Profile Text
Smigel in 2017, photo by Debby Wong /Bigstock.com
Place of Birth: New York City, New York, U.S.
Date of Birth: February 7, 1960
Ethnicity: Ashkenazi Jewish
Robert Smigel is an American actor, voice actor, comedian, humorist, writer, director, producer, and puppeteer. He is the puppeteer and voice behind Triumph the Insult Comic Dog. He was a cast member and writer on Saturday Night Live . He also appeared on, and wrote for, the shows Late Night with Conan O’Brien , The Dana Carvey Show , TV Funhouse , which he also created; Night of Too Many Stars , The Jack and Triumph Show , which he co-created; and Let’s Be Real ; and appeared on the shows Crank Yankers , The Tonight Show with Conan O’Brien , Conan , and Bob’s Burgers . He co-wrote the films You Don’t Mess with the Zohan , Hotel Transylvania , Hotel Transylvania 2 , The Week Of , which he directed; and Leo (2023), which he co-directed. He also appeared in all of the films, as well as in Billy Madison , The Wedding Singer , Punch-Drunk Love , This Is 40 , and Between the Temples .
Robert is the son of Lucia and Irwin Smigel, who was an aesthetic dentist, innovator, and philanthropist. Irwin founded the American Society for Dental Aesthetics. He is married to lighting technician Michelle Saks, with whom he has three children.
Robert’s paternal grandfather was Sebastian Smigel (the son of Isaac Joseph Smigel and Rose Becker). Rose was the daughter of Joseph Becker and Lily Rosen.
Robert’s paternal grandmother was Bella Solowachick (the daughter of Charles Solowachick and Yetta Israelite). Charles was the son of Morris Solowachick and Tillie Leibowitz.
Robert’s maternal grandfather was surnamed Shvetz.
Source: Genealogy of Robert Smigel (focusing on his father’s side) – https://www.geni.com