Adam McKay
Born 1968 · Age 58
American screenwriter, producer, director; rose from improv/SNL to mainstream comedy with Will Ferrell and later to political satire and climate activism; founder of Hyperobject Industries and Yellow Dot Studios; Academy Award winner.
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Life & Career Timeline
Born in Denver, Colorado
Adam McKay is born to a waitress mother (Sarah) and a musician father.
Parents divorced
McKay's parents divorced when he was seven; raised by his mother thereafter.
Graduated Great Valley High School
Completed high school in Malvern, Pennsylvania (Great Valley High School).
Began college at Penn State
Attended Pennsylvania State University for one year before transferring.
Transferred to Temple University (English major)
Transferred to Temple University and majored in English; performed stand-up at local clubs.
Left Temple University just before graduation
Dropped out a semester-and-a-half before earning his bachelor's degree.
Co-founded/early member of Upright Citizens Brigade (UCB)
One of the founding members of the Upright Citizens Brigade improv group in Chicago.
Studied under Del Close / joined The Second City touring company
Studied improv with Del Close and performed with The Second City touring company and mainstage.
Hired as a writer at Saturday Night Live (SNL)
Began working as a writer for NBC's SNL after auditioning as a performer but earning a writing job.
Promoted to SNL Head Writer
Became head writer for Saturday Night Live at age 28, a position he held until 1999.
Married Shira Piven
Married film and television director Shira Piven; later had two daughters.
Earned 'Coordinator of Falconry' credit at SNL
In his final two years at SNL (1999–2001) he requested and earned the honorific credit 'Coordinator of Falconry'.
Diagnosed with essential tremor
First noticed hand shaking at 26; officially diagnosed around 2000, a condition affecting voice and movement.
Left Saturday Night Live
Departed SNL after six years as writer and former head writer to pursue film and television projects.
Released Anchorman: The Legend of Ron Burgundy
Co-wrote and directed Anchorman (collaboration with Will Ferrell); film became a cultural hit and launched a franchise.
Released Wake Up, Ron Burgundy: The Lost Movie
Directed the alternate companion film made of deleted scenes and unused material from Anchorman.
Released Talladega Nights: The Ballad of Ricky Bobby
Directed and co-wrote the NASCAR satire starring Will Ferrell.
Established Gary Sanchez Productions (with Will Ferrell)
Began long-running production collaboration with Will Ferrell under the Gary Sanchez banner (date based on sources; partnership later dissolved).
Co-launched Funny or Die
Co-founded the user-submitted comedy video site Funny or Die with Will Ferrell; produced viral shorts such as 'The Landlord'.
Released Step Brothers
Directed and co-wrote Step Brothers with Will Ferrell; further cemented film comedies partnership.
Produced multiple films (2009)
Executive/producer credits include Land of the Lost and The Goods: Live Hard, Sell Hard (2009).
Released The Other Guys
Directed, co-wrote and produced the buddy-cop comedy The Other Guys starring Will Ferrell and Mark Wahlberg.
Wrote/co-wrote and produced various films (2012)
Contributed to films such as The Campaign (story/writer) and produced projects like Casa de Mi Padre and Bachelorette.
Released Anchorman 2: The Legend Continues
Directed and co-wrote sequel Anchorman 2 (2013).
Worked on Ant-Man script (rewrite) and development
Rewrote the Ant-Man screenplay; was in talks to direct but declined to respect Edgar Wright's original vision.
Hosted 'Surprisingly Awesome' podcast
Hosted science/comedy podcast 'Surprisingly Awesome' (Nov 2015 – Oct 2016) produced by Gimlet Media.
The Big Short (limited release)
Directed and co-wrote The Big Short; opened limited release Dec 11 and expanded Dec 23, 2015. Stars included Brad Pitt, Christian Bale, Ryan Gosling, Steve Carell.
Received BAFTA and Critics' Choice and USC Scripter honors
Won BAFTA for Adapted Screenplay, Critics' Choice Award, and USC Scripter Award (with Charles Randolph) for The Big Short screenplay.
