Colin Kelly Jost, born on June 29, 1982, is an American comedian, writer, and actor widely recognized for his extensive work on Saturday Night Live (SNL). Since joining the show in 2005 as a writer, he has become a prominent figure, co-anchoring the Weekend Update segment since 2014. Jost also held the position of co-head writer for SNL from 2012 to 2015 and again from 2017 to 2022.
Profile Summary
| Full Name | Colin Kelly Jost |
| Date of Birth | June 29, 1982 |
| Place of Birth | Staten Island, New York, USA |
| Nationality | American |
| Partner | Scarlett Johansson (married) |
| Children | 1 |
| Occupations | Comedian, Writer, Actor |
| Net Worth | Approximately $10 million |
Early Life and Education
Raised in Staten Island, New York, Colin grew up in a Catholic family. His mother, Kerry J. Kelly, served as the chief medical officer for the New York City Fire Department, while his father, Daniel A. Jost, was a teacher.
He has a younger brother, Casey Jost, who is also involved in writing and producing. Colin attended Regis High School in Manhattan, where he was the editor of the school newspaper.
He later enrolled at Harvard University, studying history and literature with a focus on Russian and British authors. At Harvard, he was president of The Harvard Lampoon and graduated cum laude in 2004 after completing a senior thesis on Vladimir Nabokov.
Career
Following graduation, Jost briefly worked as a reporter and copy editor before joining Saturday Night Live as a writer in 2005. He quickly advanced to writing supervisor and then co-head writer.
In 2014, he succeeded Seth Meyers as co-anchor of the Weekend Update segment, eventually becoming the longest-serving anchor in the segment’s history.
Alongside Michael Che, his co-anchor, Jost has hosted special editions of Weekend Update and the 2018 Emmy Awards. His acting credits include roles in Staten Island Summer (2015) and How to Be Single (2016), with appearances in Coming 2 America and Tom and Jerry as well.
In addition to his television and film work, Jost authored the memoir A Very Punchable Face in 2020, which became a New York Times bestseller.
He has earned five Writers Guild Awards, two Peabody Awards, and multiple Emmy nominations for his contributions to SNL.
Personal Life
Colin Jost married actress Scarlett Johansson in 2020, and the couple has one child. They live in New York City.
Net Worth
Colin Jost’s net worth is estimated to be approximately $10 million, accrued through his successful career in comedy, writing, acting, and publishing.
Selected Filmography
- Staten Island Summer (2015)
- How to Be Single (2016)
- Coming 2 America (2021)
- Tom and Jerry (2021)
Publications
- A Very Punchable Face (2020) – a memoir featuring essays about his life and career.
Awards and Honors
- Writers Guild of America Awards
- Won multiple times for Saturday Night Live in the Comedy/Variety (including talk) series category (2007, 2009, 2010, 2017, 2018)
- Several additional nominations across years from 2007 to 2020
- Primetime Emmy Awards
- Nominated 15 times for Outstanding Writing for a Variety Series or Special for Saturday Night Live (2008–2024)
- Hosted the 70th Primetime Emmy Awards in 2018 alongside Michael Che
- Peabody Awards
- Won two Peabody Awards for Saturday Night Live
- Other Honors
- Hosted special editions of Weekend Update during the 2016 Republican and Democratic National Conventions and the Weekend Update Summer Edition in 2017
In total, Colin Jost has won 5 Writers Guild Awards, 2 Peabody Awards, and received 15 Emmy nominations for his writing on Saturday Night Live.
