Andy Samberg

**Andy Samberg** (born *David A. J. Samberg*; August 18, 1978) is a multi-talented American artist known as an actor, comedian, musician, writer, and producer. He is part of the comedy music group the Lonely Island, collaborating with childhood friends Akiva Schaffer and Jorma Taccone. He gained prominence as a cast member and writer for the NBC sketch comedy series Saturday Night Live from 2005-2012, where he and his group members were praised for popularizing the SNL Digital Shorts. He took the lead role in movies like: Hot Rod (2007), the Cloudy with a Chance of Meatballs film series (2009–2013), That's My Boy (2012), Celeste and Jesse Forever (2012), the Hotel Transylvania film series (2012–2022), Popstar: Never Stop Never Stopping (2016), and Palm Springs (2020). From 2013 to 2021, he entertained the audience with his character Jake Peralta in the Fox, and later NBC, police sitcom Brooklyn Nine-Nine which he also produced. For his remarkable work on the show, he was awarded a Golden Globe Award for Best Actor – Television Series Musical or Comedy in 2013. Born in Berkeley, California, Andy was ambitious from his early childhood and wished to change his name from David to Andy when he was just 5. Raised in a Jewish family, he had a deep connection with the cultural aspects of his religion. In his early education he attended Chabot Elementary School with his future Brooklyn Nine-Nine co-star Chelsea Peretti. He graduated from Berkeley High School where his interest in creative writing ignited. To chase his dreams, he transferred to New York University (NYU)'s Tisch School of the Arts after two years at the University of California, Santa Cruz. Here, his experimental film journey began, leading him to stardom as he made a successful career in acting and filmmaking, including a memorable stint on Saturday Night Live.