Akiva Schaffer

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title: "Akiva Schaffer" type: doc version: 1 created: 2026-02-28 author: "Wikipedia contributors" status: active scope: public tags: ["1977-births", "living-people", "21st-century-american-comedians", "21st-century-american-male-actors", "american-comedy-musicians", "american-internet-celebrities", "american-male-comedians", "american-male-film-actors", "american-male-television-actors", "american-male-television-writers", "american-television-directors", "television-writers-from-california", "berkeley-high-school-(berkeley,-california)-alumni", "comedians-from-alameda-county,-california", "american-comedy-film-directors", "film-directors-from-california", "jewish-american-comedians", "jews-from-california", "male-actors-from-berkeley,-california", "primetime-emmy-award-winners", "the-lonely-island-members", "university-of-california,-santa-cruz-alumni", "writers-from-berkeley,-california"] description: "American filmmaker, comedian and musician (born 1977)" topic_path: "arts" source: "https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Akiva_Schaffer" license: "CC BY-SA 4.0" wikipedia_page_id: 0 wikipedia_revision_id: 0

::summary American filmmaker, comedian and musician (born 1977) ::

::data[format=table title="Infobox person"]

Field	Value
name	Akiva Schaffer
image	Akiva Schaffer by Gage Skidmore.jpg
caption	Schaffer in 2017
birth_name	Akiva Daniel Shebar Schaffer
birth_date
birth_place	Berkeley, California, U.S.
occupation
years_active	2001–present
alma_mater	University of California, Santa Cruz (BA)
website
spouse
children	2
module	{{Infobox comedian
embed	yes
medium
genre
module2	{{Infobox musical artist
genre	Comedy hip hop
discography	The Lonely Island discography
current_member_of	The Lonely Island
embed	yes
signature	Akiva Schaffer signature, Billboard Open Letter 2016.png
::

| name = Akiva Schaffer | image = Akiva Schaffer by Gage Skidmore.jpg | caption = Schaffer in 2017 | birth_name = Akiva Daniel Shebar Schaffer | birth_date = | birth_place = Berkeley, California, U.S. | occupation = | years_active = 2001–present | alma_mater = University of California, Santa Cruz (BA) | website = | spouse = | children = 2 | module = {{Infobox comedian | embed = yes | medium = | genre = | module2 = {{Infobox musical artist | genre = Comedy hip hop | discography = The Lonely Island discography | current_member_of = The Lonely Island | embed = yes | signature = Akiva Schaffer signature, Billboard Open Letter 2016.png

Akiva Daniel Shebar Schaffer (; born December 1, 1977) is an American writer, producer, director, comedian, actor, and rapper. He is a member of the comedy music group The Lonely Island, along with childhood friends Andy Samberg and Jorma Taccone. Schaffer began his career with The Lonely Island making videos for Channel 101. In 2005, Saturday Night Live hired the trio, with Schaffer joining as a writer. In their time at SNL, The Lonely Island pioneered the digital short format, creating popular sketches such as "Lazy Sunday", "I Just Had Sex", "I'm on a Boat", and "Dick in a Box". After SNL, Schaffer went on to direct movies including Hot Rod, The Watch, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping, Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers, and The Naked Gun. The Lonely Island has made albums such as Incredibad, Turtleneck & Chain, and The Wack Album. Schaffer also produced a number of TV shows and movies, including MacGruber, Pen15, I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson, and Palm Springs.

Early life

Schaffer was born in Berkeley, California to Jewish parents from New York.

In 2000, he graduated from the University of California, Santa Cruz with a degree in film.

Career

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::figure[src="https://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedia/commons/d/d5/Akiva_Schaffer_-_Premiere_of_Hot_Rod.jpg" caption="Hot Rod]]'' in 2007"] ::

After college, he and his childhood friends, Andy Samberg and Jorma Taccone, moved to Los Angeles and began making comedy movies. Theater director Tony Taccone brought home the film Cat on a Hot Tin Roof, a choice the other men teased as being "too theatrical". The film, however, inspired Schaffer to write an overwrought play, in the style of Tennessee Williams, called The Lonely Island, in reference to their apartment. The name eventually extended to the comedy group itself. On the Internet, Schaffer got his start directing The Lonely Island's The 'Bu, the group's record-breaking contribution to Channel 101, which was a parody of The OC and starred Sarah Chalke as Melissa, as well as Samberg and Taccone. Schaffer has contributed to several other Channel 101 productions as part of the Lonely Island.

In the fall of 2005, Schaffer was hired for Saturday Night Live where he directed, co-wrote, and edited the majority of the SNL Digital Shorts. Some notable shorts/songs include "Lazy Sunday", "I Just Had Sex", "Natalie's Rap", "Dick in a Box", "Peyton Manning for the United Way", "Iran So Far", "Jizz in My Pants", "Boombox", "I'm on a Boat", "Great Day", "Threw It on the Ground", "Jack Sparrow", "Like A Boss", "YOLO", "Semicolon", "Dear Sister", "Spring Break Anthem", "Shy Ronnie", "Ras Trent" and "Motherlover", the sequel to "Dick in a Box".

