dating as teenagers. They live in Los Angeles with their son and daughter.

Robinson has been an avid skateboarder since high school. and suffers from claustrophobia. Kevin Nash, Ryan Nemeth, Erick Rowan, and Aron Stevens.

Filmography

Film YearTitleRoleNotes 2016 Brother Nature Ben Franklin 2020 An American Pickle Prosecuting Attorney 2022 Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers Ugly SonicVoice Aqua Teen Forever: Plantasm Fraptaculan Tim Voice 2023 Scream VI Paul 2.0 / Quinn's Hookup Voice, uncredited 2024 Friendship Craig Waterman 2026 Porkchop Voice

Television YearTitleRoleNotes 2012 Friend Me Sully Unaired pilot 2012–2016 Saturday Night Live Various characters Featured player; 21 episodesWriter 2013–2014 The Awesomes Various characters 2 episodes 2014 Comedy Bang! Bang! Al Sorbinstein Episode: "Craig Robinson Wears a Bordeaux Button Down & Dark Jeans" Late Night with Seth Meyers Dale / Timmy the Late Night Superfan 3 episodesUncredited 2015–2019 Documentary Now! Young Barnabas Scott / Rick Kenmore 2 episodes 2016 Netflix Presents: The Characters Various characters Episode: "Tim Robinson" 2017 Man Seeking Woman Paranormal Investigator Episode: "Popcorn" Michael Bolton's Big, Sexy Valentine's Day Special Chef Roy Variety special Making History Al Capone 2 episodes 2017–2018 Detroiters Tim Cramblin 20 episodesCo-creator, co-writer, executive producer 2019 Your Pretty Face Is Going to Hell Lip Licker Episode: "Five-Card Duds" 2019–2020 Our Cartoon President Brett Kavanaugh (voice) 8 episodes 2019–2023 I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson Various characters 18 episodesCo-creator, co-writer, executive producer 2020 Star Trek: Lower Decks Ensign Fletcher (voice) Episode: "Terminal Provocations" 2020–2025 Big City Greens Gregly (voice) 10 episodes 2021 Solar Opposites Peter (voice) Episode: "The Apple Pencil Pro" 2021–2023 Teenage Euthanasia Uncle Pete (voice) Main role Ten Year Old Tom Plumber (voice) 4 episodes 2022 Human Resources Doug Fredrick (voice) 3 episodes Middlemost Post Gum (voice) Episode: "Inside Angus" 2023The Simpsons Mercer (voice) Episode: "Homer's Adventures Through the Windshield Glass" Krapopolis Cyclops (voice) Episode: "Prometheus" 2023–present Digman! Swooper (voice) Main role 2024 Invincible Filip Schaff (voice) Season 2 Hailey's On It!Mr. Hardmeier (voice)Episode: "The Saw-Shank Redemption/No More Mr. Rice Guy" 2025 Hamster & Gretel Ziggy (voice) Episode: "Gretel Keeps It Reel" The Chair Company William Ronald Trosper Co-creator, co-writer, executive producer

Video games

Awards and nominations