Jon Lovitz
Jon Lovitz trained with the Groundlings comedy troupe in Los Angeles, where he performed alongside Lisa Kudrow and befriended future SNL castmate Phil Hartman. His work at the Groundlings preceded his breakthrough as a cast member on Saturday Night Live from 1985 to 1990, where he originated characters including Tommy Flanagan the Pathological Liar and the pompous Master Thespian. He received two Primetime Emmy nominations for his SNL performances.
Recommended Reading
Books are ordered from the strongest direct connection outward to broader relevance.
Improvisation for Actors and Writers
A Guidebook for Improv Lessons in Comedy
Bill Lynn
Guru
My Days with Del Close
Jeff Griggs
Improv Comedy (20th Anniversary Edition)
Andy Goldberg
The Second City Almanac of Improvisation
Anne Libera
Teaching Improv
The Essential Handbook
Mel Paradis
The Upright Citizens Brigade Comedy Improvisation Manual
Matt Besser; Ian Roberts; Matt Walsh
References
How to Reference This Page
The Improv Archive. (2026). Jon Lovitz. Retrieved October 11, 2026, from https://improvarchive.org/people/jon-lovitz
The Improv Archive. "Jon Lovitz." The Improv Archive, 2026. https://improvarchive.org/people/jon-lovitz.
The Improv Archive. "Jon Lovitz." The Improv Archive, 2026, https://improvarchive.org/people/jon-lovitz. Accessed October 11, 2026.
The Improv Archive is a systemically maintained repository. The archive itself acts as the corporate author.