In 2007, Schaffer directed and acted in the film Hot Rod, which starred Samberg, Taccone, Bill Hader, Danny McBride, Isla Fisher, Ian McShane, and Sissy Spacek, which was produced by SNLs Lorne Michaels.

Schaffer directed the film The Watch starring Ben Stiller, Vince Vaughn, Jonah Hill and Richard Ayoade, and written by Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg.

The Lonely Island has released three albums (Incredibad, Turtleneck & Chain, The Wack Album) along with two full soundtracks (Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping and The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience). In 2014, the group co-wrote "Everything is Awesome", the theme song to the film, The Lego Movie. It was nominated for Best Original Song which they performed at the 2015 Oscars. That same year, Everything Is Awesome was certified platinum by the RIAA, joining their previous platinum singles, "I'm on a Boat" (2×), "I Just Had Sex", "Jizz in My Pants", and the gold-certified single "Like a Boss".

Schaffer was credited as an executive producer on the film MacGruber. The film was co-written and directed by Jorma Taccone.

In 2016 Schaffer co-wrote, co-directed, and co-starred in the Judd Apatow produced feature film, Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping. The film focuses on pop/rap superstar Conner4Real (Samberg), who goes into a major tailspin and watches his celebrity high life collapse after his new album fails to sell records.

He also co-directed/created Michael Bolton's Big, Sexy Valentine's Day Special for Netflix with Scott Aukerman.

Schaffer directed four music videos for the band We Are Scientists and one for the Eagles of Death Metal.

In 2018, Schaffer guest-starred on NBC sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine, portraying Brett Booth in the episode Show me Going.

The Lonely Island co-produced both seasons of I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson, most episodes of which Schaffer has co-directed with Alice Mathias. Also in 2019, they released Netflix's The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience, a visual poem about former Oakland A's legends Jose Canseco and Mark McGwire. That summer, The Lonely Island embarked on their first ever live tour, instantly selling out venues across the United States and drawing some of the biggest crowds of the weekend at the Bonnaroo Festival and Milwaukee's Summerfest.

Schaffer produced the film Palm Springs, which debuted on Hulu in July 2020 and delivered the largest opening weekend viewership ever for a film on the platform. Prior to launching on Hulu, NEON/Hulu acquired the film for a record-setting $17,500,000.69 at the 2020 Sundance Film Festival, making it the biggest deal in the festival's history. Most recently, the film and cast were nominated for five Super Critics Choice Awards, a Golden Globe Award nomination for Best Picture, Musical or Comedy, as well as a Best Performance by an Actor in a Motion Picture, Musical or Comedy nomination for Samberg. The film also won a Critics' Choice Movie Awards in the category of Best Comedy and garnered a Writers Guild of America Award nomination for Best Original Screenplay.

Schaffer also executive produces Hulu's Emmy nominated show, PEN15, starring Maya Erskine and Anna Konkle.

Schaffer directed the Disney film Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers. The film stars Andy Samberg and John Mulaney and is a combination of live action and computer animation. It was released in Spring 2022.

Schaffer hosts The Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Podcast with Samberg, Taccone and Seth Meyers, which discusses The Lonely Island's SNL Digital Shorts.

Personal life

Schaffer is married to comedy writer and actress Liz Cackowski; they have two children.

Discography

Filmography

Film

::data[format=table]

Year	Title	Director	Producer	Writer	Notes
2007	Hot Rod
2008	Extreme Movie
2010	MacGruber
2012	The Watch
2016	Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping				Jorma Taccone
2017	Brigsby Bear
2020	I Used to Go Here
Palm Springs
2022	Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers
2025	The Naked Gun
::

Acting credits ::data[format=table]

Year	Title	Role
2007	Hot Rod	Derek
2012	The Watch	Casual Wanker #3
2013	Grown Ups 2	Male Cheerleader
2014	Neighbors	Toga #2
2016	Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping	Lawrence
2018	7 Splinters in Time	McFly
2022	Chip 'n Dale: Rescue Rangers	Rescue Rangers director,
Voices of E.T, Colonel, Harold, Mr. Natural, Officer Chameleon, Officer Puppet Sock,
Black and White Cartoon Shoeshiner, Hungry Mouse, Pig in a Sauna
Weird: The Al Yankovic Story	Alice Cooper
::

Television

::data[format=table] | Year | Title | Director | Executive producer | Writer | Notes | |---|---|---|---|---|---| | 2003–2005 | The 'Bu | | | | Also creator | | 2005–2011 | Saturday Night Live | | | | 68 episodes (director); 116 episodes (writer) | | 2014–2018 | Brooklyn Nine-Nine | | | | Episodes "Charges and Specs" and "The Puzzle Master" | | 2016 | Party Over Here | | | | | | 2017 | The Gorburger Show | | | | | | 2017–2019 | I'm Sorry | | | | | | 2018 | Alone Together | | | | Also creator | | 2019–2023 | I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson | | | | 9 episodes | | 2019–2021 | Pen15 | | | | | ::

TV specials ::data[format=table]

