About Robert Smigel
Robert Smigel (born February 7, 1960) is an American actor, comedian, writer, director, producer, and puppeteer, known for his Saturday Night Live TV Funhouse cartoon shorts and as the puppeteer and voice behind Triumph the Insult Comic Dog. Born in New York City to a Jewish family, he attended Cornell University and graduated from New York University in 1983 with a degree in political science, then developed his comedic talent at The Players Workshop in Chicago, studying improvisation. Smigel established himself as a writer on Saturday Night Live after Lorne Michaels returned as executive producer for the 1985-1986 season, and later became the first head writer at Late Night with Conan O'Brien. His most famous creation, the foul-mouthed puppet Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, debuted on Late Night with Conan O'Brien in February 1997. He also co-wrote the first two Hotel Transylvania films, You Don't Mess with the Zohan, and Leo, all starring Adam Sandler.
Videos (60)
Videos 1 to 24 of 60.
1:24:15Will Forte, Patton Oswalt and Dino Stamatopoulos (Full Episode) | Humor Me with RobertSmigel&Friends
24.1K views
1:17:52Dave Attell and Dino Stamatopoulos (Full Episode) | Humor Me with Robert Smigel & Friends
14.3K views
2:22Which 70’s Comedian Did Colin Quinn Idolize?
10.5K views
2:24Triumph the Insult Comic Dog Brought Charo As His Date to the Emmys and Lost to Patton Oswalt
9.3K views
10:55Triumph the Insult Comic Dog Writer Michael Koman Was Arrested by the NYPD During the RNC
9K views
1:47Mike Sweeney on the most Ridiculous Bit Conan O’Brien Did At the Oscars
8.6K views
55:54Ellie Kemper and Michael Koman (Full Episode) | Humor Me with Robert Smigel & Friends
7.5K views
1:21:31Rob Riggle and Alex Moffat (Full Episode) | Humor Me with Robert Smigel & Friends
7.1K views
41:55Ellie Kemper and Michael Koman Part 2 with Kill Tony | Humor Me with Robert Smigel & Friends
6.4K views
0:30Does Kill Tony’s Panel of Judges Get Uncomfortable Around Beautiful Women?
4.4K views
2:53Triumph the Insult Comic Dog Writer Michael Koman Was Arrested by the NYPD During the RNC
4.1K views
1:36Megann Does Standup for the Very First Time on Kill Tony!
3.6K views
3:00Will Forte tries to connect with Christopher Lee’s ghost through song
3.4K views
0:55Jokes Megann Didn’t Get to Do on Kill Tony
2.9K views
4:44Will Forte Tries to Reach Christopher Lee’s Ghost Through Song
2.7K views
1:57Alex Moffat Reads for a Part in Rob Riggle and Robert Smigel’s Rejected TV Pilot
2.4K views
1:28Rob Riggle Talks About Serving in the US Marines Corp
2.3K views
0:53Ellie Kemper, Michael Koman and Robert Want Megann to Emotionally Validate Her Husband
2.1K views
1:06Robert Encourages Megann To Appear on Kill Tony
2.1K views
2:51Sean Needs Help Writing a Eulogy About His Awful Father In-Law
2K views
10:02Robert Leaves to Use the Restroom Only to Miss Christopher Lee's Ghost
2K views
1:13Triumph the Insult Comic Deinfluencer
1.8K views
1:02Robert Smigel Wants the Help of Adam Carolla
1.7K views
2:58Triumph the Insult Comic Dog is Humor Me with Robert Smigel's Opening Act.
1.6K viewsGuest appearances (25)
Videos on other comedians' channels featuring Robert Smigel.
Guest appearances 1 to 24 of 25.
