Born in Brantford, Ontario, he moved to the United States with his family at age ten. He began his career in graphic design, creating album covers for bands before joining the improvisational comedy troupe The Groundlings. Gaining fame on "Saturday Night Live" in the late 1980s, he was celebrated for his versatile impressions and comedic timing. He also voiced multiple characters on "The Simpsons" and starred in "NewsRadio." His life was tragically cut short in 1998.