Year	Title	Director	Producer	Writer	Notes
2004	2004 MTV Movie Awards
Channel 101				Segment "Football Town";
Also editor
2005	2005 MTV Movie Awards
2009	2009 MTV Movie Awards
2015	Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special
2017	Michael Bolton's Big, Sexy Valentine's Day Special				Co-directed with Scott Aukerman
2019	76th Golden Globe Awards				Special material
The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience				Also editor
::

TV movies ::data[format=table]

Year	Title	Director	Producer	Writer	Notes
2003	Regarding Ardy				Also editor
2004	G-Phoria 2004				Documentary
2017	Home for the Weekend
::

Acting credits ::data[format=table]

Year	Title	Role	Notes
2008–2024	Saturday Night Live	Various characters	9 episodes
2016	Party Over Here	The Lonely Island (Uncredited)	Episode "Suffragettes"
2017	Michael Bolton's Big, Sexy Valentine's Day Special	Alan	TV special
2018	Brooklyn Nine-Nine	Brett Booth	Episode "Show Me Going"
2019	The Unauthorized Bash Brothers Experience	Mark McGwire
::

Awards

In 2007, Schaffer won an Emmy for his participation in the production of "Dick in a Box". He was nominated for an Emmy for the song "Motherlover." He was featured in People's Sexiest Bachelor with Andy Samberg, as Sexiest Best Friends. He has also won two Writers Guild of America Awards and a Peabody Award for his work on Saturday Night Live. The Lonely Island was nominated in 2009 for a People's Choice Award and a Grammy Award. ::data[format=table]

Year	Award	Category	Work	Result
2007	Primetime Emmy Award	Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics
for the song "Dick In A Box"	Saturday Night Live
Writers Guild of America Award	Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) - Series
2008	Primetime Emmy Award	Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Program
2009	Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series
Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics
for the song "Motherlover"
Writers Guild of America Award	Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) - Series
2010	Primetime Emmy Award	Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics
for the song "Shy Ronnie"
Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series
Grammy Award	Best Rap/Sung Collaboration	"I'm on a Boat"
Writers Guild of America Award	Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) - Series	Saturday Night Live
2011	Primetime Emmy Award	Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics
for the song "Jack Sparrow"
Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics
for the song "3-Way (The Golden Rule)"
Outstanding Original Music and Lyrics
for the song "I Just Had Sex"
Outstanding Writing for a Variety, Music or Comedy Series
2012	Grammy Award	Best Comedy Album	Turtleneck & Chain
Improvisation News New York Awards
(INNY Award)	Best Comedy Video	Saturday Night Live
Writers Guild of America Award	Comedy/Variety (Including Talk) - Series
2014	Hollywood Music In Media Awards
(HMMA)	Best Song - Animated Film
for the song "Everything Is Awesome"	The Lego Movie
Online Film & Television Association
(OFTA Television Award)	Best Direction in a Comedy Series	Brooklyn Nine-Nine
Phoenix Film Critics Society Awards
(PFCS Award)	Best Original Song
for the song "Everything Is Awesome"	The Lego Movie
2015	Primetime Emmy Award	Outstanding Writing for a Variety Special	Saturday Night Live 40th Anniversary Special
Grammy Award	Best Song Written for Visual Media
for the song "Everything Is Awesome"	The Lego Movie
International Online Cinema Awards
(INOCA)	Best Original Song
for the song "Everything Is Awesome"
Iowa Film Critics Awards	Best Song
for the song "Everything Is Awesome"
Satellite Awards	Best Original Song
for the song "Everything Is Awesome"
2016	Las Vegas Film Critics Society Awards
(Sierra Award)	Best Song
for the song "Finest Girl (Bin Laden Song)"	Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping
2018	Writers Guild of America Award	Comedy/Variety (Music, Awards, Tributes) - Specials	Michael Bolton's Big, Sexy Valentine's Day Special
2019	Gotham Independent Film Award	Breakthrough Series - Shortform	PEN15
2021	Primetime Emmy Award	Outstanding Comedy Series
::

References

References

1. "Akiva D Schaffer, Born 12/01/1977 in California".
2. (2016). "Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping".
3. (June 21, 2013). "The Lonely Island".
4. (August 26, 2015). "Alumni Profile / 2000: Akiva Schaffer: It's all funny business for Saturday Night Live alum".
5. "Channel 101 - The 'Bu".
6. Schaffer, Akiva. (August 3, 2007). "Hot Rod". Paramount Pictures, Broadway Video, Michaels Goldwyn.
7. (December 2021). "Akiva Schaffer".
8. "The Lonely Island".
9. Songfacts. "Everything Is Awesome by Tegan and Sara - Songfacts".
10. Ugwu, Reggie. (February 23, 2015). "All The Musical Performances From The 2015 Oscars".
11. (January 28, 2021). "Making of 'Palm Springs': How a 22-Day Film Shoot and a Tight Budget Produced a Record-Setting Sundance Hit".
12. "Palm Springs - IMDb".
13. "John Mulaney 'n Andy Samberg to voice Chip 'n Dale in 'Rescue Rangers' movie for Disney+".
14. Millman, Ethan. (2024-04-05). "Lonely Island and Seth Meyers Will Break Down Every 'SNL' Short on New Podcast".

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