8:59Robert Smigel Found The Triumph Puppet While Furniture Shopping | Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend
Conan O'Brien
560.1K views
10:08Robert Smigel On The Origins Of “In The Year 2000” | Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend
Conan O'Brien
396.7K views
12:18Robert Smigel & Conan Remember Prop Master Bill Tull | Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend
Conan O'Brien
323.8K views
9:33Robert Smigel And Conan Talk About Adam Sandler And Bernie Brillstein | Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend
Conan O'Brien
315.6K views
9:35How Robert Smigel & Conan Approached Replacing Letterman | Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend
Conan O'Brien
293.6K views
7:31Robert Smigel Credits Jordan Schlansky For The First Triumph Remote | Inside Conan
Conan O'Brien
112.8K views
10:14Robert Smigel’s Inspirations For “Leo” | Conan O'Brien Needs A Friend
Conan O'Brien
97.6K views
57:45Robert Smigel | Blocks Podcast w/ Neal Brennan
Neal Brennan
90.5K views
10:18Writing for SNL, Seinfeld & Conan: Robert Smigel
Neal Brennan
90.4K views
8:35Robert Smigel Shares How Tom Hanks' Lorne Michaels Impression Led to SNL's Five-Timers Club
Jimmy Fallon
58.1K views
4:24Triumph Crashes Robert Smigel's "Inside Conan" Interview | Inside Conan
Conan O'Brien
38.2K views
1:17:03Robert Smigel & Triumph, Insult Comic Dog, Are Getting Divorced | Breaking Bread with Tom Papa
Tom Papa
23.3K views
4:33Robert Smigel's SNL Musical That Never Was - Late Night with Seth Meyers
Seth Meyers
18.2K views
20:32Writing for SNL: Robert Smigel, Simon Rich, JB Smoove
Neal Brennan
13.5K views
1:00Robert Smigel and Bob Odenkirk Created DA BEARS on SNL | Howie Mandel Does Stuff
Howie Mandel
8K views
1:00Robert Smigel On Starting Conan O’Brien’s Late Nite Show | Howie Mandel Does Stuff
Howie Mandel
6.9K views
1:00Robert Smigel Doing A Howie Mandel Impression | Howie Mandel Does Stuff
Howie Mandel
6.3K views
1:01Robert Smigel Wrote The Best Character For Adam Sandler | Howie Mandel Does Stuff
Howie Mandel
5.8K views
1:44Cleavage! - WMBD with Robert Smigel, Sam Morril, Mark Normand
Mark Normand
5.7K views
0:56Where did all the old school managers go? Robert Smigel | Breaking Bread with Tom Papa
Tom Papa
4.3K views
1:21:48Robert Smigel (Fitzdog Radio ) | Greg Fitzsimmons
Gregory Sebastian Fitzsimmons
3.9K views
7:19Robert Smigel & Triumph on Dealing with Hate and Extremists
Tom Papa
3.8K views
11:27A Brief History of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog | Breaking Bread with Tom Papa and Robert Smigel 227
Tom Papa
2.8K views
0:37Robert Smigel On Knowing The Right People | Howie Mandel Does Stuff
Howie Mandel
2.5K viewsChannels on this page: Conan O'Brien, Neal Brennan, Jimmy Fallon, Tom Papa, Seth Meyers, Howie Mandel, Mark Normand, Gregory Sebastian Fitzsimmons
Frequently asked questions
Who is the voice of Triumph the Insult Comic Dog?
Robert Smigel is the puppeteer and voice behind Triumph the Insult Comic Dog, the foul-mouthed puppet that debuted on Late Night with Conan O'Brien in February 1997.
What is TV Funhouse?
TV Funhouse is the name of the cartoon shorts Robert Smigel made for Saturday Night Live, one of the things he is best known for.
When did Robert Smigel start writing for Saturday Night Live?
Smigel established himself as a writer on Saturday Night Live after Lorne Michaels returned as executive producer for the 1985-1986 season.
What was Robert Smigel's role at Late Night with Conan O'Brien?
He was the first head writer at Late Night with Conan O'Brien, the show where his puppet Triumph later made its debut.
Where did Robert Smigel study?
Smigel attended Cornell University, graduated from New York University in 1983 with a degree in political science, and studied improvisation at The Players Workshop in Chicago.
Which Adam Sandler films did Robert Smigel co-write?
Smigel co-wrote the first two Hotel Transylvania films, You Don't Mess with the Zohan and Leo, all of them starring Adam Sandler.
When was Robert Smigel born?
Robert Smigel, the American comedian, writer, director, producer and puppeteer, was born on February 7, 1960, in New York City.
