Background and career
Timothy James Kazurinsky (born March 3, 1950) is an American actor, comedian and screenwriter best known as a cast member and writer on Saturday Night Live and for his role as Carl Sweetchuck in the Police Academy films.
Kazurinsky was born in Johnstown, Pennsylvania. His father, who was American-born, was of Polish descent, and his mother was an Australian war bride. He spent most of his childhood in Australia, where he attended Birrong Boys High School. When he was 16, he moved to America by himself. He completed his education, graduating from Greater Johnstown High School in 1967. Kazurinsky worked as a reporter for the Johnstown Tribune-Democrat, then as a copywriter for a St. Louis, Missouri, department store. He moved to Chicago and began working for Leo Burnett Worldwide in its advertising department. Seeking to gain confidence presenting ad pitches, Kazurinsky enrolled in an improv class at The Second City, where he became a member of the mainstage troupe in 1978, refining his improvisation and acting chops under the tutelage of Del Close. Eventually, Kazurinsky caught the attention of Saturday Night Live luminary John Belushi who recommended him to the show's then-executive producer, Dick Ebersol. Ebersol was impressed with Kazurinsky and hired him as a writer and cast member in 1981.
During his three seasons on SNL, Kazurinsky was known for playing numerous characters as well as doing celebrity impersonations. Fellow cast members included Eddie Murphy, Joe Piscopo, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Mary Gross. Kazurinsky was part of the show's 1984 writing team nominated for a Primetime Emmy Award for Outstanding Writing in a Variety or Music Program. There were reports that he often clashed with Dick Ebersol regarding the show's creative direction. In 1984, Kazurinsky left SNL along with Piscopo. At 2025's Saturday Night Live 50th Anniversary Special, Kazurinsky's four season tenure was mentioned by Adam Sandler in the lyrics of his song, "50 Years-SNL."
Dr. Jack Badofsky, supposed science editor of Weekend Update, who presented absurd lists of humorous pun-based disease names. Jon Stewart referenced the character in a 2011 Daily Show segment lampooning Herman Cain. The character was again alluded to in a 2016 episode of The Simpsons when Mr. Burns exclaims, "Wordplay is for crosswords and Kazurinskys!" Mr. Landlord from "Mr. Robinson's Neighborhood" with Eddie Murphy Father Timothy Owens, an Irish priest The Iguana, the male half of a hopelessly dorky couple who never revealed to his wife that he was a dangerous adventurer Havnagootiim Vishnuuerheer (pronounced "Having a good time wish you were here"), a Hindu "Enlightened Master" who cleared up "The Great Unanswered Questions of the Universe" Wayne Huevos, a suave Latin-American businessman who appeared on Weekend Update with ideas on how to clean up New York City Worthington Clotman, SNL's resident network censor, based on real-life network censor [[William Clotworthy |Bill Clotworthy]], who would interrupt sketches and point out objectionable material
Madge The Chimp's Husband in the recurring soap opera drama "I Married a Monkey"
Mahatma Gandhi (in a movie trailer parody called "Gandhi and the Bandit") Billie Jean King Adolf Hitler Ozzy Osbourne Klaus Barbie Gary Hart Moe Howard Douglas MacArthur Deng Xiaoping Franklin Roosevelt Henry Thomas (as his character Elliott from E.T. the Extra-Terrestrial) Forrest Gregg
Sources
Net-worth figure: Celebrity Net Worth (October 2026), in USD. Biography and career facts: the person's Wikipedia article and linked reporting. Snapshot date for all StarWorth figures: 28 October 2026.