Attached to Irredeemable superhero project
Became attached to direct the BOOM! comic adaptation 'Irredeemable' (development attachment reported in 2016).
Won Academy Award — Best Adapted Screenplay (The Big Short)
Won the Academy Award for Best Adapted Screenplay (shared with Charles Randolph); also nominated for Best Director.
Began development of Dick Cheney biopic (Backseat → Vice)
Started development on a biographical black comedy about Dick Cheney; project later titled Vice.
Suffered heart attack during filming of Vice
Had a heart attack while filming Vice; credited research into Cheney's heart attacks for quick response and no permanent damage.
Released Vice (Dick Cheney film)
Directed, co-wrote and produced Vice starring Christian Bale as Dick Cheney; released Dec 25, 2018; received polarized reviews but major award nominations.
Founded Hyperobject Industries
Launched production company Hyperobject Industries with first-look TV deal at HBO and a first-look feature deal at Paramount (reported 2019).
Joined Democratic Socialists of America
Publicly identified as a democratic socialist and joined the DSA (reported 2019).
Announced to receive Paul Selvin Award (WGA)
WGA Awards announced McKay would receive the Paul Selvin Award (reported Jan 31, 2019).
Split from Will Ferrell (Gary Sanchez partnership ends)
McKay and Ferrell announced they were separating as producing partners but would finish projects in development at Gary Sanchez.
Hyperobject's first TV project: HBO Lakers pilot (Winning/Showtime book)
Directed HBO pilot based on Jeff Pearlman's Showtime-era Lakers book; Hyperobject's first TV project and McKay directed the pilot.
Wrote and began producing Don't Look Up
Started work on satirical black comedy Don't Look Up for Netflix, assembling a major ensemble cast (Jennifer Lawrence, Leonardo DiCaprio, etc.).
Don't Look Up released (limited theatrical & Netflix)
Don't Look Up premiered in limited theaters then streamed on Netflix in December 2021; received multiple Academy Award nominations.
Bad Blood (Elizabeth Holmes project) picked up by Apple Studios
Project with Jennifer Lawrence and McKay was acquired by Apple Studios (December 2021); project later saw cast changes.
Donated $4,000,000 to Climate Emergency Fund; joined its board
Made a reported $4M donation to the Climate Emergency Fund and joined the board of directors (2022).
Succession — Emmy (Outstanding Drama Series) (producer)
Served as executive producer on Succession; the series earned major Emmy recognition including Outstanding Drama Series (2022) while he was a producer/director on episodes.
Founded Yellow Dot Studios (non-profit climate content studio)
Launched Yellow Dot Studios to raise awareness and mobilize action on the climate emergency (2023).
Produced/hosted new podcasts and documentary podcasts
Produced 'Broken: Jeffrey Epstein', 'Broken: Seeking Justice', hosted 'Death at the Wing' (2021) and launched 'Death on the Lot' (2023).
Public climate activism and high-profile ad work
Released viral faux Chevron ad and other climate-focused content and spoke widely about climate anxiety and disruptive activism.
Executive produced and added EP credits to animated short 'Wild Summon'
Announced as executive producer on Oscar-shortlisted animated short 'Wild Summon' (reported Jan 2024, involvement in 2023 projects noted).
Announced 'Average Height, Average Build' (package)
Announced next project: political satire 'Average Height, Average Build' with high-profile cast attached (March 2023 reports).
Netflix acquired 'Average Height, Average Build'
Netflix landed McKay's new comedy 'Average Height, Average Build' (announced Apr 30, 2023).
Left 'Average Height, Average Build' and project scrapped
McKay left the Netflix project to pursue a film on climate change; Netflix subsequently scrapped the project (Dec 4, 2023 report).
Left the Democratic Party (public announcement)
Announced plans to abandon the Democratic Party after the 2024 U.S. presidential election and consider registering Green Party or Working Families Party.
Signed WGA open letter decrying actions of Trump's administration
One of 2,300+ Writers Guild members signing an open letter denouncing certain actions of the administration and calling out threats to free speech (Aug 2025).
Key Achievement Ages
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